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Scared into sober thought Students see the horrors of alcohol- and drug-related injuries
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, June 13, 2013
INUVIK
All it took was one visit to the morgue at the Inuvik Regional Hospital to shock some sober second thought into a class of Grade 9 students from East Three Secondary School.
East Three student Don Gruben was one of the volunteers in a simulated accident scene June 6 at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex. It was part of a day-long program to inform Grade 9 students of the risks of alcohol and associated reckless behaviour. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
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The visit was part of a full day of activities under the auspices of the PARTY (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth) program and presented by community organizations.
"You're about to go on summer break and I don't want to see you in here," said undertaker Mike Carruthers bluntly and ominously.
The visit to the morgue was the culmination of a morning of activities that included a simulated car-extraction accident, discussions, and visits to the hospital emergency room and rehabilitation services. Each component of the day was designed to promote healthy and smart choices and steer students away from drug and alcohol abuse.
For sheer shock value, though, nothing quite compared to the talk with Carruthers. He spoke standing at the table he uses to clean and prepare the bodies of the dead.
The students eyes continually darted to a mannequin used in the accident simulation as Carruthers described what he does in graphic detail.
He explained the purpose of the drain holes in the table and the basin underneath where all the fluids are collected. He also pointed to the cold rooms – the coolers – where the bodies are kept until funeral services can be arranged.
"Aren't you scared?" student Cheyanne Carpenter asked somewhat timidly.
Carruthers said he wasn't frightened of his job.
"I just put my mind in another place," he said. "I've had to work on friends, good friends, and their children."
That also seemed to shock the students, who up to that point appeared to be somewhat blase about the presentations they'd seen.
Staying warm
They had huddled against the walls of the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex about an hour earlier, trying to stay warm in the chill breeze while the firefighters dismantled a car with a couple of willing Grade 11 volunteers inside, covered in simulated blood and gore.
Perhaps it was the cold, but that demonstration didn't appear to make a dent in their youthful self-confidence. Instead, it was the firefighters who were pleased with a chance to practise.
Victor Parnell said it was the first time he could remember the department staging such a demonstration, so it was a chance for them to take stock as well.
Community paramedics were also on hand to help run the "victims" to the hospital for treatment.
Don Gruben, one of the volunteers, grinned out from under some truly frightful makeup later in the morning as the students made the rounds of the hospital.
"A lot of these kids see what could happen to them now," said the Grade 11 student. "It was good to see how (emergency services) work.
Prior to the brief visit to the morgue, the students also visited the rehabilitation centre and the emergency room.
In rehab, they had a chance to practise how difficult it would be to look after themselves if they suffered a major injury that would leave their mobility compromised.
Carpenter had the brief opportunity to experience what life would be like if she suffered a debilitating injury, practising how to get in out and out of bed if she had mobility issues caused by spinal cord trauma.
"We get to experience these things and learn how to prevent bad things from happening," Carpenter said.
The PARTY program had previously been presented to Inuvik students in 2006 and 2008, but organizer Crystal Navratil said she hopes it can be offered on a more regular basis in the future.
"Nearly everyone in this town knows someone or is related to someone that has had a DUI or been in an accident where alcohol was a factor. Overall I believe it (the PARTY program) was extremely effective," she said.
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