|
During the first days event the "Grim
Reaper" called students who were selected from a cross-section of the
entire student body out of class. One student was removed from class every 15 minutes.
A city police officer immediately entered the classroom and read an
obituary which had 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. After
the student posted their obituary in the school office and placed their
headstone in the front of the school, the student returned to class as the
"living dead," complete with white face make-up and a black Every
15 Minutes T-shirt. From that point on "victims" did not speak or
interact with other students for the remainder of the school day.
Before lunch, a simulated traffic collision was
viewable on the school football field. Rescue workers treated injured
student participants. These students experienced first hand, the sensations
of being involved in a tragic, alcohol-related collision. Two fatalities
were a result of the 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
hospital emergency room, and to the juvenile hall for the purpose of being
booked for "drunk driving".
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"
were transported to a local location for an overnight student retreat. The
retreat simulated the separation from friends and family. A support staff
of counselors, school administrators, and police officers facilitated the
retreat.
During the retreat students engaged in team building exercises, fun and
games as well as guest s speakers. During the most powerful program of the
retreat, the students were taken through an audio - visualization of their
own death. Then each student wrote 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......."
Parents were also asked to write similar letters to
their children. These letters were shared the following day when students
and parents were reunited at the school assembly.
On the following morning and assembly was held at the
High School. The assembly was hosted by project coordinator and School
Resource Officer Justin Gill. The assembly began with an overview of the
day prior explaining the program to the High School Juniors and Seniors.
The student participants were then introduced into the gym. Speakers
included students and parents sharing their written letters from the night
previous, motivational speaker Bob Mortimer and the Chief of Police. A
video produced by Silvia Ortega was shown to the students. The video
started with normal school day activities then included scenes from the
first day of the "Grim Reaper" and staged accident.
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.
This event includes the participation of our Police Department, Sheriff
Department Dispatch, City and County Fire Departments, California Highway
Patrol, Cal-Ore Life Flight, High School Staff, Sutter Coast Hospital,
Video Production Crew, Community Officials, and a wide cross-section of the
community at-large. It is our goal to utilize the strength, talent and
resources of business and industry to prevent drunk driving.
|
