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Crash reenactment
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Havana HS students to witness crash reenactment

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Havana High School students will experience a crash reenactment at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, September 15, at the high school, 501 S. McKinley St. ThinkFirst, SIU Medicine’s injury prevention program, will assist in planning and presenting the event.

The reenactment will focus on what can happen when young drivers drink and drive or ride with distracted or impaired drivers. On the day of the event, sights and sounds associated with an emergency response are expected.

At the event, emergency personnel normally summoned after a car crash will simulate their tasks. Those involved in planning and implementing the event include the Mason County Coroner, Hurley Funeral Home, Mason County EMS, Mason District Hospital, Havana Police and Fire Departments, Triple H Towing in Havana, Audio Techni Services in Springfield, St. John’s Hospital Flight, Havana High School faculty, administration and students, Illinois Chiefs of Police and SIU School of Medicine’s ThinkFirst program.

Guest speakers for the event are Mason County Coroner Michael Hurley, Mason County State’s Attorney Zachary Bryant and ThinkFirst victim speaker Danny Hicks.

“The purpose of the crash reenactment program is to show the real-life consequences of risk-taking behaviors,” says Megan Eairheart, director of ThinkFirst. “This event illustrates what can happen when a bad decision is made. We want students to be informed and make intelligent decisions, particularly behind the wheel of a car.”

Each year 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries and 12,000 to 20,000 new spinal cord injuries occur in the United States; one-third happen to people between the ages of 15 and 24. “The tragedy is most of these injuries are preventable,” says Eairheart.

The SIU School of Medicine ThinkFirst program is a chapter of the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation and presents events as a public service at no cost to schools. An Illinois Department of Transportation grant supports the program. Those interested in learning more are invited to contact Eairheart at 217-545-9112 or e-mail thinkfirst@siumed.edu.

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NOTE: David McKinney, Havana High School principal, is the local contact at 309-543-3384. The rain date is Friday, October 6.

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