Battlefords Early Childhood Intervention Program Executive Director Colleen Sabraw, left, with program early interventionists Sarah Bajak, centre, and Kirsten Smith, right. The trio served pancakes to students at North West College in North Battleford Monday, as part of an FASD awareness day initiative. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

FASD education

Organizers raise awareness to help prevent FASD at breakfast campaign

Sep 9, 2019 | 11:42 AM

If more people knew about the dangers of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) then perhaps fewer children would be impacted by the condition.

That is what Battlefords Early Childhood Intervention Program (BECIP) hopes to see.

The non-profit organization held a free pancake breakfast for students at North West College in North Battleford Monday to mark International FASD Awareness Day, and observed a minute of silence to recognize those affected by the disorder.

“Today across the world on Sept. 9, the ninth month, the ninth hour, the ninth minute we recognize and remember those that are affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder,” BECIP Executive Director Colleen Sabraw said.

The number nine is symbolic of the nine-month pregnancy period.

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BECIP partnered with North West College to share information with students.

“One way to prevent FASD is to spread the word that a healthy pregnancy doesn’t include alcohol,” Sabraw said. She is also the BECIP FASD committee chair.

She said it is recommended mothers not consume any alcohol, whether that is beer, wine, a cooler, or hard liquor, while they are pregnant to have the safest pregnancy possible for their unborn child.

According to BECIP, research shows alcohol can damage cells and cause a child to have a physical and brain-based disability that can’t be cured.

Half of pregnancies are not planned, which means many women have been drinking alcohol before they know they are pregnant. Most women stop drinking as soon as they discover they are pregnant.

Only 10 per cent of children born with FASD have visible signs.

Sabraw says early recognition and diagnosis can better help children living with FASD reach their potential.

—

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Organizers raise awareness to help prevent FASD at breakfast campaign

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