'Every 15 Minutes' program held in Montclair
It was a sobering two days for Montclair High students last week as they experienced the presentation "Every 15 Minutes."
The program is designed to reach students' cognitive and emotional levels of awareness about the dangers associated with driving while under the influence of alcohol. The program is held purposely just before prom to have the utmost effect on the students.
"This showed us a lot of graphic stuff that really relayed that everyone is in danger and you always have to be cautious," said Nataly Macedo, a Montclair junior.
The program is designed to reach students' cognitive and emotional levels of awareness about the dangers associated with driving while under the influence of alcohol. The program is held purposely just before prom to have the utmost effect on the students.
"This showed us a lot of graphic stuff that really relayed that everyone is in danger and you always have to be cautious," said Nataly Macedo, a Montclair junior.
Photos by Jennifer Maher
On March 31, fire and police personnel responded to a simulated traffic collision involving students from the high school.
They treated the scenario as real while the students watched from the sidelines. The program lasted two days and involved the removal of a student from class every 15 minutes by the "Grim Reaper" and a simulated crash where four passengers are "killed" - one on-scene, one in the emergency room, one in the operating room, and one in the intensive care unit.
The "drunken driver" is taken into custody.
The "deceased" students are not allowed to contact family members until after their "funeral" the following day.
At a school assembly on April 1 the students returned to school for a somber reunion with their families and classmates.
Guest speaker Jason Barber also shared his sobering story of drinking and driving and losing his brother.
Parent Gloria Ortiz said the presentation was life changing.
"I am ashamed to admit that I've got behind the wheel after drinking," she said with tears in her eyes. "When I see my daughter I'm going to give her a big hug and tell her that will never happen again, things will change."
Like Ortiz, Nataly confessed to making some wrong choices.
The 16-year-old was in a car with a person who was drinking.
"I wasn't drinking so I think I'm not going to get hurt," she said.
Nataly said the driver almost hit a bus.
"If I could do it all over again, I would have taken the key away from that person or I wish I would have called my mom and say, 'My driver is drunk and I don't want to die,"' she said.
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