Shattered Dreams Presentation
at Wellington Community High School
March 26, 2008
Slide Show of the Event
Photography courtesy of John Ricksen PhotographyTo help educate more than one thousand high school students before prom night about the dangers of drinking and driving, the Health Care District's nationally recognized Trauma Hawk Air Ambulance flight crew piloted by Gerald Pagano, Director of Medical Transport & Aeromedical Facilities, landed at Wellington Community High School as part of a multi-agency mock demonstration.
Trauma nurse and educator Robin Powers with the Trauma Center at St. Mary’s Medical Center narrated the "Shattered Dreams" program in which members of the school's Student Government Association acted as victims of a staged two-car accident. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue's Extrication Team sawed the roof off of one of the vehicles to remove "injured" students from the car. Another student acted out the role of the intoxicated driver who failed a mock roadside sobriety test and was placed into custody by a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Deputy who also participated in the
demonstration. At the end of the scenario, one of the "severely injured" students was placed on board Trauma Hawk to simulate what would be the next step: transport to the Trauma Center.
Students say they were moved by the dramatic scenario and learned the meaning of the "Golden Hour": every minute that passes before a trauma patient receives treatment can mean the difference between life and death.
