Stalling 'Every 15 Minutes' Reality the Goal of Frightening Day

Fortunately, the Grim Reaper who visited Burbank High School Tuesday morning, April 29, was only a costumed imposter - though it was genuinely spooky to see him escort a "living dead" student out of class every 15 minutes from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.

It was even scarier when a police officer promptly appeared to read an obituary for the lost student, who returned in a few minutes with white face make-up, a coroner's tag, and apparently no ability to speak or interact with other students.

This was all part of "Every 15 Minutes," a program reenacted in high schools across the country to warn teens of the tragic dangers of drinking and driving. The program is named for government statistics indicating that someone in America is killed or injured in alcohol-related accidents about every 15 minutes.

All juniors and seniors at Burbank High took part in the two-day program, which included a horrific mock crash scene near the high school, a field trip to Pierce Brothers Mortuary, an overnight retreat at the downtown Burbank Holiday Inn, and a Memorial Service.

Burbank High School Assistant Principal Hani Youseff and Government and Economics teacher Doug Grimshaw, the program coordinator, were pleased with the results.

"The feedback I got back from students and parents was amazing - a lot of people said it totally changed their thinking about alcohol and driving," Grimshaw said. "The surprising part was that it also impacted the entire school population and a lot of the community. It went better than we expected."

The program was made possible with outside help from the city police and fire departments, the California Highway Patrol, and the support of local businesses and businessmen such as Brad Korb.

"I know it's a scary and unpleasant thing to consider, but drunk driving is a problem that must be faced," Korb said. "I was pleased to see how many in the local community came out to support this program. It will certainly save lives."