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Posted by: hannaheath on 05/01/2008 12:38 PM Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 05/01/2008 09:19 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
:

Life's Lessons are Best Learned Through Experience~By Hanna Heath

Angels Camp, CA.... This morning at Bret Harte High School, Juniors and Seniors participated in the national program "Every 15 Minutes." The Every 15 Minutes Program offers real-life experience without the real-life risks. This emotionally charged program, is an event designed to dramatically instill teenagers with the potentially dangerous consequences of drinking alcohol. This powerful program challenges students to think about drinking, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions when lives are involved.....



Click on a photo for a full slideshow!


Life's lessons are best learned through experience. Unfortunately, when the target audience is teens and the topic is drinking and driving, experience is not the teacher of choice.

During the simulated traffic collision that was viewable on the school track, Rescue workers from different agencies around the county treated injured student participants.

"Schools who have been involved in this activity have shown a shockingly degrees in the amounts of drunk driving accidents. The students who participated in todays event will have the largest impact and make the biggest difference, this is a life changing experience and thats what makes this program work," shared Rob Hecocks, participating drill dispatcher.

The students experienced first hand, the sensations of being involved in a tragic, alcohol-related collision. 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 by an actual trip to the morgue, the hospital emergency room, and to the police department jail for the purpose of being booked for "drunk driving".

"I learned that in such a small community that person who chose to drink and drive might be someone you recognize, and thats what makes this a powerful event for local emergency agencies," shared Bill Davis from Altaville Melones Fire Department.

One student is removed from class every 15 minutes. A police officer immediately enters the classroom and reads an obituary which has been written by the "dead" student's parent(s) - explaining the circumstances of their classmate's demise and the contributions the student has made to the school and the community.

"This program is effective for high school students, because they get to experience and view a accident. Its a reality check for students who think its "OK" to drink and drive, and realize that this could possible happen to them," shared removed student Andrew Richey.

At the end of the day, those students who participated in the staged accident as well as those who were made-up as the "living dead" will be transported to a local facility for an overnight student retreat. The retreat will simulate the separation from friends and family. A support staff of counselors and police officers will facilitate the retreat.

During the most powerful program of the retreat, the students will be taken through an audio - visualization of their own death. Then each student will write a letter to his or her parents starting out with . . .

"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......."

Tomorrow morning, a mock funeral service will be held at the High School. The assembly will began with a video of normal school day activities including scenes from the first day of the "Grim Reaper" and the staged accident. The assembly will guide the audience through the devastating effects of losing a loved one due to a bad choice. Speakers will include students who will read letters to their parents, police officers, and hospital personnel who shared their emotional trauma of dealing with kids killed in accidents. Parents will share their personal reflections of their involvement in this program. They will also have a powerful speaker who actually lost a child to a drunk driver.

High School students from Bret Harte had a staged accident at 8:30 in the morning. After the accident they started wpulling students out of their classroom every 15 minutes to represent someone that dies due to drinking and driving. On Friday May 2nd at 8:30 we will have a final assembly with guest speaker Tom Nipper.

The focus of the assembly stresses that the decision to consume alcohol can affect many more people than just the one who drinks. This very emotional and heart-wrenching event will illustrate to students, the potentially dangerous consequences of their use of alcohol, regardless of how casual they believe their use may be.

So remember when you choose to drink, don't choose to drive. You could save someone's life by not driving, or possibly take someone's life by choosing to drive. Do the right thing.


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