LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
A casket sat alongside the screens, posters and simulator at the front of the presentation area in the 1st Fighter Wing Static Display Hangar, a grim reminder to those who lost loved ones as a result of drunk driving, and perhaps a wake-up call to others.
Each year, the Save-a-Life Tour visits Langley to increase awareness of increase awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and promote responsibility to Airmen. More than 350 Airmen attended this year's multimedia production Sept. 25, which included educational speaking, graphic videos and a drunk-driving simulator.
Chris Geysbeek, Save-a-Life Tour manager, opened the briefings with a short introduction, followed by videos featuring graphic footage of real drunk-driving accident scenes, police testimonials and victims of accidents.
Afterward, Mr. Geysbeek spoke with Airmen about his tragic personal connections to drunk driving, and provided the audience with statistics that substantiated the scope and seriousness of the problem.
"More than 25,000 people die yearly in drunk-driving accidents," he said.
Rather than lecture, Mr. Geysbeek reasoned with the audience, presenting anecdotes and stories to engage the listener and inspire proactive thinking.
"Going to the bar isn't the problem; having fun isn't the problem," he said. "The problem is people drinking, getting behind the wheel and thinking they're more important than everyone else."
Following the briefing, the Save-a-Life team explained how the simulator effectively replicates driving while intoxicated and invited an attendee to attempt to demonstrate. The audience volunteered 1st Lt. Kathleen Chiarantona, 1st Maintenance Group, as the first of 125 Airmen to use the simulator. After some initial success, Lieutenant Chiarantona eventually encountered difficulty as the "influence meter" increased, finally crashing the vehicle into a wall.
While the audience laughed as their colleagues unsuccessfully tried to complete the simulator, the seriousness of the presentation impacted many who attended.
"I expected a long, drawn-out briefing, but was really surprised by the interactive elements and videos," said Airman Mike Herbst, 1st Equipment Maintenance Squadron AGE ranger. "The message was hard-hitting and effective."
The Save-a-Life Tour specializes in visits to colleges and military installations nationwide. For more information, visit the tour Web site at www.savealifetour.net.