Every year sophomores have the opportunity to visit Ochsner Lafayette General and learn about their program. As a Level 1 Trauma Center, they provide a research-based and data-driven prevention program to decrease the number of injuries and fatalities. The Sudden Impact presentation is a powerful hospital-based, sophomore-level program. The medical and law enforcement team provides detailed information on laws, injuries, alcohol use, crash dynamics, and statistics, and showcases the resulting consequences. They make sure to highlight the importance of measures to prevent the crash, establish communication with parents regarding impairment, and develop a plan to offer alternatives to driving under the influence.

This year our class was divided into two groups based on our last names. The first group went on Monday, March 11, and the second group on Thursday, March 14. The presentation is a full school day including around two breaks and a lunch period. While there, we visited a Trauma room and the Trauma ICU rooms. Unfortunately, my group was not able to go to the ICU and learn about injuries from patients. To interact with the program, there is a list of questions and demonstrations that students take part in. We also watch multiple videos and pictures from people’s personal experiences. Around the middle of the day, a guest speaker arrives and tells their tragic story in the hope of a lesson. Although the day discusses touchy subjects that may not sit well with some, it helps to open up our eyes to everyday worries.