'Street Smart' presentation at McConnell illustrates costs of cloudy judgment

Published Dec. 8, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- They came with their presentation slides and a rough outline Dec. 3, 2010, but this was not a regular safety briefing.

The images that flashed before Airmen's eyes had them stirring in their seats.

The slides were part of "Street Smart," a program organized by Stay Alive From Education. The presentation will visit approximately 50 military installations across the U.S. this year.

"This program saves lives," said Maj. Glenn Clark, 22nd Air Refueling Wing chief of safety. "Though it is sometimes called a 'Shock and Awe' program due to its graphic demonstration of lives lost due to poor decisions, the message is loud and clear: wearing a seat belt could save your life, and will increase the chances of survival during an auto accident."

Chris Stocks and Scott McIntyre, Orlando, Fla., firefighters and paramedics, mainly focused on the aftermath of preventable crashes as a result of drugs, alcohol and not wearing a seat belt.

"We like to come out to military bases to help reinforce the commonsense thing that safety offices push every day," said Mr. McIntyre. "Some of these guys serve two or three deployments and come back unharmed, but one night at a bar and poor decisions can change everything."

McConnell's Theater was filled with Airmen from all ranks, as the firefighters began their presentation with graphic displays of victims they encountered during their career.

"They kept me interested right from the beginning," said Senior Airman Ashley Baker, 22nd Medical Support Squadron medical administrator. "Nothing they presented was dull, and I was shocked every time something new came on the screen."

To emphasize their message, they recruited help from an Airman in the audience, "treating" them as an impaired and distracted driver in an accident. The presenters proceeded to describe the process the victims would endure in the trauma center.

"I thought their descriptions had a better impact than the pictures because you could almost feel it when they 'stabbed' him with needles," said Airman Baker. "The program reinforced my desire to be a safe driver."

The "Street Smart" program is scheduled to continue its tour throughout the U.S. with the help of a donation from an American brewing company.

"We travel the country giving presentations to students, organizations and businesses, but it's giving presentations to military men and women that truly stand out for us," said Scott Neusch, S.A.F.E secretary and treasurer. "We can ensure military personnel have access to our important messages about making smart choices while driving. This is the least we can do for those who give so much for all of us."