This online news website is owned and operated by Becky Watts. The Editor can be reached at 770-468-7583 or at editor(at)PikeCountyTimes(dot)com. Pike County Times is a website for citizens to keep up with local events and stay informed about Pike County government. It began on November 13, 2006 as a watchdog on county government and has turned into an online newspaper.
If you enjoy reading Pike County Times, consider buying an advertisement for your business or sending a donation to support Pike County Times. Donations can be sent to: The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Thanks for supporting Pike County Times.com!
BARNESVILLE - On April 11, 2012 at 9:00AM, Mid Georgia Ambulance (MGA), in cooperation with Lamar County Fire Department, Police Department and other local Public Safety agencies will host a Ghost Out at Lamar County High School. The Ghost Out is a program which simulates a drunk-driving scenario where local high school students are the victims.
Each year, teens across the nation fall victim to peer pressure and as a result, lose their lives in a serious car accident caused by a drunken teen driver.
The Ghost Out program begins days ahead of time, when local students are chosen to become “victims”. On the day of the Ghost Out program, each “victim” will remain silent during the school day, symbolizing what life would be like if they were no longer at school as the result of a drunk driving accident. Ghost Out day concludes with an elaborate simulation of a car accident after prom, caused by a teenaged drunk driver.
“While the program may come across as grim, it really drives home the point when students see their peers “injured” and even pretending to be killed,” explains Mid Georgia Ambulance Lamar Operations Manager, Darrell Riggins.
Local agencies from across the region will participate in the simulation, responding to the scene of the car accident as though it were an actual mass casualty incident. Fire, EMS and Life Flight will be on scene responding to the staged accident.
Students from Lamar County High school will also participate, wearing theater makeup to make them appear as though they are injured. “Ghost Out portrays a very realistic situation and is intended to evoke an emotional response from students. It is our hope that through this program, students will grow to recognize the potential consequences of their actions. We hope that after Lamar County Ghost Out, Lamar County students will make safe decisions,” says Darrell Riggins, MGA Operations Manager.