Drop Dead Day Observed
Dec 10, 2014
A dramatic event on Thursday, December 11 at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute drove home the message about the dangers of tobacco use. The Westgate Smoke Free Ontario School Action Team organized a “Drop Dead Day” that saw 103 students drop to the floor for five minutes to demonstrate the number of deaths per day attributed to smoking and tobacco use. This action was a surprise to the rest of the student body.
“This dramatic action by our Smoke Free Ontario School Action Team illustrated how deadly tobacco related illnesses are and to highlight the negative effects that the tobacco industry has on our society,” says David McCallum, Chair of the Arts at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute. “The Action Team is working to create a healthier school community through events such as this in order to reduce the number of tobacco users.”
The group of 103 students dropped at the end of lunch (at the bell) in three different areas of the school, including the main hallway, to highlight their message. After the period started, an announcement ran to inform the school community of what just happened and why.
