MACS Holds Mock DWI For Spring, Event Season Safety

by Contributor | May 17, 2024 10:31 am

OSWEGO COUNTY – The Students Against Destructive Decisions Club from Mexico High School staged a Mock DWI, sending a reminder to their fellow classmates during prom and dance season that drinking or using drugs and driving can have devastating consequences.

Students acted as if they were involved in a fatal Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) car crash, and real emergency responders and investigators responded to the scene, staged in the student parking area of MHS.

The scenario played out with harrowing realism, with a student actor stumbling out of the driver’s seat while slurring his words and other actors feigned major injuries, with one being critical. Several paramedics attended to the scene, while firefighters worked to cut apart the vehicles to remove the acting victims and police investigators meticulously documented the scene.

MACS senior Julianna Ricker got a unique vantage point for the Mock DWI, as she was among the first responder teams with Mexico’s McFee Ambulance. She said the experience was eye-opening and an important one.

“I just got my EMT certification four months ago and I’d never done anything with trauma,” said Ricker, who plans to attend SUNY Plattsburgh in the fall with hopes of becoming a trauma surgeon one day. “That was my first time being on a scene with so many people.”

Ricker added that the whole scene played out in a “very real” way and felt the final message would be one that her classmates would keep with them.

“To see my classmates all bloodied up, screaming, crying about their classmates, even if I know it is fake, it really hits home how important it is to not do things like that,” she said.

Afterward, the students heard real stories from locals impacted by reckless driving and DWI, before a mock trial and sentencing occurred, followed by a funeral complete with eulogies for the student actor who portrayed being fatally struck during the Mock DWI.

In addition to teaching students about the dangers of poor decisions behind the wheel, local New Haven Fire Department Chief Ken Bogart who was on scene said it also provides invaluable experience for first responders to practice patient removal techniques and cutting cars while in a lower stress situation.

“This mock crash is no different from a real crash for us,” said Bogart. “I told my guys that it wasn’t going to be stressful, we could take our time and learn from this. It worked out great, nice to have cars to cut apart.”

Organizations which helped set up and participate in the Mock DWI included Mexico Fire Department, New Haven Fire Department, Palermo Fire Department, McFee Ambulance, NYS Police, Oswego County Sheriff’s Department, Oswego County District Attorney’s Office, Harter Funeral Home, Mexico Town Judge, Stop DWI Oswego County Organization (run by Stacey Lighthall) and Wendy Peters, a victim impact presenter.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/macs-holds-mock-dwi-for-spring-event-season-safety/

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