Prom and graduation are meant to be a time of celebration. Sometimes bad choices can have fatal consequences. Decisions such as drinking and driving, texting while driving, and speed can be deadly. That is the message we are hoping to relay today to students at the Saranac Lake High School.

Participants in todays drill included, The Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department, The Saranac Lake Police, The Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, The Franklin County Coroners Office, Clinton County Stop DWI, and 5 student actors who acted as victims of todays mock crash.

The scenario included a head on collision with 5 victims. Of the victims 2 were extricated using jaws of life, 1 was ejected through a windshield and deceased, and 1 was processed and arrested for DWI. All of the victims were dressed in prom regalia, and fully made up with realistic looking injuries. The actual drill was conducted in front of approximately 190 Saranac Lake High School Juniors and Seniors and was completed in as real conditions as possible. The students were able to hear the moans, the dispatch, and radio communication. They were able to see the response, the extrication, the body removal, and the arrest of the DWI driver. It was as realistic as possible.

Upon completion of the drill the students were ushered into the auditorium where they heard very powerful and emotional testimony from local parents who were generous enough to speak of recent tragedies where they lived through every parents nightmare, the loss of a child.

It is our sincere hope that our efforts today resonate with these youth in a way that helps keep them safe from bad driving decisions.

We would like to congratulate this years seniors in their time of celebration, and we hope all the students have a wonderful prom. We ask you to please stay safe.