Gulf

Shores High School is partnering with community agencies for an

upcoming car crash reenactment – “Operation Scared Safe” – to be

held during prom week on the school’s campus.  The

purpose of this safety event is to teach possible consequences of

driving under the influence.  It will consist of local

emergency service vehicles responding to a crash scene with student

actors portraying injured passengers.  Emergency

services will be coordinated by John Heronime with Gulf Shores Fire

Rescue and Craig Stephenson with Orange Beach Fire

Department. 

On

campus, the event is being coordinated by the Drivers Education and

Peer Helper classes led by Marcus Early and Amy

McKenzie.  Early stated “This event is intended to

make an impact with our students and, hopefully, save

lives. 

We are

so thankful for the support that we are receiving from our local

emergency services and businesses who have come together to make

this life-saving event a reality on our campus.” 

Community agencies participating in this event will

include:  Gulf Shores Fire Rescue, Gulf Shores Police

Department, City of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach Police Department,

Orange Beach Fire Department, Medstar, Pine Rest Funeral Home,

Baptist LifeFlight, Gulf Shores Service Center, and Crawley

Productions. Local State Farm agent, Frances Holk-Jones, is

sponsoring this safety event.  Holk-Jones stated, “Car

crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for

teens.  We at State Farm strive to educate our teens

on driver safety and the risks involved with driving under the

influence.”  Following the crash scene reenactment,

students will be asked to sign a “prom promise” pledging not to

drink and drive on prom night.  According to the

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one out of three of

car crashes among teens is alcohol related (NHTSA,

2009).