Photo Courtesy of Sudden Impact Louisiana
As in prior years, throughout the 2016-2017 school year, nine groups of sophomores will attend Sudden Impact, a program that provides testimony from the medical, law enforcement, and victim perspective on the ramifications of driving while impaired, hosted by the Injury Prevention personnel at University Medical Center and the Louisiana State Police. The seven hour program, held at numerous hospitals across Southeastern Louisiana, provides education on laws, decisions, communication and impairment. Brother Martin sophomores visit University Medical Center and are taught important lessons about safe driving including the dangers of impaired driving and driving while texting. Students also visit the Trauma Center at University Medical Center to view the consequences of impaired driving. The Injury Prevention personnel introduce guest speakers injured by impaired drivers to share their stories. These stories provide the foundation for better student decision making while driving, rather than suffering the consequences of decisions that may result in injury to themselves or the death of loved ones.
As a follow-up to this sophomore experience, every senior participates in another Sudden Impact presentation that takes place at school during one of the Senior Retreat rotations. This presentation reviews many of the concepts of the sophomore visit and also discusses with students the dangers of college life and poor decision making that can often lead to dire consequences. Students hear from parents of students injured and killed in alcohol related accidents, and are presented with tools to keep them safe, both behind the wheel and at places where alcohol is consumed.
Sudden Impact is yet another example of how Brother Martin High School continues to provide information and programs that can ultimately keep our students safe.
