The Grim Reaper visited Parklane Academy today.
If anyone formed a mental picture of the Angel of Death visiting the school, then the “Every 15 Minutes” program is well worth the months it takes to put on the macabre and detailed anti-drunk driving program, organizers say.
In an effort to send the message to youth, the Pike County Juvenile Drug Court is presenting the two-day program with the help of a team of local and regional first responders.
Organizers of the “Every 15 Minutes” Program hope to put a real-life fear into students’ minds about the dangers of texting or drinking while driving by staging the aftermath of grisly wreck scenes at schools.
Students portray deceased accident victims and drivers, who as part of the shocking lesson are led away in handcuffs, jailed and put on trial in an effort to send the message. Law enforcement and other participating agencies handle the scene as they would during an actual crash.
“This program takes in all possible effects of drinking and or texting and driving,” said Pike County Juvenile Drug Court case manager Charli Hensley. “We put kids in scenarios of the hazards of drunk driving or texting while driving without any of the risks.”
Hensley said the Grim Reaper pulled students out of class this morning every 15 minutes, the real-life time frame it takes for a youth to die in a traffic accident.
“For the rest of the day, that child is considered a ‘living dead’ and cannot communicate with anyone,” she said. “After the students are pulled out of class, officers with the sheriff’s department will make announcements that a child has been killed in a drunk-driving crash.”
Hensley said others taking part include McComb police, Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home and air evacuation personnel from Natchez.
In one of the staged accident scenes, the drunk driver was arrested, taken to jail and forced to wear an orange jumpsuit.
“We treat them just as a prisoner,” Hensley said.
In another scenario, a deceased driver’s body will be removed from a car with the Jaws of Life. Another has an injured driver being taken to Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The program continues Wednesday with a memorial service to those who “died.” It concludes with two speakers talking about the issues surrounding the dangers of texting while driving and drunk driving. A short video will follow. Participating students will be reunited with their families and read letters to their parents about what they would have liked to have told their parents before they “died.”
Hensley said the Every 15 Minutes program is popular in the northern and western parts of the country. Hensley’s office has staged the same program at South Pike and McComb High School.
“Due to the sheer volume of police officers, deputies, Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center staff, helicopters and funeral home staff, we’d love to do it more often, but it’s just not possible,” she said. “Once we get the school nailed down, it takes months to get the different aspects of this to come together. There are so many people behind the scenes. You have to coordinate all those schedules to find a time that works for everyone.”
Hensley said the program is one-of-a-kind.
“This is one of the most unique programs I’ve ever seen,” she said. “We’re the only one who does this in the state of Mississippi. I’m the only certified coordinator in the state of Mississippi.”
Because of the nature of the program, student participation is limited to sophomores, junior and seniors.
“It is pretty intense, but we are amazed by the number of teens who want to read their letters to their parents at the assembly at the memorial service,” Hensley said.
“It’s a program I’m passionate about. Unfortunately, in this area, we lose so many teens,” she said. “We’re hoping this in-your-face look at what can happen can force teens to make better choices and we won’t lose anyone else.”
