By Jessica Dillon
Magna Vista High School hosted this year’s mock disaster event ahead of its senior prom. Students enrolled in the EMT program at the Career Academy played a key role in helping stage the exercise.
The mock disaster is designed to show students the dangers and consequences of distracted driving. This year, student EMTs from the new program helped stage the event, along with support from Horsepasture Fire Department, Ridgeway Fire Department, Ridgeway Rescue Squad, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, Wright’s Funeral Home, the 911 Dispatch Center and Gregory’s Auto Body.
“We’re trying to have the opportunity for students at both schools, and the plan is, as we move forward with this EMT program at Career Academy, to have them participate in it or alternate schools each year,” said Brittany Winn.
“Last year, it was just the emergency personnel partnership with the school division, but since we were adding the EMT program, we thought it would be fitting for them to be the participants and help head up what the crash site was going to be.”
“The whole point behind this is we really want to instill in them the awareness of the impacts of distracted driving, particularly with prom. So it’s really going to be an impactful moment for these students.”
Student Rosalia Rivera played a driver in one of the wrecked vehicles. She said it was her first time seeing the event.
“I have not seen this before, but, I mean, yeah, I guess I would say I’m interested in it.”
Madeline Brown, a student in the EMT class, served as a victim and also assisted with cosmetology makeup.
“I am playing a victim, and I’m doing cosmetology makeup, too,” Brown said. She added that it is important to “spread awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence.”
“It means a lot to me because I had a family member die in a car wreck, and I just got my license in October,” said student Alexis Woods. “So it’s just going to help me realize what could happen.”
EMT instructor Melissa said she was excited about her students participating in the event.
“This gives them real-life scenario practice and shows them what a mass casualty incident looks like, and it’s also a great life lesson about distracted driving, driving intoxicated, those types of things,” she said. “So they understand what the consequences of actions can be. And then it also helps them on the EMT side with learning how to manage a mass casualty incident.”
“We’ve done scenarios in the classroom, but not full-fledged,” she said. “It is hard to get everybody here because we’re doing a lot with volunteers. We’ve got some great people that have partnered with us and are helping.”
