With the annual graduation season drawing near, a time when the young let loose to celebrate a coming of age that morphs into adulthood, Penhold students experienced a dramatic dose of the reality that can result when wrong choices are made.
They were shown how lives, filled with unlimited promise, can turn to tragedy in a heartbeat.
On May 19 the local fire department hosted its first mock car crash. It was presented near the parking lot of Penhold Crossing Secondary School, a simulated single-vehicle rollover on Waskasoo Avenue.
Great care was made by fire department officials, assisted by Innisfail RCMP, Guardian Ambulance paramedics and representatives from Chinook's Edge School Division, to present the noon hour demonstration as realistically as possible, when young people make the tragic choice to drink and drive.
“We spoke to other departments, municipalities and school divisions that do it and most of them said the best way was to have something the kids will come out and see but not be pre-warned, because they remember that best,” said Jim Pendergast, fire chief for the Penhold Fire Department. “We didn't release anything until it was scheduled at 12:15 p.m. because that is when school has lunch at the high school.” He said parents received a notice that there would be a mock traffic accident, and the event was also posted on Facebook.
“Of course parents were texting their kids,” said Pendergast. “Some kids were saying, ‘no sense going out because it's not real' but I was surprised because there was more than 30 people from the high school that did come out and watch.”
He said the idea for the first-ever simulated car crash from the Penhold Fire Department came from Capt. Steve Harris, who also made all the arrangements for the May 19 demonstration, which included utilizing a volunteer firefighter as the driver of the crashed vehicle, who was then taken by Innisfail RCMP through a mock process of being arrested. The two passengers of the crashed vehicle were drama students from Innisfail High School, one of them carefully and realistically made up to be a fatality. Paramedics were there to demonstrate the extraordinary efforts that are made to save people in such times of heartbreaking crisis and ultimate loss.
After putting on the 45-minute simulated crash and subsequent emergency response, the hosts then made a presentation to students inside the school gym.
“The kids were told about the value of making good choices, and not to succumb to peer pressure, long-term realities and consequences of impaired driving, such as losing career paths if they have a criminal record, as well as the impact on families, friends and first responders of going to a fatal accident,” said Pendergast. “One of our firefighters, Angela Davis, talked about the impact it has, not only on parents, families and friends, but on first responders; the things we see that we can never unsee again.”
The fire chief said with the annual graduation party season upon everyone it was hoped the first-ever simulated motor vehicle crash demonstration, presented with as much realism as possible, had a positive impact.
“We certainly hope we did. That was our goal,” said the fire chief. “Our hope is not to be called this weekend, right.”
Jim Pendergast, Penhold fire chief
"One of our firefighters, Angela Davis, talked about the impact it has, not only on parents, families and friends, but on first responders; the things we see that we can never unsee again."
