Mock accident presents real-life impact
Emergency responders zip up a deceased victim from the mock crash scenario demonstrated by Grant County volunteers to high school students at River Ridge Tuesday morning. (Photo by Correne Martin)
Emergency personnel assess the mock crash scene and prepare to utilize the Jaws of Life to remove victims from a vehicle and one of the injured, Bryan Maring, onto a stretcher. (Photos by Correne Martin)
River Ridge freshmen through senior students reacted emotionally during many portions of the mock crash scenario Tuesday morning in the high school parking lot.
The “drunken driver,” Jonathan Breuer, is taken away in handcuffs by Deputy John Barker.
By Correne Martin
The sounds of emergency sirens, the Jaws of Life popping metal and breaking glass, and a body bag being zipped up were bone-chilling as silence fell upon the River Ridge High Schoolers Tuesday morning. They watched intensely as a serious and emotional mock accident scenario unfolded in front of their eyes: a two-vehicle crash took the life of one, injured two others and resulted in OWI charges.
“It was pretty scary. I didn’t like it at all. I hope it never happens,” stated student actress Shannon Sturmer, who was a passenger in one of the vehicles and “died” in the crash.
The volunteer entities participating included the Bloomington Fire Department, West Grant Rescue Squad, Grant County Sheriff’s Department, Martin Funeral Home and B&M Auto. Led by Denny Cathman, of the rescue squad, 10 firemen, four EMTs and one deputy gave their time to present the mock accident lesson.
The first person on the simulated scene was Deputy John Barker. After assessing the accident and making contact with the individuals in both vehicles, he turned his attention to the most severely injured victim until EMTs and firefighters arrived. Emergency responders then stabilized the car and the Jaws of Life next cracked both front doors off one of the vehicles in order to provide medical attention to those inside. The “intoxicated driver,” played by student actor Jonathan Breuer, sustained minor injuries and, for the purposes of demonstration, went through sobriety tests on-scene.
The driver of the other car, student actor Bryan Maring, was placed on a stretcher and taken in an ambulance.
Sturmer was pulled from the vehicle, placed on a board, covered with a white sheet and then laid into a body bag. This was one of the most solemn moments for the freshmen through seniors watching. Tiffany Kramer, of Martin Funeral Home, then wheeled the “body” into her organization’s van to be taken away for funeral planning.
Once the scenario ended, the students gave a round of applause to the volunteers providing the real-life learning experience. They then asked questions of the authorities. The group learned about funeral services, organ donation, felony OWI procedures, death calls to loved ones, statistics about driving under the influence, accident reconstruction, and more.
“If you learned one thing, or we’ve saved one life, this is worth it,” Cathman said. “We’re very lucky for the personnel we have, but these people don’t want to have to do this.”
The River Ridge High School Junior Prom is this weekend. The mock accident was provided as a reminder not to drink and drive and to be safe while having fun.
