Witnessing A DWI Disaster

by Terry Hannum
Delaware County Times
December 14, 2007

Imagine what you might do if you came upon an accident that had just happened. A person lay motionless in front of and partially under a damaged vehicle while a bloodied driver inside the vehicle can be heard shouting. There are car passengers in view but they are not getting out. What do you do and what first? Delaware County Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts received an education on the horrible sights, sounds, and aftermath of a drunk driver car accident reenactment. The very realistic demonstration took place at the Delaware County Charles D. Cook Fire Training Grounds in Hamden on December 8th as part of an emergency preparedness program.

The youth witnessed just what happens in the case of an accident involving a drunk driver and the grave consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  The mock accident is part of the very active STOP DWI program orchestrated by Coordinator Lisa Barrows and sends a powerful message that books, photos and lectures cannot fully deliver.  The accident scene includes a first response person who calls for assistance while evaluating the inebriated condition of the driver.  The wrecked car, with victims inside and out, are quickly surrounded by fire trucks, an ambulance, fire police, medics and rescue squads.  The drunk driver had blood on his head and was ranting and unaware, for the time being, of what had occurred while fire department volunteers ensure the stability of the car and assess the condition of passengers.  Emergency personnel attend to the accident victim that was lying on the ground and were soon removing people form the car onto stretchers.  This entire incident is played out without public comment or audience input as the scouts were in the role of being witnesses on the scene.

This day’s sobering act was prompted by the 5 Cadettes of Girl Scout Troop 714 and their leader, Nancy Stuligross. The young ladies are striving to achieve the second highest award possible in Girl Scouting, the Silver Award. This award takes a great deal of time and commitment to attain and includes a business venture, 15 hours of leadership activities and 50 hours of community service. They organized the day to include a total of 56 scouts, some as young as 4th grade, as this is an age that may have already stared to consume alcohol. STOP DWI Coordinator Barrows helped them with the program and organizing the cooperation of all volunteers.

The event has a myriad of lessons to be learned, the initial feeling of wanting to be of assistance when an accident has happened and knowing what to do and what not to do is important and lifesaving knowledge. The other lesson is in learning about how avoidable DWI accidents are and how serious they can be. The Scouts and the adult chaperones saw the potential consequences of driving (or being in a vehicle with a driver) under the influence. The scene will prompt many of the ‘witnesses’ to have a keen interest in learning the basics of emergency first aid. Bringing an accident scene to life helps people to have a greater understanding of the nightmarish situation that drinking and driving can result in. Most of the young audience has already heard “I’m fine, I just had a few, I’m OK to drive” or know of family or friends who get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, now they have seen what can happen. The scouts, like many young adults who have participated in this mock crash, can be moved by some of the details that are part of an accident scene, sirens, lights, blood, crying, handcuffs, the sight is designed to be realistic...and disturbing.

Support from the Delhi Fire Department, EMS and police as well as Bill Peet of Hall and Peet Funeral Home in Delhi make this sad event possible with the hopes that the witnesses will make wise decisions about driving intoxicated or getting into a vehicle driven by someone under the influence. If you or your organization would like to find out more about this program that has already had a tremendous impact in curbing DWI accidents, call STOP DWI Coordinator Lisa Barrows at 746-8400.

A recent article in the M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Publication reported that programs for pre-school age children have begun in some areas of the country. The pre-school programs are centered mostly in high-risk target areas where there are greater instances of DWI that involve small children as passengers. The lesson for young children is similar to that given to any others; do not get into a vehicle being driven by someone who has been drinking. Ask someone for help, call 911 or implore the driver to stay put. Always buckle up, even if it normally is the responsibility of an adult to secure the seat belts or car seat restraining device. Do not leave it up to the adult if they appear to have forgotten. Whether it’s a four year old who knows just how to get attention by having a tantrum or an exuberant teen getting a ride home from a school dance, children need to be reminded not to distract the driver. Theses are lessons that one is never too young to too old to learn.