Sherry,

Here is an adaptation of the story (reference below) that we have used in a
population health planning workbook.

        Three people stood on a riverbank. All of a sudden, they heard a cry for
help from a person, caught in the river's fast moving current and  trying
desperately to stay above the water. One person immediately dove in and
pulled the drowning person to safety. The second person checked the
patient's vital signs and treated for hypothermia and shock. The third
person assessed the client's knowledge of water safety and subsequently
provided a series of swimming lessons.
        As they were congratulating themselves for their quick and effective
response, they noticed more people floating down the river in need of help.
They quickly called other people to come and help. In time they had
developed an efficient system of rescue, treatment and education.
        However, over time, more and more people came floating down the river
calling for help. It soon became impossible to pull them all out. Some
floated by despite everyone's best efforts and were lost. Others, who were
pulled out, ended up back in the river. It was getting very expensive to
keep pulling people out of the water.
        It soon became clear that pulling people out of the river was necessary but
would never be sufficient to reduce the problem. Too many people kept
falling in. Finally, a group of people decided to head upstream to see what
was causing so many people to fall into the river!

Adapted from: Wallack, L., Dorfman, L., Jernigan, D., & Themba, M. (1993).
Public health and media advocacy (pp. 1-25). Media advocacy and public
health. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Alana LaPerle
Alana LaPerle Consulting
[log in to unmask]
Phone: 780.435.9908
Fax: 780.438.6837




-----Original Message-----
From: Health Promotion on the Internet [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Sherrie Tingley
Sent: June 16, 1999 10:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: up-stream- downstream


Hi all,

Ever notice that when you need something is the time you have just deleted
it?

I have to present tomorrow and I was looking for a reference to the
up-stream- down stream story.  Is it on-line somewhere?

Thanks in advance!

S