One single ill-advised decision as a motorist can have a disastrously detrimental ripple affect that can irreversibly damage many people's lives.
One single ill-advised decision as a motorist can have a disastrously detrimental ripple affect that can irreversibly damage many people's lives.
Several Sundre High School Drama Club students were the stars in a staged collision scenario on Friday afternoon that was designed to highlight as realistically as possible the potentially fatal fallout of choosing to drive distracted or impaired.
Of course such a scene would be incomplete without the presence of emergency crews. For the third year in a row, members of the Sundre RCMP detachment and the Sundre Fire Department worked together with paramedics and other medical responders to bring to life a mock fatal vehicle collision complete with wrecks made available by local tow truck company Bulldog Towing.
"Without the support of Sundre EMS, fire and RCMP, this dynamic presentation would not be possible," said Scott Saunders, Sundre High School and Sundre Learning Centre principal.
"Students and staff were impressed with the professionalism of all emergency services involved."
The scenario, which is followed by presentations that include statements from families whose lives have been impacted by impaired or distracted driving, is part of the Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth program.
"We feel the PARTY program is a timely and powerful event for students to participate in. Being able to see 'real-life' situations and listen to personal stories of victims helps students realize the impact of making poor decisions around driving while distracted or under the influence."
Carrie Cuthbert, a paramedic who has essentially spearheaded organizing the initiative since it was brought back a few years ago, said the importance of such an educational engagement cannot be understated.
"Their decisions don't just affect them but others in the community as well," she told the Round Up.
The message is mainly about the choices that people make and the impact those decisions can have, she said.
"We try to focus on the bigger picture more of how your decisions behind the wheel can affect not only your life, but others' as well."
The drama students play an invaluable role by providing convincing victims, which included one who had to be extricated from a flipped-over vehicle. Being cut out from a wreck can be a scary situation, even when it's staged, she said.
"It's great that they (the drama students) take on that role. Without them, we couldn't really do it."
Additionally, the fact that the school, RCMP, fire department and Sundre EMS come together to try and protect as well as educate the students "speaks volumes to the spirit of the community itself," she said, agreeing with the old adage that raising a responsible youth takes a village.
