HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP – A group of community stakeholders gathered at Spire Academy Monday morning, Feb. 16, to help coordinate the INSPIRE Traffic Safety and Ashtabula County Safe Communities Prom Promise event scheduled for Friday, April 17.
The Prom Promise is a student pledge to remain alcohol- and drug-free, avoid distracted/impaired driving and wear seatbelts during prom, often supported by schools, MADD, and insurance carriers to ensure a safe, memorable night.
The event at Spire Academy aims to educate high school students in grades 9-12 about making safe, responsible choices during prom season.
Prom Promise will feature the Ohio State Highway Patrol, guest speakers, interactive driving simulators and activities to engage students on the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. Students from Lake and Ashtabula counties are invited to attend.
Julie Dury, business development manager for Spire Academy, told the group that Spire planned to move the staged crash scene to the back of B Building from the rear parking lot. This will allow the students to be dropped off right at the scene, then move to the indoor football field for the rest of the event.
Students who come to Prom Promise will have a chance to try out Fatal Vision Goggles, specialized impairment simulation tools that mimic the effects of alcohol or drug use on vision and motor skills.
They simulate various Blood Alcohol Concentrations (BAC), ranging from low impairment to high-level, binge-drinking levels by altering depth perception, balance and reaction time.
There will also be several large television monitors set up to help with presentations, according to Drury.
Sandy Pulsifer, coordinator for Ashtabula County Safe Communities, said she is still working on vendors for the event and will not be able to attend. She said she has materials she plans to drop off for Prom Promise that can be set up the evening before or the morning of the event.
Pulsifer also suggested putting together gift cards for prom-related items, such as tuxedo rental, a hairdresser’s or for a gown to help drive student attendance at Prom Promise.
