| On Thursday April 12, units from the MAVFC took part in the "Every 15 Minutes" presentation for the Senior and Junior classes of South Carroll High School. This program involves the support of local fire companies, law enforcement, local funeral home, students and parents from SCHS. The scenario involves a vehicle collision with two car loads of students when alcoholic beverages are being consumed (simulated). The "patients" are made up (moulaged) to look as if they have been injured, by a team of fire service personnel that are trained in this area. The student actors are then placed into two vehicles that have been involved in a simulated crash. The Juniors and Seniors are then all brought out from the school to watch the scenario unfold.
Fire, Rescue, and Police are dispatched to the "scene" where they commence to rescue and transport the victims. Extrication techniques including the use of the hydraulic "jaws", cutters, rams, air bags, saws and other specialized equipment were used by the fire/rescue units to make the extrications of the patients. In this scenario, one student "expires", several are injured and treated and/or transported to the hospital, and a driver is tested and arrested for drunk driving. Once the forensic examiners have completed their abbreviated investigation, the parents of the "expired" student are brought in to identify the student, then the funeral home personnel arrive and place the "expired" student into a body bag and remove them from the scene.
The scenario is very realistic and unfortunately occurs far too often in real life. This program is very impactive and hopefully reminds our student drivers and their parents of the serious and deadly nature of drinking and driving.
The Winfield Community VFD facilitated the event by providing food for the participants, and an area to "make up" the student actors. They also assisted by procuring the cars for the event, and participating in the scenario. Videographers were on hand to document the entire event for further use in keeping folks aware of the tragic results of drinking and driving. |
