Every 15 Minutes...
"Dear Mom and Dad, every fifteen minutes someone in the United
States dies from an alcohol related traffic collision, and today I
died. I never had the chance to tell you..."
At Eisenhower High School, the day began with the "Grim
Reaper" calling
students out of class. Someone entered the classroom to read an obituary
which explained the circumstances of their classmate's demise and the
contributions the student made to the school and the community. Later
in the morning, a simulated traffic collision occured in front of the
school. Rescue workers treated the injured student participants. These
students experienced first hand the sensations of being involved in
a alcohol-related collision. The coroner handled the fatality
on the scene, while the injured students were extricated by the jaws-of-life
manned by Fire-Fighters and Paramedics. Police Officers investigated,
arrested, and booked the student "drunk driver". Student participants
continued their experience with a trip to the hospital emergency room,
and to the police department jail for the purpose of being booked for "drunk
driving".
On the following morning, a mock funeral service was held. The focus
of the assembly stressed that the decision to consume alcohol can affect
many more people than just the one who drinks.