SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --
     Coinciding with the start of the 101 Critical Days
of Summer, members of Stay Alive From Education
briefed members of Team Scott at the Base Theater
May 16, 17 and 18.
     The presentation, entitled “Street Smart,” was
aimed at reinforcing safe driving decisions including
the importance of wearing seatbelts, avoiding drunk
driving and more.
     The group has been spreading their safety message
to Air Force members at bases as far away as Japan
and Guam.
     Scott’s two SAFE presenters, Scott Neusch and
Jereme Cadorette, are both firefighters and paramedics
from Orlando,
Fla., and have been involved in the SAFE program for years.
“Working as firefighters and paramedics,
we’ve seen a lot of traumatic
car accidents - many of which have been
entirely preventable,” said Mr. Neusch.
     “I’ve become passionate about spreading the word
about the senseless accidents I’ve seen. I want to
show people that by simply making wise choices, you
can save your life.”
    The presentation was a combination of discussion,
graphic automobile accident photographs and roleplay
with members of the audience.
     “Initially, we use graphic pictures to grab the audience’s
attention and make them think.” said Mr. Cadorette.
     “We intend to show the reality of things - the dangers
of careless driving decisions. A lot of people
think the photographs we show are fake or computerdoctored.
Unfortunately, they’re not. This is really
what happened to these folks. In all of the photos,
poor decisions were made and seatbelts weren’t worn
and drugs or alcohol were involved.”
     In addition to the photographs, the presenters
informed the audience of some car accident statistics.
     “If you’re not wearing your seatbelt, you become
vulnerable to being ejected from a vehicle. If you are
ejected from a vehicle, you are 25 percent more likely
to die,” said Mr. Neusch. “Also, more that 50 percent
of spinal cord injuries occur as a result of car
accidents - in most of those incidences, people were
not wearing seatbelts and were under the influence of
drugs or alcohol.”
      To get the audience involved, a volunteer was asked
to come on stage and take part in a mock-trauma
response - medical stretcher included. The presenters
then described in detail what occurs when paramedics respond to a person severely wounded in an accident.
     “If you are lucky enough to survive a car accident
not wearing a seatbelt, it often takes several painful
surgeries and months in the hospital just to keep you
alive,” said Mr. Cadorette. “Even then, many of
these victims are permanently paralyzed.”
     The presenters reminded the audience that they
were not there to scare anyone, but to encourage
them to make wise decisions.
     “Ultimately, it’s up to each of you to make a smart
choice,” said Mr. Neusch. “We’ve heard every
excuse in the book for not wearing a seatbelt from
‘it’ll wrinkle my clothes’ to ‘it’s uncomfortable’ to
‘it’s only a short drive’ and many more. The simple
truth is that seatbelts save lives, but only if you
buckle them every time you’re in a car. Don’t be the
person who acts irresponsibly and ends up paying
with your life.”
     Reactions were powerful. Mary Musgrave of
375th Airlift Wing Safety helped organize the event
and said, “I’ve been working in safety for several
years, and the SAFE presentation is by far the best
presentation of its kind I’ve seen.”
     Tech. Sgt. Jamie McCarrison, Base Multimedia
non-commissioned officer in charge of graphics,
said, “The presentation was very enlightening and
powerful - it really made me think.”
     For the presenters, they aimed to leave an impression.
     “For me, if I can make a difference in the life of
just one person, then all of this work is well worth
it,” said Mr. Neusch.