Continuing a tradition spanning many years, members of the West Grove Fire Company, working closely with the Avon Grove High School administration, students in the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), the PA State Police and others, conducted a real-life car crash simulation designed to raise awareness for student drivers just before the annual prom season and summer break.

In previous years, the event had a focus on alcohol-related crashes, especially as SADD was formerly known as Students Against Drunk Drivers. But the focus on teenage driving incidents has shifted to distracted driving -- with students texting, on the phone, listening to loud music and distracted by passengers -- driving distractions that can be disastrous, even deadly. The goal of this program is to stage a very life-like auto crash, including victims in makeup, and show the students what happens in a crash, and fully leverage a full emergency response from fire, EMS and police units to an all-out effort to shock students into the realities of destructive decisions behind the wheel.

After weeks of planning led by WGFC fire safety and community education leader Lisa Glass, and with a fire response choreographed by Assistant Fire Chief Bob Hannan, the program came together. Multiple students were placed as victims in full make up into two wrecked cars. The damage vehicles were supplied by Rivera's Towing of West Grove and covered with tarps. Hundreds of students are led out to the parking lot. A short program explains the purpose of the program.

The tarps are removed, revealing two crashed cars, filled with bleeding and (simulated) dying patients. A WGFC narrator walk the students through how the accident happened (distracted driver texting behind the wheel). A 911 call is placed and the fire company begins a 15 minute actual accident response to the call. With sirens blaring, ambulances, medic units from Medic 94, and police units form the Avondale State Police barracks all arrive on the scene.

EMT's begin to size up the patients and triage. Officers establish command assess equipment needs. Firefighters arrive and gather and deploy tools needed to free trapped victims. State police offers begin their initial assessment. Though out all of this time, the fire company narrator helps the students understand what they are watching, pointing out the injuries, and helping students understand that some victims will succumb to their injuries. Ultimately, rescue tools will remove the roof and doors of both cars to provide access to the simulated victims.

With seven victims -- including fatalities -- the rescue evolution takes nearly 20 minutes. EMTs and paramedics actually treat these patients, and remove them to the ambulances for transport. And the State Police investigate and arrest the driver. The simulation is very real, and the amazing quiet of 200 students is in stark contrast to the noise of the fire trucks and equipment being used.

When the rescue simulation is complete, it is obvious that a tough message has been delivered -- a real reality check on the impact of distracted driving. Short presentations from SADD and State Farm insurance help hit home on the responsibilities that young drivers have behind the wheel -- especially with pending prom, graduation and summer season in front of the students in May and June. The strong messages of "that text could end it all" and "don't let us meet by accident" were driven home to the students.

After the program is complete, the students can walk up close to the damaged cars, tour the fire trucks and ambulances and ask questions. Later, the two damaged cars are placed in front of the high school, where they will remain until after the school year is completed in June.

More than 50 people were involved in planning and executing this program. It is one of the most important safety education programs run the by the West Grove Fire Company at the Avon Grove Schools. Our thanks to the school administration (Activities Director Vanessa Robitson; Principal Thomas Alexander), teachers, SADD volunteers and Sherry Gillooly advisor, the office of State Farm in West Grove (including Linda Ingenthron), Medic 94Carlos Rivera of Rivera's Towing of West Grove, and Trooper Manucci of the State Police for their cooperation.