School safety, security, and violence prevention resource

The prom is one of the highlights in the life of a high school student; at least that is the way it used to be. I dare say that until now, though, the prom still plays a significant role in any high school student’s life. From the choice of a prom date to the choice of a dress, these things take involve painstaking effort. What we might have been overlooking, however, is the emphasis on safety measures on prom night. After all, so many things could go wrong on this night. One, student might get caught up in the excitement of it all and not be particularly careful when driving. Two, the two sexes mingle with each other in a romantic atmosphere and you never know if some problems might occur there.

What the people over at Madison Central High School are doing is thus necessary and admirable. They actually held some safety courses and drills before the prom weekend. The idea is to highlight the need for safety and to prepare the school children in case they are faced with an emergency situation. Online Madison has this report:

A mock accident was staged at Madison Central High School as part of the school’s safety week leading up to prom night this Saturday.

Bradley Martin, a senior at MCHS took part in the wreck simulation on the school’s campus, being carried out of an overturned vehicle and airlifted by a medical helicopter as his fellow students watched from behind yellow caution tape.

The staged event was put on to help encourage students to make wise decisions when driving.

“Even though it was only acting, it was pretty serious,” Martin said. “If you drink and drive it’s very easy that this could happen. I hope it will make some people think.”

Again, drills are one thing, and the real situation another. However, mock ups are so much better in delivering the message as it can seem to be the real thing. And short of actually experience a real accident, a mock up is a good way to make the students see and feel what it would be like, in the hopes that they would be extra careful to avoid finding themselves in those situations as well as being able to handle themselves properly in case they do.

I would have liked a wider perspective for the safety training course, including the second point I raised in the first paragraph. Date rape and other similar problems are possibilities – however remote – during events like these, and it is only prudent to inform prom goers of such dangers. While there might be some who might resent even the suggestion of the possibility , it is always better to be safe than sorry, don’t you think?

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