Every 15 Minutes: An important conversation about drunk driving
Every 15 Minutes is returning to the High School in March.
Every 15 Minutes simulates a collision with participants being rescued by first-responders.
December 9, 2022
LOS ALAMITOS, CA — “In 1997 a Youth Center participant, a high school junior, was vacationing in Washington State when she learned of this program,” says the Every 15 Minutes page on the Youth Center Website. “She thought it would be a great addition to the teen programming offered by the Youth Center.”
Every 15 Minutes is a national organization that originally started in Canada and was later adopted in the U.S. in 1995 in Washington. The name comes from early 1990 statistics that indicate that an alcohol related driving accident occurs once every 15 minutes.
Since the spring of 1999, the Youth Center has implemented the program at Los Alamitos High School every year. However, due to COVID-19, the last time the program was at the high school was in 2019, meaning that, as of this year, no class on campus has seen this event.
This program’s purpose is to introduce a discussion around driving under the influence and the dangers it poses. Applications to be in “Every 15 Minutes” are due Sunday, Dec. 11.
“Of the 200+ applications we receive, a total of 32 students representing a cross section of high school social groups and ethnicity are selected,” the Youth Center says.
“On Thursday, March 2, every fifteen minutes one student will be escorted out of class,” Lina Lumme, who spearheads the program, shared with Griffin Gazette. “A uniformed officer will read the student’s obituary and then accompany the student to a room on campus where makeup will be applied with the intent of representing ‘The Living Dead’” she also said. A mock cemetery will display tombstones of the “living dead” in the front of the PAC for the rest of the school to see.
To enhance the realism of the event, the student will not return to class; this will help friends and classmates understand what it would feel like if that student had actually died. — Lina Lumme, Every 15 Minutes Coordinator
At lunch during that day, a traffic collision will be simulated in front of the school. “Five students . . . involved in the collision will be made up by a professional artist to enhance the realism,” Lumme said. From there, all first-responders, including the Jaws-of-Life, firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement, will handle the scene as if it were real.
“Two students will die on scene, one will be treated at the scene, and one will be transported to the hospital where they will later be pronounced dead. Parent participation in this event is critical and may include a police escort to the hospital. A fifth student will be given a field sobriety test, placed under arrest and taken to jail,” Lumme explained.
Families of the victims will be notified at their work or in their homes by police officers.
At the end of the day, all participants will go to Westminster courthouse for a mock trial where the family members of the deceased will testify and the “drunk driver” will be sentenced.
The next day, the school will attend an assembly to mourn the “living dead.”
“The assembly will include a short video and several speakers,” Lina said. “Counseling support services will be available as needed for students, parents and staff,” she assured.
All throughout the program, Griffin News will record major events of the whole program then compile the videos into a singular video for the year. You can find videos of “Every 15 Minutes” from the high school and other high schools throughout the country on Youtube.
It is a massive effort from multiple different organizations including the Youth Center, the police department, fire department, and many more. “It’s an entire year of planning,” Lumme said, “we are thankful to Los Alamitos High School for playing an active part on the committee and all their support.”
Here are some quotes that Lina Lumme shared with Griffin Gazette. These are from several families and students who participated in the past:
The Every 15 Minutes Program was literally life changing. Everyone has said that, but it’s so true. I loved how it affected so many people and touched everyone in different ways. One of my favorite parts was how close everyone in the program got. It just shows how impactful it was that we were able to lean on and cry with people that we had only known for a few hours. I wish everyone at our school had an opportunity to do it! It was definitely the best experience of my life.
— Jen Ottman, former student
I am thrilled that my daughter was a part of the Every 15 Minutes program this year. It was an incredible opportunity for her and an experience that she will never forget! Every 15 Minutes is an incredible program that I hope the students of LAHS get to continue to be a part of for years to come! Thank you to everyone that supported the program this year and all of the time, commitment, energy, and love invested!
— Kirkendall Family
Seeing the impact a death (during the Every 15 Minutes program) had not only on the child but on so many other people really put into perspective the ripple effect that kind of death has. It showed me that if I were to die, it wouldn’t be just me that would be dying. My parents, friends, and anyone who cares at all would also be affected by a horrific event like this. So many people’s lives are affected, which made me understand how selfish it is to drink and drive.
Overall, “Every 15 Minutes” is a fantastic program that the high school offers.
“’Every 15 Minutes’ is just another one of the tools we use to get youth to make positive life choices,” the Youth Center website says. It is a very honest and unflinching approach to the extremely serious discussion of driving under the influence.
The video from 2019 and more can be found on the Los Alamitos High School YouTube channel.
