VIP for a VIP
Vehicle Injury Prevention for a Very Important Person
    PROGRAM INFORMATIONSCHEDULECONTACT USDONATIONSMEMORIAL

 

Welcome to the VIP for a VIP Program                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our REQUEST PROCESS  

The  VIP for a VIP program is delivered at no charge to high schools in NC on request during the spring and fall.  Our program schedule is limited due to volunteer staff availability and the time necessary to plan and deliver the programs.  When the school can commit to hosting the program, call or email David at 336-508-3781 / david@vipforavip.com.

 

Current dates available:             Spring 2012         No openings, sorry                                          View Current Schedule

                                                       Fall 2012               No openings, sorry

                                                        Spring 2013         No openings, sorry

                                                         Fall 2013  Call David 336-508-3781

 

Literature:  Program overview       School Letter       School info form

 

YOU can be a part of the VIP for a VIP program too.  Our team in Guilford County has reached our capacity for program delivery.  Our staff are all volunteer firefighters, using off-duty days and taking vacation to meet program demands has brought us to a point that we are developing a second VIP for a VIP team to cover eastern NC. Chief Daryl Cash, Wake Forest Fire Department is managing this group.  Call Chief Cash at 919-868-3677 for more information.

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Our HISTORY is relatively short and the core of the VIP for a VIP program has not changed much during this time.   The program was conceived in 1998 when off-duty firefighters Steve Zimmerman and Larry Cockman, came upon a vehicle accident that had just occurred involving two teens who had decided to skip school that day.  The driver had lost control of the vehicle and struck a bridge column, ejecting her from the vehicle, which came to rest on top of her taking her life.  In the days following the accident, Steve and Larry struggled with this senseless loss and purposed to develop a program to educate teens by bringing the reality of what they saw that day to the doorstep of high schools in the area.  The first VIP for a VIP program was delivered at Northeast Guilford High School, NC in the spring of 1998, and has been delivered to area high schools every spring and fall since that time. To date 118 programs have been delivered reaching over  76,152 teenagers.

 

Our MISSION is to bring the sight, sounds, and smell of a fatal vehicle accident to the doorstep of high school students in a dramatic way in hopes of embedding the consequences of these often senseless events into the minds of teenage drivers. 

 

Our VISION is that, at the end of the day, students will have a realistic picture of what can happen as a result of one moment of inattention.  It’s not just driving while impaired, it’s also sending that quick text message, partying in the car, aggressive driving, and other distractions that set in motion a horrifying, irreversible chain of events.

Our PROGRAM is delivered by volunteers from local Fire, EMS, Police, and State Highway Patrol agencies as well as individuals from other organizations.  There is no cost to the hosting school.  Programs are usually scheduled in the spring and fall near prom and homecoming events.  Once the hosting school commits, a date is reserved and a brochure is prepared for the students to take home one week before the program.  The brochure contains a "contract for life" that they sign and return to school. 

The day of the program the VIP team places a memorial vehicle that two students lost their life in at the front entrance of the school as a visible testimony from the victims families. This sets the tone for the days program.

Click photos to enlarge

 

The morning session, which lasts about an hour, brings students to the auditorium where they hear speakers from emergency services and parents of teenage accident victims talk about their experiences.  The students then view video presentations and statistics on accidents involving teenage drivers.  The presentation is direct from the real world, graphic, and true.  It is not just about driving while impaired and speeding, but mostly about avoiding the distractions that capture the attention of these new drivers for the few seconds that it takes to cause an accident.   The session ends with a memorial using the school ROTC honorguard to uncover a casket.

Click photos to enlarge

The afternoon session lasts about 30 minutes.  Students are assembled on bleachers outside to observe a reenactment of a fatal automobile accident.  Once assembled, a covering is removed revealing a smoking auto with a teen driver slumped over the steering wheel.  A jogger runs by to discover the accident.  Over the speakers, the students hear his call to 911, followed by the dispatch of police, fire, and ambulance units.  The dead driver's talks throughout the event about how he should have been paying attention and about all the things he will miss because of this wreck. Emergency units arrive and find the patient pinned in the vehicle, and begin cutting the door and roof off to get the patient out.  Once out, rescuers perform CPR as the teens mom and dad  arrive.  The rescuers efforts are unsuccessful, CPR is discontinued, and the patient is placed in a body bag and loaded into the ambulance as the parents cry in disbelief.  Two students place a roadside memorial cross in front of the accident scene.  How can he be dead?  He's only 17.  The session closes with a heart to heart talk by the VIP moderator.

Click photos to enlarge

 

A Contract for Life is sent home with the students for the parents and student to come together to agree that if the student finds themself in a situation where it would be unsafe to drive or ride with another that the parents would come to the rescue without a dramatic confrontation.

I________________________, promise to obey all traffic laws, and wear available lap and shoulder restraints at all times, when operating, or riding, in a motor vehicle. Further, I will not operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription medications that may alter my ability to drive safely. I will not ride in a motor vehicle with anyone who is impaired by drugs or alcohol. I understand that this is a "Zero Tolerance" agreement (no amount of alcohol or drugs will be tolerated regardless of how small). I agree to limit passengers in my car to a number established by my parent(s) or guardian(s). Additionally, I will call my parents for transportation if I cannot drive safely, or if I feel unsafe riding with another driver.

 Student Signature______________________                         Date___/___/___

I,______________________________ the parent/guardian of_______________________________ promise to set a good example when operating a motor vehicle. Additionally, I agree to provide transportation at any time if you find yourself in a bad situation and promise to be reasonable and respectful in disciplinary actions. I promise to ensure your safety by revoking your driving privileges if you violate this agreement.

 Parent Signature______________________                          Date___/___/___

 

 Tumbling Bears Rollover Program

The VIP for a VIP Program provides a rollover simulator for local fire departments to use for public safety events.  We want to reach not only teenage drivers but start "safety in the car" thinking at the elementary age.  Kids can help us all because they believe what they hear and see and they are not afraid to remind parents when we get lazy on safety.

 

Links to Teen Driver Safety Information

http://www.allstate.com/content/refresh-attachments/citizenship/chronic.pdf

http://www.allstate.com/foundation/teen-safe-driving.aspx

http://www.cdc.gov/MotorVehicleSafety/Teen_Drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html

http://cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/spotlite/teendrivers.htm

http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/teendrivers/

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.6a6eaf83cf719ad24ec86e10dba046a0/

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.9fa154a4d39f02e770f6df1020008a0c/