In four lanes of one-way traffic on Vernon Avenue in Saanich, a pair of headlights bear down on morning commuters. With red and white flashing lights and the backwards B次元官网网址渁mbulanceB次元官网网址� facing us, traffic parts in synchrony B次元官网网址� as it should.
It was an unusual, unexpected situation. Perhaps thatB次元官网网址檚 why there was no bickering over lanes, or racing to get ahead of one more vehicle before pulling over. It was an eye-opener on our way to work.
My ears always perk up when I hear sirens, not because IB次元官网网址檓 a reporter, but because IB次元官网网址檓 human. IB次元官网网址檝e been in those ambulances, fortunately only twice. IB次元官网网址檝e seen my parents hauled away in one, bleeding and broken after a major crash on the Hope-Princeton Highway.
That ambulance could be racing to save someoneB次元官网网址檚 mom, brother, baby or maybe my friend.
Regular readers of this column may remember my tale of Herbie B次元官网网址� the liver. Herbie made the move, via transplant, to my friend B次元官网网址� letB次元官网网址檚 call her Daisy B次元官网网址� in 1994 and recently heB次元官网网址檚 been behaving a bit like a teenager, likely leading the revolt raging through Daisy.
She takes it on the chin, but with a smile. In the last few weeks sheB次元官网网址檚 had to take a ride with the medics three times to what that household refers to as Chateau Jubilee.
Though sheB次元官网网址檚 loath to call them (itB次元官网网址檚 always the sickest who donB次元官网网址檛 want to call the ambulance), Daisy reports that the paramedics arrive quickly (at times along with the Saanich fire department first responders) and are efficient while still jovial (humour is almost a rule with Daisy).
Carpooling home from Port Alberni with the hockey team last weekend, each of us noticed the two cars, with red and blue flashing lights, as they rushed through the intersection ahead of us and turned down the highway we were travelling.
As one we groaned B次元官网网址榦h no,B次元官网网址� knowing that would likely mean a crash ahead.
A few corners later we came upon the scene. As one pair of eyes remained on the road (the driver slowing to a safe speed) the other five searched out the vehicles in the crash for telltale signs of teammate vehicles B次元官网网址� the only conceivable situation where we might be able to help. Finding none, no one complained for the rest of the long, late-night ride home.
We often think of our emergency personnel when the worst happens, like slowing past a crash moments after it happened.
In last weekB次元官网网址檚 snow, officers and tow truck drivers on the Peninsula were constantly clearing cars from the havoc of Highway 17, amid dangerous road conditions.
On Monday, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 resources were stretched B次元官网网址� and mutual aid agreements brought into play B次元官网网址� as they battled fires, one officer suffered a knife attack and others were called out to a stand-off.
Concerning ourselves about the policing system and how it works is important, but too often when on the highway, that concern goes out the window.
I prefer to think the majority use the caution our carpool driver did, but there are those who donB次元官网网址檛 appear to care.
Since the summer of 2009, itB次元官网网址檚 been the law that when you see an emergency vehicle with lights flashing, you must slow to 70 km/h where the speed limit is 80 km/h or faster, and 40 km/h in 50 zones. WeB次元官网网址檙e obligated, when itB次元官网网址檚 safe, to move to the other lane or face fines.
It shouldnB次元官网网址檛 take tickets to enforce common sense. Those working crash scenes are someoneB次元官网网址檚 mom, brother, baby or friend, too.
And if those red and white lights and B次元官网网址渁mbulanceB次元官网网址� sign are bearing down on you, pull over. If you donB次元官网网址檛 and if IB次元官网网址檓 in the back, with my knee facing the wrong way from a wayward hockey hit, I will come and find you once the painkillers wear off.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
B次元官网网址擟hristine van Reeuwyk is a reporter for the Peninsula B次元官网网址 Review.
