Crushed vehicles, a crying mother, maimed bodies, the arrest of a fellow student, and “deceased” friend – these are the images that local students see during a S.K.I.D. (Stop Kids Intoxicated Drinking) event. S.K.I.D.—sponsored by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office—graphically simulates the consequences of a motor vehicle collision involving students who choose to drink and drive. Students, playing the part of victims, have fake injuries and are placed in wrecked vehicles under a tarp on the back track/football field. As a 9-1-1 tape begins, the tarp is thrown back to reveal the wreckage and bodies while TVF&R Firefighter EMT/Paramedics and law enforcement officers respond to the incident. Firefighters use extrication tools to remove students from the wrecked cars and begin medical treatment; police officers put the driver through a sobriety test; students are loaded into ambulances; and a medical examiner places the ‘deceased’ student in a body bag for transport to a funeral home.
Thanks to a generous donation from Futrell Autowerks in Beaverton (OR), this realistic portrayal of a fatal car crash is available for viewing 24/7 on Comcast Video on Demand through July 2010. The video was produced by TVF&R and provides an excellent opportunity for parents to discuss safe driving practices with their teen drivers. The video can also be found on TVF&R’s YouTube site.
