A spinal cord injury is like a telephone line being cut – you can see it but it does not work.
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That was the message Zonta’s Women's International guest speaker Kristy Shepherd gave students at Good Shepherd College on Friday morning.
Her speech addressed the risks 15-24 year-old male and females take and how fragile life can be when making careless or rash decisions.
“One person every four days sustains a spinal cord injury and boys are more likely to acquire an injury than girls.
Ms Shepherd explained the reason was because boys are involved in more high risk activities such as contact sports and certain employment.
The number one cause of spinal cord injury is road trauma.
“About 80 per cent of injuries we see at Making Strides is due to road trauma, whether that’s in a car or on a motorbike,” Ms Shepherd said.
Making Strides is a rehabilitation centre for people with spinal cord and brain injuries.
“I can't stress enough to you how much your actions can affect yourself, other people and their families.
“In Mount Isa you are five minutes from everywhere and I can give you no better advice right now than this – Don’t get into a car with your friends if they have been drinking.
Call your mum or dad, they would much rather collect you than get a phone call at two in the morning saying you’ve been in an accident,” Ms Shepherd said.
Ms Shepherd addressed students at the Good Shepherd College, and Spinifex State College campus’ as well as the School of the Air.
The Zonta International Women of the Year speaker will be on hand to congratulate our regions women who have shown leadership, courage, resourcefulness, and willingness to sacrifice for others within the community.