The Hanford Fire Department coordinated five accident demonstrations at the Health and Safety Expo ’98, held on May 13 and 14 at the TRAC facility in Pasco. These vehicle accident demonstrations were mock-ups of alcohol-related fatal collisions. Participants from the Hanford Fire Department, Benton County Sheriff's Office, Washington State patrol, Doug's Towing, Franklin County Coronor, a local funeral home, and the South Central Region EMS and Trauma Care council responded to the mock-up accident scene and perform duties on the "victims" as they would for a real accident.

"These accident demonstrations are very realistic," said Jerry Hendricks, the Hanford fire Department’s point of contact for Expo ’98. "Local law enforcement participated in the demonstrations as well." Law enforcement officers gave field sobriety tests to the drunk drivers and arrested them. The Hanford Fire Department rescued the victims from the wreckage using the Jaws-of-Life and administered on-the-scene medical care. The coroner examined the fatality and pronounced the person legally dead, and a local funeral home placed the dead victim in a hearse.

The entire scene was narrated so the viewing audience knew what was being done and why. Real people played the roles of the accident victims. Moulage kits were used to similate broken bones, blood and other trauma. Doug's Towing provided the vehicles that were used in the accident demos.

Hanford, Kennewick, Southridge, Pasco, Kiona-Benton, Riverview and Columbia High Schools and the Oak Leaf Center sent their driver education students and senior class members to these demonstrations. Since Expo '98 occurred a few weeks before graduation, it was hoped that by inviting the senior class, the demonostation would have a significant impact on their decision on whether to drink and drive.

Another feature at Expo ’98 was the new Fire Safety House. This facility, made possible through cooperative partnerships between the Tri-County Fire Association Public Educators and local businesses, resembles a real house. It has a full kitchen and two bedrooms and is wheelchair accessible. "This facility is better than the E.D.I.T.H. house," said Hendricks. "We can teach children and adults about fire safety in the home, how to be fire safe in the kitchen, and even what to do when you call 9-1-1. We can teach more than just exit drills."

The unit is equipped with a control room where the public can make a mock 9-1-1 call. Control room operators can even control the lights within the facility and the amount of smoke used during the fire education segments.

The Hanford Fire Department also had a fire engine and ambulance on display as well as technical rescue and advanced life support equipment. The Fire Systems Maintenance display contained a live demonstration of how fire sprinklers work.

Sources: Hanford Reach, April 20, 1998, and May 11, 1998 issues.