Print
Comment
Rate
COMMUNITY PROFILE: Benson teens get
 |
| Teen pregnancy: Alex Cooper sports the pregnancy suit as she enters the hospital to deliver twins in the annual teen maze. (Thelma Grimes/photo.) |
taste of reality through teen maze
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Every year, through a community effort, students in the Benson School District are given a glimpse at how decisions they make can impact their entire lives.
This glimpse is through what is known as the teen maze, and last week, students from the Benson high and middle schools went through a maze where some contracted HIV through unsafe sex, some became pregnant, some were killed in drunk driving accidents, some were sentenced to jail by a judge and some became success stories.
In the interactive maze created by the teen youth group at the Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Group (SEABHS), students participated in hypothetical scenarios as they passed through the maze that included a maternity ward, a family planning unit, a hospital, a jail, a court, health clinics, colleges and career planning counselors.
Gloria Durgin, one of the event organizers, was excited about this year's program that included help from the Benson Volunteer Fire Department, Healthcare Innovations Ambulance Service and the Benson Police.
To give the students a sense of reality, a mock crash scene was conducted. With a teenage drunk driver and a passenger with him, the car was crashed into the cement wall at the baseball field.
Forrest Swift, a sophomore at Benson High School, was the passenger in the car. With fake blood running down his face, the sophomore said he was hurt worse than the drunk driver, suffering massive brain trauma, with broken ribs.
"It was interesting to see how the paramedics work," Swift said. "I learned how important the jobs of paramedic and a fireman are, how bad drunk driving can be and how that one decision can ruin your entire life."
Rebeca Ames said watching the crash scene was tough on her and a lot of students.
"You realize how bad underage drinking is, and what can happen if you do it," she said. "The crash was a real eye-opener, and I know some of the students were crying."
The medical helicopter also landed near the high school, and junior Mayra Quezada got a ride. The 16-year-old said they showed how important their role is in transporting a critically ill patient to a Tucson hospital.
Inside the gymnasium, students went through different scenarios. One student was told she was having twins, and wearing a 14-pound pregnancy suit, the student was taken to the hospital for delivery. During delivery, she lost one child, and was given the other to raise.
A Cochise County judge was also on hand, seeing students as they were given scenarios where they broke the law or were caught doing drugs.
No matter what the scenario, every year the teen maze program grows and works harder to educate students about how choices today, especially poor choices, will affect the rest of their lives.
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Every year, through a community effort, students in the Benson School District are given a glimpse at how decisions they make can impact their entire lives.
This glimpse is through what is known as the teen maze, and last week, students from the Benson high and middle schools went through a maze where some contracted HIV through unsafe sex, some became pregnant, some were killed in drunk driving accidents, some were sentenced to jail by a judge and some became success stories.
In the interactive maze created by the teen youth group at the Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Group (SEABHS), students participated in hypothetical scenarios as they passed through the maze that included a maternity ward, a family planning unit, a hospital, a jail, a court, health clinics, colleges and career planning counselors.
Gloria Durgin, one of the event organizers, was excited about this year's program that included help from the Benson Volunteer Fire Department, Healthcare Innovations Ambulance Service and the Benson Police.
To give the students a sense of reality, a mock crash scene was conducted. With a teenage drunk driver and a passenger with him, the car was crashed into the cement wall at the baseball field.
Forrest Swift, a sophomore at Benson High School, was the passenger in the car. With fake blood running down his face, the sophomore said he was hurt worse than the drunk driver, suffering massive brain trauma, with broken ribs.
"It was interesting to see how the paramedics work," Swift said. "I learned how important the jobs of paramedic and a fireman are, how bad drunk driving can be and how that one decision can ruin your entire life."
Rebeca Ames said watching the crash scene was tough on her and a lot of students.
"You realize how bad underage drinking is, and what can happen if you do it," she said. "The crash was a real eye-opener, and I know some of the students were crying."
The medical helicopter also landed near the high school, and junior Mayra Quezada got a ride. The 16-year-old said they showed how important their role is in transporting a critically ill patient to a Tucson hospital.
Inside the gymnasium, students went through different scenarios. One student was told she was having twins, and wearing a 14-pound pregnancy suit, the student was taken to the hospital for delivery. During delivery, she lost one child, and was given the other to raise.
A Cochise County judge was also on hand, seeing students as they were given scenarios where they broke the law or were caught doing drugs.
No matter what the scenario, every year the teen maze program grows and works harder to educate students about how choices today, especially poor choices, will affect the rest of their lives.
 |
 |
|
| COMMUNITY PROFILE: Bouquets of brightness | City proceeds with 'hostile takeover' |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
