Home > Rockville City Police > Programs > Every 15 Minutes Program

Every 15 Minutes,
someone in the United States dies
in an alcohol-related traffic accident!

The Rockville City Police Department is dedicated to educating young people about the possible long reaching ramifications of drinking alcohol, poor driving and the impact it has on them as well as their friends, classmates and their families.

"Every 15 Minutes" is a two-day program focusing on high school juniors and seniors which challenges them to think about drinking, personal safety, driving habits and the responsibility of making mature decisions when lives are involved. The program’s name was conceived from the fact that every 15 minutes, someone in the United States dies in an alcohol-related traffic collision.

With this program, we wish to involve as many organizations and members of our community as possible. The following is an outline of events that will take place during the intense two days of "Every 15 Minutes".

DAY 1:

• Every 15 minutes, a designated student is removed from class by the grim reaper.
  
• The student is made-up to represent the "living dead" and given a tee shirt to wear.
  
• A police officer then reads a mock obituary to the student’s fellow classmates which was written by the "living dead" student’s parents.
  
• During the school lunch period, a mock fatal DWI accident is staged in front of the school. The Rockville City Police Department and the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department treat the "injured / deceased".
  
• The "living dead" students are allowed to attend their remaining classes, while in their make-up, but are not allowed to speak or take part in any school activity for the remainder of the day.
  
• Parents of the "living dead" receive a pre-arranged, mock verbal death notification delivered by a police officer at their home or at work.
  
• At the end of the day, the "living dead" are taken to an overnight retreat for lodging, in order to effectively simulate that the student is "gone". The students are under direct supervision of police officers and community member chaperons.

OVERNIGHT RETREAT:

The "living dead" are transported to the overnight retreat after the school day ends. Students have an opportunity to complete homework and work on an assembly presentation. Students interact with police officers, medical personnel and participating members of the community in developing a presentation, which includes letters to parents relating feelings that were never shared.

Students are provided with dinner and breakfast during the overnight retreat. Police officers and community member chaperons are with the students throughout the event.

DAY 2:

• The "living dead" are transported back to school for an assembly. The "living dead" are not able to have contact with family or friends prior to the assembly.
  
• A video is presented as part of the assembly.
  
• Speakers from the "living dead", police department, fire department, hospital, parents, teachers, etc., give presentations about their views and personal experiences.
  
• The "living dead" read part of the letter they wrote to their parents during the overnight retreat about their experience.
  
• The last and most important thing that is impressed upon everyone is the importance of acknowledging the fact that alcohol doesn’t just hurt those who drink, but too often it hurts innocent victims. In addition, drunk driving has a rippling effect on the community.

Rockville City Police
Department of Public Safety
111 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850
In case of emergency, call 911
240-314-8900 (non-emergency)