The Every 15 Minutes Program is a multi-day event designed to address the
growing need for an alcohol-related collision prevention program among today’s youth.
This is an event that has been effectively implemented in high schools across the nation.
The first day begins when pre-selected students are pulled from class “Every 15
Minutes” to dramatically illustrate the statistic stating that a person dies in an alcohol
related collision every 15 minutes. Following the students being pulled out, a simulated
car accident involving students of the high school is staged on or near campus, and the
student body is brought out to see rescue workers struggling to save the lives of their
classmates.
After the crash, the victims of the accident are taken to the hospital, in the case
of Eureka High, one was taken by ambulance and one by helicopter. The victim
pronounced dead on the scene was taken to the coroner, and the drunk driver was taken
to jail to go through booking procedures.
The night of the accident, all students involved in the crash and those taken out
of class spend the night away from home to make it seem as if they were really gone.
Local volunteers lead the students in group bonding and other activities meant to help
them with their future decision-making.
The day following the crash, the students attend an assembly including a variety
of guest speakers and presentations. Among the presentations is a funeral for the two
dead victims of the crash scene and a mock sentencing of the drunk driver. Student
victims and their parents also volunteer to read letters with their last words to one
another composed the night before. Finally, the event is wrapped up with speakers who
have personally been affected by drunk driving ranging from parents of victims to
drunk drivers themselves.
This event involved a multitude of members of the community. These organizations
included the Eureka Fire Department, Eureka City Ambulance, and Humboldt County
Coroner’s Office all of wh