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.