Crushed vehicles, a crying mother, maimed bodies, a fellow student arrested, and a "deceased" friend - these are the images that Beaverton High School students will see at this year’s S.L.A.M. (Simulated Live Action Melodrama) event. S.L.A.M., scheduled for Wednesday, May 30, at 9:30 a.m. is an annual event sponsored by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and the Washington County Sheriffs Office. The event graphically simulates the consequences of a motor vehicle collision involving students who choose to drink and drive at a graduation party. Students from Beaverton High School will play the parts of the "victims." The students will receive fake injuries (makeup called "moulage") and be placed in wrecked vehicles under a tarp on the back track/football field. Moulage services are being donated by Authentic Creations, a local company that provided make-up services for the movie, "The Hunted," recently filmed in Portland.

As a 911 tape begins to play, the tarp is thrown back to reveal the wreckage and bodies, while firefighters and paramedics respond to the incident. Firefighters will use extrication tools to remove the students from the wrecked cars, police officers will put the driver through a sobriety test, students will be loaded into ambulances, and a medical examiner will place the "deceased" student in a body bag for transport to a funeral home.

Karen Eubanks, TVF&R Public Information Officer says, "The half-hour program is designed to grab the students’ attention. It’s a harsh and sobering message that drinking and driving can be deadly." Following this year’s event, students will have an opportunity to "pledge" not to drink and drive. The names of those students who pledge will be featured on a local radio station’s website.

The program was developed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office after they viewed a similar program in California. Other agencies participating in Wednesday’s event include Beaverton Police Department, Metro West Ambulance, Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (911), Multnomah County Medical Examiners Officer, Hillsboro Towing, ROSIE 105 Radio, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Amica Insurance.

Following next Wednesday’s program, over 10,000 students will have seen SLAM. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office have been presenting SLAM events since 1997.