Waukon High School, ASAP host mock accident to emphasize impact of impaired or distracted driving
Mock accident hopes to have real impact … Waukon High School and Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) teamed up with emergency services and law enforcement personnel to stage this mock two-vehicle accident near the Waukon High School Wednesday, April 25 in an effort to drive home to students the impact of what impaired or even distracted driving can result in. As evident in the photo above, the high school students observed the aftermath of the crash that involved their own classmates portraying the victims of the accident and included response activity from local law enforcement, emergency medical and rescue personnel, and even the local funeral home. The event was originally scheduled to be held a week earlier, prior to the Waukon High School Prom weekend, but had to be rescheduled due to winter weather conditions. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Further emphasizing the possible consequences ... The mock vehicle accident presented by Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) and Waukon High School Wednesday, April 25 in conjunction with emergency services personnel from the Waukon Police Department, Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa State Patrol, Waukon Area Fire Protection District, Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service and Gundersen Lutheran MedLink Air Ambulance was a practice in emphasizing to students at Waukon High School the significant consequences that can result from choices they make when it comes to driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances, or even while distracted by texting, cell phone usage or other means. The surrounding images from the mock accident scene portray some of what the Waukon High School student body witnessed during the student-proposed mock accident presentation. Standard photos by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
Waukon High School and Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), in collaboration with Allamakee County’s area emergency services, conducted a mock accident Wednesday, April 25 near the Waukon High School parking lot. The event was an effort to emphasize the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances, showing a simulated automobile accident scene resulting from an impaired driver with the response of law enforcement and emergency personnel in assisting accident victims.
The event was originally scheduled for a week earlier, prior to the Waukon High School Prom weekend as a stark reminder of the possible results of making poor choices. However, the spring snowstorm that closed area schools Wednesday, April 18 forced postponement of the event to a week later.
The simulation involved the aftermath of a head-on collision with the arrival of law enforcement including the Iowa State Patrol, Waukon Police Department and the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department, as well as the Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service, which tended to the accident victims. The Waukon Fire Department used Jaws of Life cutting equipment to free victims trapped within a vehicle, completely removing car doors and a car roof in gaining access to victims during the simulation, which portrayed one fatality, one seriously injured and multiple other victims with injuries.
As the cause of the accident, the individual portraying the impaired driver was handcuffed and arrested by an Iowa State Trooper as his classmates looked on. After being helped by emergency medical personnel, the seriously injured victim was transported away from the accident scene in the Gundersen Health System’s Medlink Air helicopter, all of this aftermath taking place as the Waukon High School student body looked on.
ASAP Director of Prevention Services Jean Bossom commented, “It is important to talk with students about the dangers of underage drinking, but actually showing them the impact that a crash like this has on their friends, school and community really drives the message home. What was special about this event is that a group of high school students presented the idea to stage the mock crash - this was their idea. They felt passionately that it was important for their peers to see the consequences that can occur as a result of underage drinking.”
Bossom further shared, “Our goal is to make sure that no one is ever impacted by a preventable and senseless event like the one we put on today. We are very appreciative for all of the emergency responders and other volunteers from the community that helped make this event so successful.”
Waukon High School Assistant Principal and Activities Director Brian Hilsabeck commented, “Our hope in putting together the mock accident was to positively impact our students and help guide them to make the right decisions. Drinking and driving is 100% choice and if we can impact one student from this mock accident, then it was effective and completely worth it. I want to thank all of the entities that participated to show the consequences and reality of the negative effects of impaired/distracted driving. It was amazing to see how many different departments/companies all willingly, without hesitation, came together to the table to be involved to help our students, as this was all about raising awareness. It was a very successful event that we hope will stick in the minds of our youth for some time to come.”
The student response has been overwhelmingly positive regarding the impact of the mock accident on future choices relating to impaired driving and alcohol use. Several students in attendance commented about the realism of this exercise as being an important factor, helping drive home the point that impaired driving has negative and potentially deadly consequences.
Aubree Cota, the student portraying the fatality in the mock accident, stated, “Going into this event, I was very worried that I would smile or laugh under the pressure, but as I lay there on the hood listening to everything going on around me, it all became too real. It wasn’t until I heard them talk about notifying my mom for positive ID, that I started crying. All that I could think about was how crushed she would be and how I would feel as if I disappointed her as I lay there easing into death.”
Lauren Elliott commented on seeing Cota’s mother at the accident scene during the mock accident. “It’s surreal seeing Aubree’s mom. It made me think about the parent in that situation,” she shared.
Donald Mondy, another student in attendance, commented, “It’s about awareness, about being smart while driving. Why would you be selfish or irresponsible? One night out could ruin a person’s life.”
For more information on ASAP’s efforts to prevent underage drinking and the reality of such tragedies as was portrayed in the April 25 mock accident, contact ASAP Director of Prevention Services Jean Bossom at 563-568-2204 or at jbossom@co.allamakee.ia.us., or visit ASAP’s office at the Allamakee County Courthouse, located at 110 Allamakee Street in Waukon.
