Florida firefighter Vince Easevoli describes the process that one goes through when being rescued from a car crash.

Paramedics Scott Neusch and Vince Easevoli slapped on a neck brace, strapped Sterling High School sophomore Matt Vercillo to a backboard, taped his legs and head down, then proceeded to demonstrate every invasive, painful procedure he might face in the event of a real car accident - the needles, the tubes, the dreaded catheter.

Then everyone at the school assembly witnessed graphic pictures of dead bodies, severed legs, cracked heads and mangled bodies.

Many students cringed, some left. "It was pretty disgusting, I almost passed out," Rock Falls sophomore Morgan Johnson said.

"We love to tell you these pictures are fake, but they're not," said Neusch, a paramedic with the Orlando Fire Department.

He and Easevoli, a paramedic from Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue, visited Rock Falls and Sterling high schools Monday - in advance of prom week - to present Street Smart, a program that aims to catch kids' attention and encourage them to make wise decisions about drinking and driving, drugs and seat belt use. They reminded students not to get into a car if the driver is impaired, and to call their parents if they're unable to drive home from a party.

Matt won the honor of being taped down, prodded and laughed at because he raised his hand when the paramedics asked which students didn't always wear their seat belts.

"It makes you think if you were in that situation," Matt said. "Everyone could laugh until it happens to you."

Junior Lloyd Hernandez was the "victim" at Rock Falls High School; he, too was chosen because, like about half the kids in the audience, he raised his hand when the paramedics asked who was lax when it comes to seat belt use.

"That was so uncomfortable. I'm probably going to wear my seat belt from now on," Lloyd said.

The paramedics also asked how many students had a friend who liked to party, drink and use illegal drugs. Nearly everyone raised a hand.

The schools hold such assemblies every year before the prom.

"If it helps save one kid's life, it is worth it," Rock Falls High School Principal Ron McCord said.

By Joseph Bustos - SVN Reporter