“Every 15 Minutes someone in the United States dies in an alcohol related accident. Today it was me,” said one Los Alamitos High School student. It is the opening sentence of the letters 35 participants wrote their parents for the “Every 15 Minutes” program on Thursday and Friday.
Life’s lessons are best learned through experience. Unfortunately, when the target audience is teens and the topic is drinking and driving, experience is not the teacher of choice. The Every 15 Minutes Program offers real-life experiences without the real-life risks.
Under the leadership of the Youth Center in Los Alamitos and in collaboration with many community public/private organizations as well as many volunteers, the event took place at Los Alamitos High School and near the intersection of Cerritos Avenue and Los Alamitos Blvd., where a rescue helicopter landed.
This emotionally charged event is designed to dramatically instill teenagers with about the dangerous consequences of drinking alcohol. It challenges them to think about personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions. “This program has been incredibly emotional and impactful,” said Alison Bayer, one participant. “It’s so powerful and reaches so many people.”
During the first day’s events the “Grim Reaper” calls students out of class who had been selected from a cross-section of the entire student body at LAHS. One student is removed from class every 15 minutes. A police officer immediately enters the classroom to read an obituary, which is written by the “dead” student’s parents. It explains the circumstances of their classmate’s demise and the contributions the student made to the school and the community. Simultaneously, uniformed officers made mock death notifications to the parents of these teens at their home, place of employment or business.
The morning of the simulated traffic accident at LAHS, rescue workers treat the injured student participants, where they experienced the first-hand sensations of being involved in a tragic, alcohol-related collision. Student victims were then extricated by the jaws-of-life manned by firemen and paramedics, with the coroner at the scene to handle deaths.
A helicopter airlifted a victim to be treated at the local hospital. Police Officers investigated, arrested, and booked the “drunk driver.” Students went on an actual trip to the morgue, the hospital emergency room, and to jail.
At the end of the day, the students who participated in the staged accident and who made-up the “living dead” were transported to a local hotel for an overnight retreat. The retreat simulated separation from family and friends, with counselors and police officers to facilitate.
During it the students wrote letters to their parents, each beginning with, “Dear Mom and Dad, every 15 minutes someone in the United States dies from an alcohol-related accident, and today it was me.” Meanwhile, parents were at the Youth Center writing similar letters to their children.
On the following morning, a mock funeral service was held at the LAHS with an assembly that began with a video of normal school day activities. It included scenes from the first day of the “Grim Reaper” and the staged accident. Speakers included Antonio Carillo, who killed his friend in an alcohol-related accident. Students then read letters they wrote to their parents, and parents read letters to their children. The assembly stressed the effects of consuming alcohol and how it can affect many more people than just those who drink.
“Being a part of Every 15 Minutes and being ‘dead’ for a day changed my perspective on life forever,” wrote Skye Meredith on her Instagram at the end of the program. “Every choice we make affects our path and can change someone else’s. Take every moment you have and cherish it because you never know which one will be your last.”
The goal of the event is to utilize strengths, talents and resources of public and private organizations in order to prevent drunk driving. Participating were Los Alamitos Police Department, Orange County Fire Authority, Los Alamitos Medical Center, Orange County Courts, Cypress Forest Lawn, Seal Beach Lions and Leo’s Clubs.
Funding for Every 15 Minutes is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information about the program, please visit online at www.Every15Minutes.com or www.theYouthCenter.com.
