The two fenders were tangled together, glass scattered across the parking lot. A power pole leaned precariously on one mangled van, lines dangling. The fire department showed up with their Jaws of Life. EMS was on scene with stretchers. The RCMP came in hot with light and sirens, and left with a teenage boy handcuffed in the back. Worst of all, a hearse also left with an extra occupant.
Best of all, none of it was real.
Last Wednesday, Olds High School held its sixth annual Party Safe program for Grade 10 students from Olds and Bowden, a daylong event aimed at showing the impact of poor decisions. They choose Grade 10 students because that's when many learn to drive.
Lana Cissell, the volunteer co-organizer along with OHS teacher Louan Statchuk, said there's been buy-in from the entire community since the get-go.
ìEverybody jumped at it,î said Cissell. ìIt's so valuable to be on this side of an accident, rather than the other side.î
THE REAL DEAL
This year's full-day program began with a mock accident, involving two vehicles and a downed utilities pole, set up in the parking lot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Four students acted as victims, including one as a drunk driver and one as a fatality.
The responders and equipment are the real deal: FortisAlberta was first on-scene to cut power to the ëlive lines'; Olds Fire Department was there to cut open the van; the RCMP took the ëdrunk driver' away in handcuffs; EMS (ambulance workers) pulled the other two ëvictims' from the vehicle; and, finally, the funeral home arrived with a hearse.
The scene, however accurate, lacked the disorder and confusion one would expect at an accident scene. Instead, each emergency response was narrated in detail so students could understand what was happening and why.
ìThe firemen, the police, they are all very calm in how they address things,î said Statchuk. ìThe commentary is key. And if we had chaos, they'd miss it.î
NOTHING HIDDEN
The lesson doesn't end when the hearse drives away.
ìThis is just the beginning,î said Cissell. ìThey learn what happens to those people in those vehicles.î
Students head to the hospital and visit the trauma room where one of the victims ëdies' from internal injuries. They learn about physiotherapy, and what life might be like for those who survived with permanent injuries.
They visit Heartland Funeral Services, and get a tour that includes coffin selection and the embalming room.
The day ended with guest speaker Doug Manderville, a paraplegic who was injured after a pool accident involving drinking.
ìIt is open, there is nothing hidden,î said Cissell. ìIt's all on the table today.î
PROTECTED BY LEARNING
After being on the audience side of last year's Party Safe Program, OHS student Hailey Larson volunteered to be a student victim this year.
ìI actually saw one of my friends be the victim last year and I also saw her in the hospital where she 'died' and it hit me,î said Larson. ìIt was really important to me that my friends were protected by learning about the accident and what can happen if you put yourself in that position.î
Both organizers said the event often has a marked impact on the volunteer actors.
ìThe kid who gets zipped up in a body bag,î said Cissell. ìDo you ever forget that?î
COMMUNITY EFFORT
The Olds program is a community effort, said the organizers. Cissell listed off the groups involved: EMS, firefighters, RCMP, the hospital, funeral home, utility company, victim's services, parents, teachers, bus drivers.
ìI mean the whole list is huge,î said Cissell. ìYou put all those people together ñ 90 plus people ñ to teach 140 kids about prevention. That is incredible.î
She also credited the Alberta Traffic Safety Fund, FortisAlberta, and the Town of Olds for financially supporting the event, as well as great logistics that make the event a success.
ìWe are so grateful. This is not just a school activity. This is a community coming together for the betterment of the youth,î said Statchuk.
Everyone involved seems to think it's worth the effort.
ìWe really want the kids to see the local people,î said Statchuk, ìto see the circle of impact that a poor decision has on people in their community.î
ìAnd if it changes a decision for one student, it's worth it.î
"We really want the kids to see the local people to see the circle of impact that a poor decision has on people in their community. And if it changes a decision for one student, it's worth it."LOUAN STATCHUKOLDS HIGH SCHOOL
