In a staged reenactment, four Trinity High School students were involved in a two-car collision and experienced a traditional response from first responders during Owensboro Health’s annual Ghost Out Friday morning.
Students at Trinity High School got an up-close look at the consequences of impaired driving Friday as a daylong event simulated an age-impaired driving accident with teenagers on prom night, with actors who represented serious injuries that could occur.
The event, called “Ghost Out,” was hosted by Owensboro Health with participating agencies including the Whitesville and Daviess County Fire Departments, the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, Air Ambulance Air Evac , American Medical Response, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital Trauma Services, Cecil Funeral. House, and Cinderella’s wardrobe.
The mock crash scene was set up in front of Trinity High School, where students watched first responders conduct rescue and extrication efforts. The event was kept secret from the students so that they would be surprised when they went outside, as they would in the event of a real tragedy.
The event aims to educate students about safe driving practices, especially as they near the end of the school year when there are big events like graduation and graduation.
“Typically, that’s when teenagers are likely to get in their cars and drink alcohol or abuse some kind of substance. So we think if we can do it right at prom and graduation it will leave an impression on them at chief,” said Kay Ewing of Owensboro Health’s trauma and injury prevention services.
Ewing said a recent study showed Kentucky has the highest teen driver death rates in the nation, with 5.79 deaths per 10,000 licensed drivers annually between 2011 and 2020. Ewing stressed the importance of educating teens about proper driving habits, such as sober and sober driving. wearing seat belts.
“The literature showed that 44 percent of teen motor vehicle crash deaths could have been prevented if they had been wearing seat belts. I think that’s what scares me. We really started pushing again for teenagers to wear seat belts,” Ewing said.
Ewing said hosting this mock, while difficult, serves as a great example for students.
“I think it’s so wonderful,” she said. “I wish we had done it when we were teenagers and knew what we know now.”
After the presentation at the school, some students observed doctor simulations from the trauma division at Owensboro Regional Health Hospital. The day ended with an assembly where the importance of driving without problems was highlighted.
