Companies are working with Heart Screen to take a proactive approach to address alcohol/drug problems by getting their message across to their employees with a "hands-on" demonstration in experiencing the dangers of drinking and driving.

Heart Screen’s healthfairsatwork® DUEyes Simulator Goggles demonstrates the physical affects of drunkenness or drugs on vision, balance and motor skills. It proves that healthy, well-coordinated individuals cannot safely handle a car, operate equipment or be well coordinated after a few drinks. DUEyes Simulator Goggles simulate a blood alcohol content of .08. This program has been modified for use in business or industry setting. Employees can "see" the effects of the two-martini lunch.

What we'll do!

Participants put on our DUEyes Simulator Goggles and attempt to walk an 8 -10 ft line and try something simple like touching the tip of their nose, stand on one leg, give a high five, catch a ball.

What happens?  The goggles throw off depth perception, reaction time and coordination. They create an effect comparable to having a Blood Alcohol content of between .08 and .17.

Test allows individual the opportunity to experience the dangers of impairment from drugs and alcohol without suffering the all-to-real consequences. This effect is achieved by wearing a specially designed pair of goggles. The effects include:

---loss of balance,

---loss of hand-eye coordination

---double vision

---an inability to perform simple motor tasks

---personal judgment.

---Viewing through the goggles is rather clear, but confusing to the mind.

---Normal movements are AFFECTED which produces one of the EFFECTS of intoxication.

Along with serious realizations about the dangers of driving impaired, the goggles also provide lots of smiles and laughs as others watched their peers struggling to maintain their balance, and avoid bumping into things as they tried to maneuver the line.

What does this test show?

• This shows individuals, at least vision-wise, what it’s like to have blood-alcohol contents of .10 or .18 and to be drunk at night. So while the wearer of the goggles doesn't feel intoxicated, per se, his staggering, shuffling walk and gestures make him look and act like a drunk person.

• DUEyes Simulator Goggles are specially designed and manufactured to simulate the visual impairment caused by drugs or alcohol. Viewing through the goggles is rather clear, but confusing to the mind. Normal movements are affected which produces one of the effects of intoxication. 

How do the DUEyes Simulator Goggles work?
 
At first glance, our DUEyes Simulator Goggles appear similar to goggles one might wear while working in a woodshop, on a car, or working in the yard. However, our DUEyes Simulator Goggles have specially cut lenses that distort visual perception. When wearing them, a person sees things in a distorted view—as if they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

DUEyes Simulator Goggles have a series of prisms across the lenses that allow for fairly normal vision, but play havoc with a person's coordination and ability to perform routine tasks.  The goggles work by using special lenses that shift images so they appear to be 4 to 6 inches away from their actual. Each lens contains rows of tiny plastic prisms – triangular bars that bend light rays and distorting the images received by the eyes. The prisms work together to refract, or bend, light hitting the goggles either to the left or right. Goggles are designed to fool the brain. And that, police say, is what would happen when you're drunk. It is extremely difficult to keep one’s balance walking one foot in front of the other wearing these glasses. Our DUEyes Simulator Goggles simulate the dizzying effect, slightly blurred vision, and loss of balance of alcohol and drug impairment without a drop of alcohol.  They demonstrate how hard it is just to walk the line or count fingers under the influence.  

Goggles like these are used nationally as an educational tool by such organizations as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE).

This low cost, interactive, health promotion activity will be a big success at your next health fair. Contact Heart Screen for details.