Wednesday, April 24, 2002
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Wednesday, April 24, 2002 |
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A life-or-death choice 'Ghost Out' reminds students of importance of safe drivingVivid and realistic reminders of the dangers of reckless driving unfolded before the eyes of students at McIntosh High School just one day before prom night. Every year, one of Fayette's four high schools takes its turn to host Ghost Out, a program designed to drive home the message of the dangers of driving under the influence, reckless driving and making poor choices on the roadway. Unlike other programs that tackle the same problems, Ghost Out involves reenacting a deadly car accident using realistic props and students from the school as victims. Throughout the day, a grim reaper walks through the school pulling pre-selected students out of class. Students who are participating have the permission of their parents and are counseled on the program before the event date. Once the grim reaper tags a student, he or she is considered dead and becomes a ghost by dressing in a black T-shirt and whiting out his or her face with makeup. For the rest of the day the students who have been "ghost out" continue their regular routine but are not allowed to participate in discussions, interact with friends or have any type of facial expression. Statistics reflect that one person dies on the roadways every 22 minutes in the United States. There were a total of 29 ghosts at McIntosh representing the number of people who had died on U.S. roadways between the time school had started and when the car crash reenactment was conducted. "It's hard for students to realize what a significant number that is but when they see the group of ghosts all together the impact is driven home," said Jackie Thompson one of the safe and drug free coordinators at the school responsible for organizing this year's program. Toward the end of the school day, the entire student body was assembled in the gym for the program's finale. In the parking lot of the school was a car that had been badly damaged from hitting an inanimate object at just 35 miles per hour. Inside the vehicle were two McIntosh students, one dead and the other in critical condition. Both had on makeup to recreate realistic looking lacerations and injuries. Students heard a narrator read step by step how the car crashed and the injuries that were inflicted on the victims as they would have happened in real time. An actual call was made to 911 and rescue crews arrived on the scene to show students exactly what happens at a crash site. As if that was not enough to convenience students to drive safely, they listened to a narration from the dead victim as she talked about how she was too young to die and how sad and hurt her family and friends would be to learn of her death. Steve Cipullo, a former 12-year firefighter and the father of Jeanine, the student who played the part of the fatally wounded victim, says while it was difficult to watch his daughter participate in the program, he applauds the message that it sends to teenage drivers. "I think this is excellent. When I was a firefighter we used to wait on prom night for the calls to start coming in," he said. "If just one kid here today gets something out of this, then it is worth it." Senior Kelly Murphy, one of the ghosts, says she is glad that Ghost Out was held at her school this year and believes that it will help save the lives of some of her classmates. "I think most people learn by seeing rather than just hearing about statistics. I hope students walk away today knowing how dangerous a car can be and that it is important to drive safely and responsibly," said Murphy. The Fayette County Sheriff's Department, Peachtree City Fire Department and Emergency Services, Emory Air and Carl J. Mowell and Son Funeral Home participated in the program to help lend a realistic effect. "I think this is one of the best things we have ever done at McIntosh. It is shocking and upsetting but that is how it is suppose to be to make students think about their behavior before they get behind the wheel. If we save just one student's life by doing this program then it will have been a success," said Thompson.
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