| Last year the Sayville High School resurrected its SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Program after a student was lost in a tragic drunk driving accident. Ms. Censoplano-Russell and Mr. Scott are the advisors of the SADD Program, which helps students to fully understand the consequences of their actions.
In an effort to help reinforce the "DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE" message before the Senior Prom and graduation…a time of year that for generations has tested the judgment of many teens… the group wanted to stage a wrecked car right in front of the Sayville High School and hoped that the visual impact of the car would serve as a reminder of what happens when combining drinking with driving. Seniors also attended an assembly in early June where they listened to a variety of guest speakers discussing the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. Speakers included a mother who lost her child in a drunk driving accident, a Suffolk County Highway Patrol Officer, representatives from the Department of Probation and the District Attorney's Office.
Many people know Sayville High School's Ron Hoffer as the Assistant Principal. What many people might not know is that he has been a volunteer firefighter for the Ronkonkoma Fire Department for the past 18 years. Mr. Hoffer made a call to Sayville Fire Department Chief Roy Verspoor and asked for his help with providing a car wreck for display in front of the school.
As a 16-year volunteer member of the Sayville Fire Department, Chief Verspoor has seen the devastation of drunk driving first hand and was proud to have the Sayville Fire Department be a part of SADD's effort to spread this important message to the student body, which includes his own son and daughter. Chief Verspoor explained what the school was looking for to Rescue Captain Dan Karl, who was equally enthusiastic about helping raise awareness.
Captain Karl's first job was to get a wrecked car delivered to the school. He asked Town Of Islip Public Safety Department Park Ranger Andrew Kollos to lend a hand. Speaking of hands, Andrew expeditiously hand picked the 1995 Saturn for this display by combing through about 65 vehicles in the impound lot until he found one with significant front-end damage. Because Andrew is often viewed by the public as the "bad guy" when he takes a car to the impound yard, it was rewarding for him to be able to help the firefighters in their collaborative effort with the Sayville High School.
Captain Karl's next job was to get together a group of volunteer firefighters to cut open the car to simulate what a car would look like after extricating trapped victims of a serious motor vehicle accident. Again, the volunteers jumped at the opportunity to do their part to help get this important message out. With only a few hours notice, five firefighters rolled up to the High School and used their Hurst cutter and spreader (Jaws of Life) to open the door, remove the roof and lift the dashboard. What was left was an eerie reminder of what could happen when combining alcohol and driving.
Sayville High School Technology teachers and students made the signs for the car, which included a listing of penalties for drinking and driving. Ms. Censoplano-Russell says that the Sayville High School is like a family and that whenever SADD calls for help from faculty members, they band together to get the job done.
Although they will never really be able to quantify the number of lives that are saved by putting this car on display, everyone involved believes that they are making a difference. It is nice to see so many different people join together to help the SADD Program's initiatives. |
