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NEWS ADVISORY

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service

Richard Bowers, Fire ChiefPublic Safety Headquarters, 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878Assistant Chief Scott Graham, Public Information Officer

Phone: 240.876.1260 Media line: 240.777.2442 @MCFirePIO

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2013

Every 15 Minutes Program Comes to Poolesville High SchoolFire and Police Department Partner on Important Safety Message

Montgomery County, MD - - - On Wednesday, May 1st, juniors and seniors at Poolesville HighSchool will feel the drama of a simulated alcohol-involved auto accident. The Every 15 MinutesProgram offers real-life experience without the real-life risks. This powerful program challengesstudents to think about drinking, distractions, driving, personal safety and the responsibility ofmaking mature decisions when lives are involved.

A simulated traffic collision will be staged in front of the school and Montgomery County Fireand Rescue Service (MCFRS) emergency crews will treat injured student participants alongwith Police Department officers and the departments accident reconstruction team. Although theevent is simulated, these students will experience firsthand what it is like to be involved in atragic, alcohol-related collision and the consequences. The injured students will be extricatedusing the Jaws-of-Life by MCFRS personnel. Montgomery County Police officers will investigate,arrest and book the student "drunk driver." The afternoon assembly, which will begin at 1:00p.m., will include a powerful video made by the students and several featured speakers included

Cathy Carnahan who tragically lost her son Dale, a high school athlete and 2008 graduate of theschool, in a car accident.

The good news is with more education and awareness programs such as Every 15 Minutes, the15-minute interval is increasing; however, the numbers are still too high. Will this programsuccessfully impact the students at Poolesville High? Only time will tell however if just onestudent makes a good decision not t o be distracted while driving, not to drink and drive and notto get into a car with someone who has, then the answer is yes.

Media are invited to this event. Poolesville High School is located at 17501 W. WillardRoad, Poolesville, Maryland. Events will take place throughout the day. Most notably, the

kick-off assembly and the simulated crash scene will occur beginning at 8:30 a.m. and wrapup around 10 am. Concluding the day will be a powerful assembly that will take place from

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1 2:10 p.m. For a detailed schedule of the day, please email or call 240-777-2463.

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