The Clackamas print., June 01, 2011, Page 3, Image 3

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Wednesday, Jone 1, 2011
The Clackamas Print
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3
Katie Aamatti Clackamas Print
hove: ASG member Kelsey Downs is tied down to a stretcher. For the simulation, Downs “died” on the way to the hospital.
elow: With the help of a local medic, firefighters Justin Lynn, Mike Corless and Trevor Cooper (left to right) tie The Print's Mandie Gavitt to a stretcher.
was on the backboard. Cooper said this is a common request.
“She never knew it could happen to her because she didn’t
The medics from the ambulance helped the fire­ drink,” said Lehr. “Drinking and driving affects everyone.”
fighters, but Lynn said this would not happen at a real
Though Lehr will be leaving Oregon Impact in June,
“The events are probably as close as you can get, but accident. Firefighters have special gear that medics do she said her years with the organization have been
is staged,” he said.
not have to protect them from hazards such as gasoline. remarkable. “I’ve really become aware of how important
Justin Lynn, a firefighter in the event, echoed this Medics normally wait elsewhere and the victims of the it is to get this message out to the community. I’m so
stement by saying, “Nobody’s hurt, there’s no stress, crash are brought to them. However, with less people and gratefill (the college is) making a difference to keep ...
ere’s no safety issues, there’s no timeframe issues. no safety concerns medics were able to help.
students safe.”
) the public it’s, ‘Yeah they’re cutting up a car but
Though Drum has been working these events for 10
Wachlin said that he felt events like the one at CCC
(body’s hurt.’”
years and was a first, she said the events still have an are effective, but mostly in the short term. He said it is
A firefighter came to my side of the car and asked if I impact on her. “Because responders do everything they important to perform such events right before a time when
id had alcohol. Even for a staged event, I did not want would in a real accident, it gets you every time,” she said. drinking and driving is more prominent, such as prom and
i admit to underage drinking. I believe my response was,
After the extraction was performed there were two Memorial Day weekend.
Jaybe a little bit.”
speakers: Ron Hasmon and Jill Spencer.
“If it prevents one person from getting in a wreck it’s
Lynn popped the tires to prevent the car from rolling,
Spencer lost her daughter, a Clackamas High School worth it,” said Lynn, the firefighter who cut my door.
bile Trevor Cooper, another firefighter on the scene, student when the car she was riding in hit a telephone
High schools often hold similar events through Oregon
imbed through the back window to get in the vehicle, pole, killing her instantly.
Impact around prom season. According to Lehr, the high
lour “accident” the glass had already been removed
Hasmon killed a mother and two children in January school program is more focused on the short-term deci­
pm the car to prevent real injuries. In an accident where of 1988 when he drove drunk. After serving a prison sen­ sions, whereas college programs strive to accomplish a
: back window is still intact, the firefighters would tence, he began telling his stoty in 1996.
better understanding of alcohol because college students
e tools to break the glass to get inside. Cooper held
“I thought a lot (while in jail) about what I had done are often of age to drink.
¡key’s head steady and communicated with me about and how it affected people, especially the husband and
According to Drum,-colleges events arg more challeng­
lat had happened. Kelsey and I both appreciated that father left behind,” he said. “I wanted to give a purpose ing as students havethd choice to attend;'However, Drum
and a meaning behind what I did to my victims.”
¡firefighters really helped to put us more at ease.
says that CCC generally has good turnouts for the event.
I was supposed to be screaming but was too nervous
Alcoholics Anonymous member Brent, who didn’t
Is acting in my future? Probably not. However, after
Later Cooper informed me that victims rarely scream want his last name used, said he has heard plenty of being “rescued” by the firefighters and EMTs I feel a
ce firefighters are on the scene.
excuses as to why people drink and drive, such as: “I was much greater appreciation for first responders. Knowing
We were covered with another tarp to protect us from only going to have one,” “I drive better when I’m drunk” how devastating these accidents can be really solidifies
y falling metal or glass. They then used the Jaws of and “I’m special, it will never happen to me.”
the importance of not driving while impaired. I doubt I’d
fe and cut off our doors, starting with the passenger
Brent said driving drunk is just selfishness. “It’s be laughing in a real accident.
le. Kelsey was removed from the vehicle and put on a not like they get in the car and think ‘I’m going to kill
If you’ve been drinking, there are numerous options
ck board to be loaded into the ambulance. Once she was people;’ they just wanted to drink.”
to keep you from endangering your life and the lives of
t, Cooper supported my head while I was safely out. I
Oregon Impact Executive Director Susan Lehr said others by getting behind the wheel. If a friend or family
is pu: on a backboard and once I was tied, strapped and that she feels events like Alcohol Awareness are important member can’t pick you up, call a taxi or the drunk driving
led in, I was rushed to the ambulance.
because drinking and driving hurts everyone. Her cousin dispatcher for a ride at 503-722-4042.
Terrified, I asked the firefighters not to drop me while I was severely injured when she was hit by a drunk driver.
Continued from Page 1
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