By Alec Marchant
Staff writer
The Manhattan Beach Police and Fire Departments in partnership with Costa’s People Attaining Complete Equality held “Every Fifteen Minutes” at Mira Costa on June 2 and 3.
The event featured a simulation of a car crash on the first day, and was followed by an assembly on the second day. The assembly dealt with the dangers and effects of driving while intoxicated.
“I think that the administration did a fantastic job and really showed the students the horrors of intoxication-induced automobile accidents,” English teacher Shannon Vaughan said. “I think ‘Every Fifteen Minutes’ was an overall success.”
On June 2, Costa students pretended to be bloody and bruised as they lay atop cars and broken glass on Costa’s north athletic field. The junior and senior class sat and watched as the fictional fate of their classmates was played out in front of them.
Seniors Allie Wisialowski, Joe McMahon, Ryan Ascencio and Sydney Pratt participated in the crash simulation. During the simulation, police and firefighters followed procedures that would be used in a real accident.
“I thought that the assembly was very well produced and realistic,” junior Jenn Freeman said. “It really showed me how fragile life is, and that it can be taken away by one mistake, whether the mistake is either a wrong turn or a few sips.”
This year’s “Every 15 Minutes” simulation involved more policemen and firefighters than the previous event in 2009. This was a change that P.A.C.E. advisor Rocky Wilson believed helped to create a more realistic environment for the car crash simulation.
“It is our hope that this [more realistic assembly] will take hold in [both] the students’ minds and in their memories,” Wilson said.
To symbolize the victims of drunk driving accidents, various Costa students were chosen to be “killed” in the fake crash.
Every fifteen minutes, the “Grim Reaper” pulled these selected students out of class. For the rest of the day, they wore grey face paint and were stalked by a “Grim Reaper” through the halls. A few of the “dead” students were also chosen to participate in the second day’s assembly.
“It was an eye-opening experience,” senior participant Aryn Foland said. “Having to sit in class silent and not interact with my peers was very hard for me. I was really emotional all day; all I could think about was how my parents would react if the situation had been real.”
An assembly in the auditorium took place the following day. It consisted of obituary readings from students and parents who participated in “Every Fifteen Minutes”. A slideshow and an emotional testimonial from the father of former Costa student Henry Pearson, who was killed in a drunk driving accident were also included.
“We hope that ‘Every Fifteen Minutes’ will help Mira Costa students think about making the right decisions in the future,” Wilson said.
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