| After weeks of preparation by the Fire Chief and the Board of Education the time had come to show the seniors of Great Mills High School the consequences of drinking and driving with the end of the school year fast approaching and proms and graduation parties just around the corner.
The purpose of the mock drunk driving accident was to show the students the repercussions if they make the decision to drink alcohol then try to drive. The demonstrations were conducted at all the high schools in St. Mary's County and this morning it was our turn at Great Mills High School.
There were two cars placed in the positions that you might find if it were a real accident and each car had several victims inside or ejected laying around the cars. Students from the senior class were positioned around the cars at a safe distance but where they could all see just what was going on. The victims in the cars and on the ground were made up to look just as if they had serious injuries with one on the ground being deceased.
The Fire Chief Shawn Downs and Medic Scott Peterson narrated the drill explaining to the large group of students just what was going on and as the fire apparatus arrived on the scene just what each of the firemen were doing along with the emergency medical personnel.
Now you can only try and do your best to make the drill seem as real as possible and from my vantage point everyone did a good job. Looking into the eyes of some of the students you could tell that they were paying attention to just what was going on. Now for some we know it was just time out of class but we strongly feel that if we can reach just one person and convince them that drinking and driving don't mix well then it has all been worth our time. How do you put a price tag on a life saved? I don't think you can and our members along with the Fire Chief feel the same way.
So as the guys went about wrapping up after the demonstration there were questions asked and that always makes you feel good that someone must have been paying attention enough to want to know more. So our guys took the time to explain just why we did what we did and the students went away with a better understanding of what they had witnessed this morning.
So from us here at Bay District Volunteer Fire Department congratulations to all the senior class and remember if you are going to party where alcohol is present please, please don't drink and drive. |
