With prom and graduation season approaching, Juniors and
Seniors at Butler High School were given a simulated version of what could
happen when driving under the influence of alcohol. Life can change in an
instant, and student actors effectively demonstrated that during the Mock Crash
on April 3rd, including loss of life, critical injuries, a DUI arrest and
all-too-real traumatic experiences, all for the benefit of a bleacher full of
somber students.
The semi-annual event has been led by Bates County Memorial
Hospital EMS for years and is a collaboration of first responders and all local
agencies who would be on scene for a real-life event: Missouri Highway Patrol,
Butler Police Department, Butler Fire Department, Bates County Sheriff
Department and the Bates County Coroner. LifeFlight Eagle also takes part,
transporting the student actor assigned to a role with critical injuries. The
coordinated effort adds a heavy dose of reality to the Mock Crash and serves as
a training exercise for these agencies. Douty Tow provided the vehicles, staged
the accident and then assisted to clean up the scene.
Student actors started their day at 7:00 am in makeup in the
BCMH emergency room and regrouped there for a debriefing after the event.
Russ Whisenand, Paramedic and BCMH Ambulance Administrator,
is the lead coordinator for the Mock Crash. In a debriefing with student actors
after the event, he said, "You guys are ambassadors now. Hopefully they'll
ask you questions. You've been through this, you kind of see, you know, like
Zion said [student actor arrested during the simulation for drunk driving,
handcuffed and put in the back of a patrol vehicle], 'that wasn't fun'. And,
the repercussions are such that this doesn't stop when somebody does this.
Manslaughter, I don't know which charges could be brought against him ... this
spreads out, huge, with just the few people that died there. If the kids at
school ask you questions, be honest with them. You guys now have a little bit
of insight as to how this could affect you. I applaud you all."
Life can change in an instant, and while it is the job of
our local EMS and other agencies to prepare for accidents, it is far better to
avoid preventable tragedies. BCMH thanks all participating agencies and Butler
High School students and staff who helped share this important message with the
young people of our community.
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