Whitko Students Learn About Dangers Of Drunk Driving
April 23, 2024 at 4:57 p.m.
SOUTH WHITLEY – Students at Whitko Jr./Sr. High School viewed and participated in a mock accident through Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Tuesday.
As part of Operation: Prom/Graduation, SADD organizes a mock accident event to raise awareness among students attending prom and graduation parties, urging them to prioritize safety and responsible decision. This simulation portrays the impact of impaired driving, encouraging students to reflect on their actions and empowering them with knowledge for making informed choices, according to provided information.
Tracy Rhodes, SADD sponsor, said, “Our mission is to educate and inform our students on making destructive decisions and trying to prevent that. We’ve had SADD for a good many years on and off. This is our second Operation: Prom/Graduation event. In between years, we do little mini things just for juniors and seniors.”
Firefighters work on a car during a mock accident Tuesday. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-UnionDuring the mock accident, a realistic car crash scenario caused by drunk and reckless driving is staged, which is to illustrate the consequences on individuals and communities, stated the information. Rhodes said it’s supposed to illustrate the consequence if a student drives drunk and how emergency personnel handle things.
“We have had several students ... You’re always going to have a student that thinks it’s funny or whatever, but we’ve had students that think it’s a really good program, they’re going to start being more careful. And that’s what we want to hear. We want to hear kids impacted by that,” she said.
After the mock accident, students were able to ask questions “so it’s an ongoing process,” Rhodes said. She hopes from the event, students learn to think before they act.
Emergency agencies who participated in Tuesday's event at Whitko were Columbia Township Fire Department, Pierceton Fire Department, Sidney Fire Department, Richland Township Fire Department, Pierceton Police Department, South Whitley Police Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Whitley County EMS, Smith & Sons Funeral Home and Samaritan.
SOUTH WHITLEY – Students at Whitko Jr./Sr. High School viewed and participated in a mock accident through Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Tuesday.
As part of Operation: Prom/Graduation, SADD organizes a mock accident event to raise awareness among students attending prom and graduation parties, urging them to prioritize safety and responsible decision. This simulation portrays the impact of impaired driving, encouraging students to reflect on their actions and empowering them with knowledge for making informed choices, according to provided information.
Tracy Rhodes, SADD sponsor, said, “Our mission is to educate and inform our students on making destructive decisions and trying to prevent that. We’ve had SADD for a good many years on and off. This is our second Operation: Prom/Graduation event. In between years, we do little mini things just for juniors and seniors.”
Firefighters work on a car during a mock accident Tuesday. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-UnionDuring the mock accident, a realistic car crash scenario caused by drunk and reckless driving is staged, which is to illustrate the consequences on individuals and communities, stated the information. Rhodes said it’s supposed to illustrate the consequence if a student drives drunk and how emergency personnel handle things.
“We have had several students ... You’re always going to have a student that thinks it’s funny or whatever, but we’ve had students that think it’s a really good program, they’re going to start being more careful. And that’s what we want to hear. We want to hear kids impacted by that,” she said.
After the mock accident, students were able to ask questions “so it’s an ongoing process,” Rhodes said. She hopes from the event, students learn to think before they act.
Emergency agencies who participated in Tuesday's event at Whitko were Columbia Township Fire Department, Pierceton Fire Department, Sidney Fire Department, Richland Township Fire Department, Pierceton Police Department, South Whitley Police Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Whitley County EMS, Smith & Sons Funeral Home and Samaritan.