FIRST RESPONDERS HELP STAGE MOCK DUI CRASH, May 6, 2019
South Whidbey Fire/EMS volunteers and staff recently assisted Sam Martin, a junior at South Whidbey High School who organized a mock fatal crash as a service project. Student actors were chosen to play “patients” injured in the crash. The event was on April 25, a few days prior to the South Whidbey High School junior- senior prom.
The purpose of the event was to show students the results of drunk driving, and the impact it has on the driver, passengers, families, responders, court officials, and the community. SWFE began the demonstration by playing a live dispatch for an motor vehicle collision to the student body over the school PA systems. Students watched as law enforcement conducted a field sobriety test on the driver, and EMS crews removed victims from the cars. At the end, the body of one victim was taken from the scene in a body bag.
The students then moved the auditorium, where a court scene was set, and the driver convicted. Family members of the “victims” spoke, expressing disappointment and many other emotions.
The acting of the student “patients” and first responders was convincing , and gave the scene a disturbing sense of reality.
A special thank you to other participating agencies including Whidbey Health EMS, Island County Sheriff’s Office, Langley Police Department, Washington State Patrol, ICOM Dispatch, and the Island County Prosecutor.
