PLAINS - Students from 7th to 12th grade at the Plains School were given a demonstration last Thursday of the dangers of impaired driving as part of Red Ribbon Week. 

In the parking lot of the school, a mock extrication was performed for the students to show just how difficult it is to rescue a person from a wrecked vehicle.

Plains-Paradise Rural Fire Department and Plains-Paradise Volunteer Ambulance put on the demonstration, including teacher Carl Benson, who is part of the Fire Department. 

As the firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians [EMTs] performed the mock extrication, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, John Meckler, explained the process to the students. He talked about the tools and the steps the firefighters and EMTs were using, why they were performing certain actions, and he provided side bits of information about real life experiences at car crashes.

Meckler described how often times when a seatbelt isn’t worn, people are ejected from cars. He described how each step is performed with great attention to detail, so as to minimize any movement of the victim. 

When the mock extrication was complete, Meckler and Benson emphasized just how many car crashes they have been to because of either drugs, alcohol, or some form of impaired driving.

Meckler finished by saying, “You’re not the only one on the highway.”