Mock crash gives students a grim, sober lesson in safety

The Kent Fire Department presented its Gift of Life simulation and assembly at Kent-Meridian High School last week.

Every other spring, the Kent Fire Department and volunteers act out a hypothetical car crash scene at two high schools to teach students the dangers of driving under the influence.

“They need to see what can happen in a crash visually,” said Kirsti Weaver, public education specialist who helped organize the presentation. “We go to great lengths to make everything as real as possible.”

As the volunteers lifted the tarps from the crushed cars, gasps were whispered throughout the audience.

“It (was) actually crazy to hear everybody’s reaction,” said Stephanie Arroyo, one of the student actors. “Everybody was just amazed at what they (saw) because they weren’t expecting all these real looking injuries, blood and everything.”

A handful of student leaders were chosen to act out the situation. Some played the role of an injured friend while others acted as if they just arrived on the scene. But all took the situation seriously and treated the simulation as if it were real.

“The key is showing them and educating them without lecturing,” Weaver said. “It’s a really good educational simulation.”

After the scene ends, the juniors and seniors were ushered into the gym for an assembly to hear from a special guest speaker.

“We had Mike Buckingham who was involved in a drunk driving crash (when) his (Washington State) trooper vehicle was hit with a car,” Weaver said.

Buckingham, who was severely burned on 47 percent of his body, speaks at assemblies throughout the state, acting as living proof of the consequences of a drunken driving accident.

“They need to see the ramifications from law enforcement and how it can affect not just them but others around them,” Weaver said.