More than 2,000 Kitsap Sailors focused on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol during the “Save A Life Tour” (SALT) training seminar held June 22 to 26 at three locations; Naval Hospital Bremerton, Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bremerton old gym, and NBK Bangor basketball court.

SALT was comprised of a short video, a 20-minute brief and an opportunity for Sailors, sober and stationary, to operate a simulator which feigned the effects of drunk driving in order to experience the difficulty in maneuvering a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

“Today we are going to show you how your reaction time and motor skills will be adversely affected by alcohol,” said Brian Beldyga, senior facilitator of SALT. “I don’t know why it is but people think that they are invincible and can do anything once they have a few drinks in them, and they seem to have this idea that the worst will never happen to them. We’re here to present the facts and to show everyone that it could happen to you if you make stupid choices about drinking. This is very important and should be taken seriously, because it involves the lives of others.”

Beldyga used various illustrations on the lifelong devastating effects of drunk driving including the death of his fiancé as an example to get Sailors attentions.

“I watched my fiancé burn alive because of this stuff. This is why I do what I do, trying to reach people and teach them not to drink and drive and to make smart decisions provided they do drink,” said Beldyga. “The moment one acts foolish and all this comes into play, your life will be changed.”

Among the myriad faces in attendance, one Sailor was visibly shaken by the drunk-driving video.

“A lot of my buddies back home would glorify that sort of behavior and had come pretty close to losing their own life over it,” said Culinary Specialist Seaman Jimmy Dossat, Transient Personnel Unit. “The video was sickening, yet I think it caught the attention of those who sat around me. To me it was disturbing, and I think that was the desired intent. Perhaps my fellow Sailors will take to heart the seriousness of their choices when it comes to alcohol and hopefully it will be enough to move them to positive change.”

According to Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) Gem Montero, NBK alcohol and drug control officer, the training focuses on educating Sailors in the hopes of preventing them from driving while intoxicated.

“This is a high-impact type of program — we want to do as much as possible stop drunk driving among our Sailors and to encourage them to act responsibly. They don’t think it could happen and so [they] do what they do. But acting irresponsible and driving drunk comes with a price. We have not showed these types of videos in the Navy until now. Our reason is to stop DUIs — that is our goal. We hope that our Sailors will get the message not to do this — that is our goal.”