Part of the simulation was to have the crews to remove the roof of the vehicle so they could get the front passenger out. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Different Kind of P.A.R.T.Y.

P.A.R.T.Y. Program shows MUCC students risks of drugs and alcohol

May 14, 2019 | 4:17 PM

Grade 9 students from Melfort Unit and Comprehensive Collegiate (MUCC) got to see first-hand the risks of drugs and alcohol.

A Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) Program simulation was held on Tuesday, May 14 around Melfort. Part of the presentation included listening to a 911 call and then gathering at the Northern Lights Palace to see a motor vehicle accident reconstruction. Melfort Fire, Melfort EMS, RCMP, and Fedusiak Funeral Chapel were all in attendance to take part in the simulation. The actors and actresses were all students in the drama program at MUCC as well.

Melfort RCMP, EMS, and Fire were all in attendance at the P.A.R.T.Y. Program simulation. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

Graham Calow is a teacher at MUCC who is also a volunteer firefighter. He said the program targets early education on the pitfalls of impaired driving.

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“Just to give the kids that are at that pivotal age between 15 and 16 and are about to start driving around, some ideas of the consequences that happen when they don’t take that role seriously,” Calow said. “And just some visuals for them to see the other side when things don’t go so well.”

The scenario involved an ejected passenger. When students first arrived, they saw CPR performed on the victim before they were pronounced deceased.

CPR was performed on the victim that was ejected from the vehicle. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

Nearly 100 students attended to watch the simulation. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

Crews then began working on removing the other two occupants of the vehicle using the Jaws of Life. EMS entered the vehicle to stabilize the victims.

Crews needed to gain access to the vehicle to allow EMS to help the victims. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

The rear passenger was taken out of the vehicle and then to the ambulance. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

While all that was going on, RCMP took the driver aside for questioning and for a sobriety test. After failing the tests, they were taken into custody and put in the cruiser.

RCMP conducted a sobriety test on the driver of the vehicle. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

The driver of the vehicle was handcuffed by RCMP. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

To get the passenger of the vehicle out, crews needed to take the roof off the vehicle. Students watched crews gain access to the vehicle, and saw how careful they need to be.

The front passenger was removed after the roof of the car was taken off. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

Students lastly saw the deceased victim taken away in the hearse to the funeral home.

The deceased victim was taken by the hearse to the funeral home. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

Calow said it was important for him to be involved in the program because of his connection with the students at the school.

“In the teacher world, you can talk as much as you want about safety, and in driver’s education, they learn about all of these things,” Calow told northeastNOW. “But to just have the experience and see it, I think it takes it to a whole other level and I think that’s really important.”

After seeing the accident at the Northern Lights Palace, students were split into groups and went to various locations in Melfort to see what follows in a situation like this. Students went to the hospital to see what happens to the injured victims, they will go to the Kery Vickar Centre for a presentation on what happens to the driver who was arrested, and they will go to the funeral home to see what happens with the deceased victim.

Melfort Fire Chief Jason Everitt said they hope this program can teach the students the consequences, and how to avoid them.

“We know they’re exposed to alcohol, we know they’re exposed to drugs, and we can’t prevent that,” Everitt said. “What we want to do, is give them the information so that they make the right decisions when they are faced with those pressures.”

Everitt said they need to get to the kids at this age.

“It’s not just kids, it applies to everybody,” he said. “But if we can connect with the youth, and make that change with them early, then we hope to see that carry forward into future generations.”

Everitt added something like this is not only beneficial for the kids, but for all the emergency crews involved.

“We have a great relationship with EMS and police here,” Everitt told northeastNOW. “And every opportunity that we get to work together, whether that’s on a scene or a simulation or training, it just strengthens that relationship.”

The P.A.R.T.Y. Program has been held in numerous other communities in the area, but not in Melfort for some time. Calow said in his nine years with the Fire Department, it has not been done. Everitt said they hope to do this more often and involve other schools in the region as well.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6