Dear Editor
Please let me paint a picture for you. One that is seen nearly every day in most towns everywhere.
Sirens wail through town. It’s dark almost black out. First responders are Code 3, enroute to a motor vehicle incident– dispatch has told them a pickup is overturned and on its roof. One occupant is trapped, another has been thrown from the vehicle, passerbys are assisting. This is all the information they have when they get the call at 2 am and scramble to get their gear on.
They arrive at the scene. Headlights and flashlights assist in locating the 17 year old youth that has been thrown from the pick up. He doesn’t need any help, it’s too late. They rush to aid the 16 year old girl trapped in the pickup, the steering wheel pining her in. She’s hanging upside down, she’s not moving.
They reach in and try and get her vitals, she’s regained consciousness, she’s frightened and screaming for help. Her cries for help grow quieter as she stares wide eyed at the first responder who’s gently speaking to her, telling her she’s going to be ok and that they will get her out of there right away, just keep talking what’s your name? Where do you live?... She’s finally free and loaded into the ambulance. The ambulance pulls away, again Code 3, this time to the hospital.
Attention goes back to the yellow tarp where someone’s son is, he won’t be grading this year with the rest of his friends. The coroner arrives, highway analyst arrive, measurements are taken and the young boy is placed in body removals van. The highway reopens, life goes on for those stuck for perhaps up to six hours as they wait.
Remember that first responder that stayed by the young girls side, assuring her she was doing good and gently coaxed her into a conversation to calm her while they extricated her from the over turned pick up? Well he’s now on his way to Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s house to notify them that their son Jimmy had just been in a serious MVI and had passed away. All in a day’s work.
One wonders what kind of person it takes to be able to block out the pain and suffering that they see on a daily basis. One wonders why when the RCMP comes across someone who is under the influence that they remove them from the highways, their driving privileges taken from them. Countless times the RCMP have come across accidents such as young Jimmy whose life was cut short by a drunk driver and that same RCMP member had to go to Jimmy’s parents and deliver the next of kin notification, one of the toughest jobs there could ever be is to tell someone their loved one isn’t coming home. All in a day’s work.
My point? When if ever have you taken the time to really think about what these special breed of people do to assist us? Who are you going to call when your house or business is broken into or a fight has broken out or your child has just run away from home? Is this something you might consider doing as your livelihood? I would like to just say ‘thank you ‘ to the members for all they do and perhaps the next time you see one driving through town or at the side of the road you could give them a wave or just stop and tell them “thank you”.
Jan Boys
Clinton