Street Smart teaches Airmen vehicle safety

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Firefighter paramedics from the Stay Alive From Education program held three Street Smart presentations for Malmstrom Air Force Base Airmen under the age of 26 at the base auditorium, April 30.

The Street Smart presentation uses real-life examples to educate Airmen on the dangers of texting while driving, drunk driving and neglecting to wear a seatbelt.

"We see more traumatic fatalities in people ages 12 to 24," said Ronny Garcia, Tampa Fire Rescue firefighter/paramedic and one of the presenters of Street Smart. "The majority of these fatalities are because they didn't wear a seatbelt."

The briefings kicked off with a four-minute slideshow of vehicle accident victims while recordings of phone calls to emergency services played in the background. The photos were graphic in nature to prove possible consequences.

The two presenters asked the audience questions and shared the excuses they hear for why individuals fail to wear a seatbelt.

"'I have a big car!' is a common excuse we hear," Garcia said. "But windows and doors do not restrain an individual, and when an individual is ejected from a vehicle, they are 25 times more likely to die."

Greg McCarty, Tampa Fire Rescue firefighter/paramedic and presenter, and Garcia then hand-picked a volunteer from the audience to demonstrate what could happen to an individual in an alcohol-related car accident. In the scenario, Airman 1st Class Cody Carvey, 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron member, is driving home after a night of drinking alcohol at a party. He then looks at his phone after receiving a text and crashes into another vehicle.

Two paramedics rush to the scene and rescue Carvey from his vehicle.

Garcia and McCarty quickly moved through the steps they would take in real-life. As Carvey lays on a backboard, they restrain him with neck straps, a neck brace and feet straps to prevent a spinal injury. As his vitals drop in the scenario they simulate a tracheotomy.

Although Carvey survives in the scenario, many people may suffer the consequences due to someone's choice to drink and drive. Family, friends and the victims in the other vehicle will forever be affected. In the scenario, a couple in the other vehicle was killed and Carvey would await vehicular manslaughter charges.

"People tend to think this kind of accident can never happen to them," McCarty said. "But it can and does. We can't play the 'what if' game."

Garcia and McCarty shared real-life stories, took questions and played out scenarios to teach Team Malmstrom the importance of vehicle safety.

For more information about Street Smart and S.A.F.E., visit www.safeprogram.com