Reality education
Torus Tammer
FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- Last week, the city Police Department and Los
Amigos High School presented a two-day program for students about the
dangers related to the irresponsible and excessive consumption of alcohol
and how it can effect such things as their personal safety and driving
habits.
Cathy Draeger, Los Amigos counselor and coordinator of the Every 15
Minutes program, said the program was very successful because it helped
the students to focus on their behavior and their choices instead of the
dramatic re-creation of a fatal traffic accident as well as other
presentations that happened throughout the entire day.
“Although they may drink or continue to drink, the program goal is to
have them focus on their actions and encourage them to act responsibly,”
Draeger said.
The order of events began March 28 when a fatal alcohol-related
traffic accident was reenacted on Heil Avenue with Police Department,
Fire Department, Orange County coroner’s office and other agencies
present.
The faux-injured (students) were then transported to the hospital and
the person responsible for the accident was supposedly arrested --
experiencing the entire booking process.
Throughout the day, a cross section of the student body were removed
by the Grim Reaper and their mock obituaries were read and death
notifications were delivered by a police officer and a police chaplain.
“One class cried when a fellow student was taken out of the class and
the police officer read the student’s obituary,” Draeger said.
On March 30, the school assembled and heard Fountain Valley Police
Chief Elvin Miali and nationally acclaimed speaker Gary Zelesky deliver
luminous talks on responsibility as well as accountability.
“They reacted well to the speakers,” said Fountain Valley Police Sgt.
Jim Perry. “You had to be there to see their facial expressions . . .
they were taking the speakers to heart.”
The title of the program comes from the fact that every 15 minutes
someone in the United States dies in an alcohol-related accident, said
Perry, who added that the Police Department and the high school are
working to lead the community in efforts to reduce alcohol-related
traffic collisions.
The Every 15 Minutes program is presented prior to prom and graduation
activities.
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