Local agencies simulate Car Crashes to raise awareness of Drunk Driving

Vance-Granville Community College is partnering with law enforcement agencies, fire departments and rescue squads on a project that simulates automobile wrecks in order to discourage teenagers from drinking and driving.

The Vance County Fire Prevention Team (which includes local fire and rescue agencies), North Carolina Highway Patrol, N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement Division and VGCC are targeting high school students as they prepare to attend their school prom. A simulation will be held at Southern Vance High School on Monday, April 26, and plans are being made for a similar exercise at Northern Vance High School.

According to Randy Owen, coordinator/instructor of Emergency Medical Services Programs at Vance-Granville, an estimated 25,000 people are killed each year by teenaged drivers in alcohol-related car crashes, and such crashes are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24. Every 15 minutes in the United States, a person is killed or seriously injured in an alcohol-related crash. “These overwhelming statistics are of great concern to us,” Owen said. “We intend to draw the students’ attention to the consequences of such incidents.”

The simulated crash scenario will involve two cars. The first car will carry two people on their way home from a movie, while the second will carry four intoxicated teenagers on their way home from a party. One of the six simulated victims will lose his or her life, and the remaining five will suffer various simulated injuries, ranging from bruises to major trauma. The intoxicated driver will be arrested. “We hope that making this crash as realistic as possible will have a considerable impact on the students,” Owen said. Local agencies will treat the crash like an actual emergency, providing them with valuable training.

VGCC offers Emergency Medical Services training from the EMT-Basic to the EMT-Paramedic level, in addition to continuing education. Other courses include Medical Responder, First Responder, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, CPR and first aid. VGCC Fire Services classes train beginning firefighters and upgrade experienced firefighters in all areas of procedures and equipment, and provide required training for firefighter certification at levels I and II. Many courses are scheduled upon request and are often taught at the requesting agency’s facility. For more information, call Randy Owen at (252) 738-3448.