FIFTY Year 10 DDHS students witnessed six Fire Brigade and three St John Ambulance volunteers cut two injured people from the wreck of a car that had run into the trailer of a truck.
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With many of them waiting to get their driver's licence next year, this true to life exercise is in place to show them the results of accidents and hopefully instill in them the necessity for safe and sensible driving when they do get their licence and get behind a wheel of a vehicle.
The programme was started in Bridgetown because of young lives lost on the roads and has also been part of the Donnybrook High School curriculum for the past few years.
Garry Davis, Acting Principal of Mead Street Primary, who originally came from Bridgetown, said he had visited the school there and looked at their programme, and brought a similar format to Donnybrook. Road Safety films were also part of the programme.
The students were first addressed on the role of the Fire Brigade, before moving on to the police station. There they looked at what happened if they were booked for any driving offence. This included hoon cars and the points lost if they were P platers. They also watched a demonstration of a breathalyser test.
Next they travelled to the scene of the simulated accident at Licciardello's cool store sheds, where the Fire Brigade and ambulance officers extricated the two injured people; the pregnant driver had sustained the worst injuries and her passenger less serious injuries.
After most of the car had been dismantled, the victims were carefully carried to the waiting ambulance.
At the hospital, students were told of the treatment given to accident victims which, depending on the severity of their injuries, could even mean calling the helicopter to transfer them to Perth.
After lunch they listened to Jessica Baker, who suffered a broken neck as a result of a car accident 10 years ago. Ms Baker, who has spoken every year, explained that although the physical injuries would heal the trauma of the accident had stayed with her since and was not easy to ignore.
Mr Davis said the day was once again successful and the students appreciated the whole opportunity to experience and absorb what can happen when gaining their licence. Comments from some of them were that it was good to see many people help out and give their time and that it was great and meaningful. The Road Safety Films were very thought provoking and the accident scene felt realistic. Many students were worried when they realised how long it took. Another student commented on the effects on the family and the volunteers when called about the accident, and that the police made him realise he had to be responsible with his licence.
"As always this day would not be able to happen without the cooperation and work of so many people," Mr Davis said. “I would like to thank Licciardello's for allowing us to use the undercover area of the cool store sheds for the last three years. A big thank you to Peter Clifford who every year donates his time to deliver the accident car, and then return to collect the now wrecked car. Peter also delivers as many as five cars a year to the Fire Brigade for training purposes. Once again he delivers them whole and collects the pieces at the end of the training session. Thank you to Linda Atherton at the police station for organising that part of the format.”
Mr Davis said he would also like to thank Les and Eileen Combes and Max Gibbons for supplying buses and to Anne Christian for driving the bus on the day.
“Thank you to Wendy Cain and Gwendoline Nidd for organising the food and the P and C and Shire for catering for the day,” he said.
Mr Davis said as a result of the programme, Bridgetown deaths of young people had dropped off, which was great to see.
