Williamson Medical Center EMT David Diaz and paramedic Amy Sullivan stabilize the neck of a student as classmates watch during the scenario

By CHELSEA BLACKBURN
Brentwood Home Page
With Prom weekend here, Williamson Medical Center Emergency Medical Services, the Franklin Police Department, and the Franklin Fire Department joined forces on Thursday to spread the news about the tragedies that can result from drinking and driving.

EMS student Charlie Boyle plays the part of injured passenger in the simulation.

The importance of showing the students the real-life consequences of drinking and driving is particularly relevant now. Brentwood, Ravenwood and Centennial high schools’ proms are being held Saturday night.

“On average, 3000 teenagers between the ages of 15-20 die a year from auto accidents,” said Chris McGlacken, paramedic with Williamson Medical Center. “Many teens see accidents on television or in video games, but we want to make it real for them.”

At Centennial High School, students who were in their study hall were invited outside to watch the detailed scenario. The scene depicted a group of students who were driving in a car with a drunk driver that had crashed. Bystanders as well as those students in the car were severely injured. EMS arrived on the scene to treat the students while the police performed field sobriety tests and arrested the drunk driver.

Students who are taking Centennial’s EMS classes performed the roles of victims and first responders at the scene.

“We're showing victims with severe injuries, and the students are performing triage as if this crash was real,” EMS teacher Bay Clevenger said.

Junior Merlyn Thomas had the job of coordinating the event between the EMS, police, and fire departments. Having taken EMS classes since her freshman year, Merlyn is interested in becoming a pharmacist.

She explained the simulation would be presented six times over the course of the school day.

While Centennial is the first school that this program has been presented at, McGlacken hopes to bring it to more local high schools. “We want to show the students the aftermath of some of their decisions. We want to leave an impression on them,” he said.