Teurlings students learn about distracted driving

Acadian Ambulance and Acadian Air Med assisted the Junior League of Lafayette with their annual “No Fear No Future” project.

This year marked the 11th anniversary of the two-day, school-based project that promotes responsible decision making to high school students by demonstrating the realization of the dangers associated with distracted or impaired driving.

This year’s host school was Teurlings Catholic High School, and on Thursday morning, April 3, a mock car crash was staged, with students, faculty, and parents watching while the Acadian team and other Lafayette emergency response departments responded to a realistic scene.

Tomorrow, students, faculty, and parents will attend an assembly guiding the audience through the immediate and lasting effects of an impaired or distracted crash.

Acadian Air Med Operations Manager Marc Creswell was a guest speaker Thursday, and discussed the devastating accidents that he has seen in his 23 years with Acadian.

“I’ve ran so many calls where multiple teens, just like you, have been killed in accidents,” he said. “Their friends are always left with five haunting words: ‘What could I have done?’ Someone who has had too much to drink cannot rationalize what the right thing to do is; it’s your job to do the right thing and stop them from driving.”

This community event is a partnership between the Junior League of Lafayette, Teurlings Catholic High School, Louisiana State Police, Acadian Ambulance and Acadian Air Med, Lafayette Police and Fire Departments, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Parish Coroner’s Office, and various sponsors.

Since its inception, more than 10,000 students have been impacted by the “No Fear No Future” program. When the program began the focus was on drinking and driving; however, the League has moved on to focus not only on drinking and driving, but on impaired and distracted driving as well as promoting responsible decision making.

The Junior League of Lafayette is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Since 1971, Acadian has provided emergency medical care and transportation in Acadiana.