By Karen Gutierrez
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FLORENCE - Seventeen-year-old Seth Eckler got pregnant this week. Sort of.

Strapping on an "empathy belly" that mimicked a baby's weight, the Boone County High School senior looked distressed.

"It's heavy. Really heavy," he said. "Babies aren't this squishy, are they?"

Seth's prenatal encounter came Thursday night during a pre-prom event at Boone County High School. About 85 students attended, entering drawings for prom-related accessories, competing in a cornhole tournament and learning how not to behave on the big night.

Booths set up by the Northern Kentucky Health Department warned against teen pregnancy, drunken driving and sexually transmitted diseases. For visiting the stations, students earned $5 off tickets to the high school's May 7 prom.

Signs posted around the room reinforced the message to be careful out there.

"They have, 'Every hour, 49 teenagers become pregnant,' " noted Ashley Sprague, 17. "It was really like, 'Oh my gosh.' "

Health department officials Lisa English and Stephanie Swanger created "Pre-Prom With a Twist. "

Teenage behavior such as alcohol consumption isn't going to go away quickly, students said.

"One time, this thing isn't going to stop it," Seth said. "If they keep having it, I'm sure it'll have an effect."

E-mail kgutierrez@enquirer.com