A shockingly realistic lesson on safe, no distracted driving
If you were in Blue Earth on Thursday just after 12 noon, you might have heard a bunch of sirens and even seen a helicopter land near the high school.
And, you might have been wondering what was going on. Or maybe you saw the short item in last week’s Register which said there was going to be a Mock Car Crash Demonstration at the Blue Earth Area High School on Thursday, April 27, at 12:20 p.m.
There was indeed. It was supposed to have been held the previous Friday, April 21, but cold and off and on snow and sleet caused it to be postponed.
Maybe you wondered just what a Mock Car Crash Demonstration actually is. Perhaps you think two cars crash into each other and that is about it.
But it isn’t. There are two cars and they are staged to look like they have just crashed into each other.
Two emergency personnel hold up a big tarp to hide the scene, as students from three area high schools fill some bleachers and rows of chairs that have been set up outside the south side gym doors at BEA High School.
A very brief intro is given over a loud speaker system, and then the tarp is taken away showing the crash scene. You can see a student lying on the pavement and a second one staggering out of one of the cars. You can see some heads through the windows.
BEA School Resource Officer Barry Meyers can be heard over the loudspeaker making the 911 call, and you can hear the Faribault County dispatcher’s response, “911, what is your emergency?” And then Meyers saying a two vehicle crash at BEA High School with multiple victims.
The dispatcher is heard over the loudspeakers calling the Winnebago and Blue Earth fire departments, ambulance services and sheriff.
Sirens are heard off in the distance and then emergency vehicles start showing up, and firemen, ambulance EMTs and law enforcement officers arrive on the scene, assess the situation and go to work.
Just like it is the real thing. Because, trust me, it sure looks like the real deal. Right down to the blood.
Over the loudspeaker you can hear emergency personnel requesting the medivac helicopter to come, and shockingly, wanting the funeral home hearse, to be dispatched to the scene, as well.
Firemen take a blanket and cover the boy lying on his back on the parking lot pavement.
Firemen work diligently with the Jaws of Life to get the doors open on the two vehicles and get all of the victims out of the cars and onto ambulance gurneys. It takes a while but they look like they have been well trained and know what they are doing.
The helicopter arrives and lands near the crash scene. Two emergency personnel come out of it to assist.
Three victims are taken by ambulance to UHD hospital. One is flown out in the helicopter to an area hospital. And, unfortunately, two are taken away in the hearse.
From when the 911 call went out at 12:26, until the ambulances and helicopter had left and the firemen and law enforcement were shutting down the scene, the students were dismissed at just a couple minutes before 1 p.m.
They were sent off with a short message about driving safe, no distracted driving, and being careful any time you are behind the wheel.
I was busy taking a lot of photos – and I mean, a lot of photos – during the Mock Crash Demonstration. But I also took some time to look over at the students who were watching all this unfold.
They were paying attention. Some looked concerned and some seemed to be a bit shocked at what they were witnessing.
I didn’t see much being non-attentive or horsing around. Not even when they were dismissed and sent back to class or back to their home school. The walked off silently or quietly talking to each other.
I’d like to think this made an impact on the way these students will drive in the future. I know it is a lot of work to organize and put on one of these mock drills. But, from what I could tell last Thursday afternoon, it was worth it.
Perhaps this mock accident should be shown to adults, too. Perhaps people would slow down a little and put down that cell phone.
One of my famous “Cheers” goes out to all of those who were involved in any way with this Mock Car Crash Demonstration.
Nicely done.