Fairfield First Responders Stage Pre-Prom H.S. Crash Demos

FAIRFIELD, CT -- On Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15, at around 9:30 a.m. near the front entrances of Fairfield Ludlowe and Warde High Schools, the sound of motor vehicle accidents once again rented the air and students lined the sidewalks to watch simulated motor vehicle accidents in advance of their proms being held. Students pulled tarps from wrecked cars, passengers and drivers emerged in various states of distress, and sirens blared as police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances responded to the scenes.

The annual demonstrations are hosted by Fairfield’s Ludlowe and Warde High Schools to illustrate to their assembled Junior Classes the dangers of driving distracted or under the influence. Under the direction of Student Assistance Counselors Timothy Morris at Ludlowe and Stephanie Swist at Warde, student re-enactors rehearsed their roles for several weeks in advance of these “Mock Crashes”, preparing their performance as driver or passenger, bystander or patient. The counselors scheduled participating agencies and made arrangements for the vehicles to be brought, damaged to simulate the crash, and removed afterwards.

At Ludlowe on Thursday and Warde on Friday, guest speakers offered personal experiences of the hazards of driving under the influence and its repercussions. Then an audiotape of car conversations was heard followed by the sounds of a crash. Students watched silently as their peers called in the emergency, confronted or helped one another, and interacted with incoming Fairfield Police and Fire officers, firefighters, American Medical Response paramedics and EMTs, as they performed their duties at the simulated accident.

One driver was arrested and taken away in handcuffs, passengers were extricated by fire personnel using hydraulic tools, patients were removed by long board and stretcher to awaiting ambulances which pulled away from the scene, and the last victim was placed in the back of a black van from Lesko & Polke Funeral Home serving in place of the State Medical Examiner.

After closing remarks by Ludlowe Headmaster Greg Hatzis on Thursday and Warde Headmaster James Coyne on Friday wishing a safe and memorable Junior Prom to all in attendance, the students were sent back to their classes as Fairfield’s first responders pulled out of the parking lots and returned to their regular duties.

PHOTO: Fairfield’s First Responders at Warde High School's Pre-Prom Crash Demonstration.

F
Submitted by Fairfield, CT

Become a Local Voice in Your Community!

HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected.

Read Next