2003 Emergency Medical Service of the Year

Branson High School docudrama ‘wreck’ shows effects of teen drinking

Warmer weather is here, and with it comes road trips, prom, and unfortunately; higher rates of vehicle crashes. To educate students about the preventable nature of these wrecks, Branson High School students, officials, and local agencies teamed up to present a docudrama wreck in the high school parking lot.

 

“This exercise shows the collateral effect that takes place when a driver uses poor judgment. Drinking and driving is a dangerous combination and can change the lives of not only the passengers in the cars, but an entire family. It has a trickle‐down effect that can be devastating,” said Chip Arnette, BHS Principal.

 

“We purposely timed this event to coincide with our prom which is scheduled Saturday,” added Arnette. “We want our students to take a good look at the sobering fallout from a split‐second lapse in judgement.”

 

“The docudrama is the culmination of several years of talking and three months of planning,” said Debbie Jones, Student Council Co‐Advisor. “Branson High School Student Council met with Pam Holt of St. John’s, planned the specifics of the crash, and recruited student actors. The whole group met together with local emergency responders twice to insure an authentic recreation. With realistic make‐up and emergency response, students are deeply affected by what could be the reality of a bad decision to drink and drive.”

 

In preparation for the event, extra attention was given to every detail involved in a traumatic vehicle crash. The goal was to present every aspect of such an event, even if it is heartbreaking to watch. “As teens view the real life consequences of a motor vehicle crash, the situation allows them to understand the traumatic injuries that can result from poor decision‐making. It also allows the teen to understand that the consequences of such decisions affect more than just one person.” said Pam Holt, RN, BSN, St. John’s Injury Prevention Coordinator. BHS also provided school counselors to help students process the emotions stirred by the docudrama.

 

Students, officials, and responders alike felt the authentic nature of the docudrama. “Bad judgment cannot only effect their lives, but others such as the emergency services that respond to calls like these,” added Richard Cotter, TCAD Education Coordinator.

 

Emergency workers from area fire, medical, and law enforcement agencies agreed that teenage injuries and fatalities are haunting events to witness. “Working incidents with young students involved in major trauma is difficult even for the emergency responders,” said Ted Martin, Division Chief of Branson Fire Dept. “Events such as this are tragic. They are emotionally tough as emergency responders use the ‘Jaws of Life’ to extricate the victims from the vehicle, traumatic injuries are treated in the field by paramedic crews, and law enforcement investigates the cause and potentially makes an arrest of the suspected drunk driver – all of this is easily preventable.”

 

Branson Police Officer Kip Teitsort, School Resource Officer for BHS, believes that this docudrama will have a lasting impact on students. “We hope this docudrama, along with the ‘Safe and Sober Prom Night’ drives home the dangers and the seriousness of underage drinking. With the addition of our after prom event at the IMAX, I hope these students see how important they are to us in the community, and that’s why we do these things for them,” Teitsort stated.

Taney County Ambulance District

April 7, 2010