A8 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 24, 2000 m@ Fire drill Workers' Compensation Board employee Tara Cox was one of about 10 staff members practic- ing their fire extinguishing techniques outside a vacant lot at Lakelse Avenue and Clinton Street Wednesday, May 17. Firefighters beef up role IF YOU have a heart attack, shortness of breath or chest pain in Thornhill this summer, chances are ambulance para- medics and firefighters will show up to help. The Thornhill Fire Department will be participating in first responder service for the first time come June, pending B.C. government approval. First responder service will allow Thornhill volunteer firefighters to be called out to life-threatening ambulance calls in their coverage area, a service currently provided in Terrace but not the regional district. “There will hopefully be someone at the scene’ a little quicker,” Thornhill deputy fire chief Wes Patterson said. — The service uses firefighters, based out of community fire halls, when ambulance crews can’t be at a life-threaten- ing call within the first five minutes, or when there is more than one patient involved. “We're an extra set of hands,” said Patterson, adding trained volunteers will assess and stabilize patients until ambulance crews arrive, The calls — dispatched from the B,C, Ambulance Service Call Centre in Kamloops — will first go to the Terrace fire department staff who then alert crews at the Thornhill hall. First responder service will be especially helpful on nights and weekends when ambulance crews ate on-call. “It’s great news that the regional district is considering first responder service,” said Bob Pearce, a provincial am- bulance official. , Patterson said Thornhill’s 44 volunteer firefighters, who also operate on a pager system, live in the community and are therefore closer the emergency site. The department is still looking for volunteers in Klean- za, Gossen Creek, Usk, Lakelse Lake and Jackpine Flats to broaden the number of volunteers in their coverage area. The unit has also raised $2,000 toward buying a $6,500 automatic external defibrillator, a machine used to shock the heart into a normal rhythm in preparation for one or two first responder calls a week. “They do save lives,” Patterson said. “It’s not a require- ment, it’s an added level of service we'd like to be able to provide.” lf the department can get the money for the machine, said Patterson, the training will be provided for free, Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine #300-4545 Lazelle Avenue Terrace, BC NOTICE OF MEETING Regular Board Meeting will be held as folows: May 26, 2000 7:00 p.m. Regional District Office Pursuant to Section 790 of the Municipal Act, the following reports will be presented and considered.ai the meeting. 1. Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31,1999. oe 2.8 irectors remitreration“and expenses annual report for the year 1999 3. These reports are open for public inspection at the Regional District office during regular business hours. 7 fA | NOTICE ENS CITY OF TERRACE SUMMER HOURS TERRACE} City of Terrace operations will be on Summer Hours as follows: June 5, 2000 TO SEPTEMBER 1, 2000 City Hall OFFICE 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Public Works OFFICE 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. WORK CREWS = ‘7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Parks & OFFICE 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m Recreation ...: PARKS CREWS 7:00 am.-3:30 6. *Please note that garbage will ba collected earlier during the day due to summer hours. ; R. Poole Chief Administrative Officer *Hondside Assistance is provided for the perlot af the factory and addtional warranties. FACILITIES “"~“Ag'postes es " p-"] YOU BE THE JUDGE Sense And Sensibility The polie cruisers zoomed to the scene, sirens blasting. Ambulances raced right behind. "Four car pileup. One woman lying on the ground. Pinned behween two cars, Conscious.” "Help me, help me, | can’t move” Just then, the Gardenview. scheolbus rounded the corner and came upon the accident scene. The driver slowed ‘down immediately, The kids : jumped ever each olher and crowded “the windows, ; Suddenly,.-Tony. Bragerman -called-out...."Hey.... -loak! ‘That's Jeannie’s mother lyingon the ti ground’ Q, The driver tried to ‘cantrol the children. "Stop that rubbernecking! Let’s just hope that Jeannie’s _ we mother is nol badly injured.”: : The police ofticers quickly freed Jeannie’s mother from the cars. “Okay guys, get the back- board, Justin case.” Jeannie’s mather wos taken lo the hospital. oF fon. The road was cleared. The bus driver was relieved tc finally head tawards the school, Once the kids were safely off the bus,.the driver ran to tell the principal about Jeannie’s: mom, But it was loo late - Tony Bragerman had olready gotten to Jeannie. . a ; “Hey Jeannie! Your mom was-in on accident this morning. We sow her- splattered on the ground like a piece of rond pizzal” . For a moment, eleven: year-old Jeannie stood in the school yard in complete shock: By the time the principal came looking for her, she was on the ground, screaming hysterically, The principal galvanized into action, "We have fo calm Jeannie down. She's out of control.” Ha reached down to Jeannie. “I'm going to call the hospital right now about your mother. BY CLAIRE BERNSTEIN Ce, =O) BASED ON ACTUAL COURT . CASES The principal brought back good news. “Jea- nnie; the hospital said they toak X-rays and _your mother is just fine.” Bul nothing could con- sole the terrified girl. Nothing but her mother. -vAs soon-as Jeannie’s mother was discharged, her husband drove her to the school. “Jeannie, Jeannie, {'m okay. See? Just some silly bandages." But it wasn't fine for Jeannie. For three months, she.was a tormented girl. “Mommy, | dreamt cf monsters killing you. Let me sleep with you and Daddy.” "Mommy, don’t leave me.”.“Mommy don’t drive.” - Jeannie’s torment affected her school work. She dropped from an A toa C and was held ack one year, Jeannie’s mother sued the driver who caused the accident, for her doughter’s damages. In court, Jeannie’s. mother argued fiercely. “Your Honour, my daughier's irauma is a direct consequence’ of this. driver's negligence. Not only did he injure me but he hurt my daughter a The driver threw up his hands. “Your Honour, haw could i have known that such a miner acci- dent would cause this trauma? -You can’t blame me for the carefree attitude of the children who _ were in the school bus!” [s the driver responsible for Jeannie’s trauma? YOU! Be The Judge! Then look below for the decision. SPONSORED BY Phone: 638-0354 WRIGHT & MARDIROS TRIAL LAWYERS Serving the Pacific Nortbwest TERENCE WRIGHT 15 years experience DAVID MARDIROS Criminal and Family Law Civil Litigation Aboriginal Law Free Initial Interview for I.C.B.C. and Personal Injury Claims 4730 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace, B.C. V8G 1T2 Fax: 635-2919 YOU! BE THE JUDGE - DECISION “The driver is not responsible, He did not owe a duty of care to Jeannic,” decided Judge Eleanor. “You have to distinguish people who suffer,psychological illngss as .g result of what they saw or heard at an “Ny aga tend at Bevin iaics agcident and people who suffer such ney as-a result of Bi * POU! BE THE JUDGE 1S bised' Sit ru ng informed of the accident after it happens.” AEHRLion is based ona court case from the province of British Columbia. If you have a similar problem; pléase contact Wright & Mardiros. Claire Bernstein is a lawyer and nationally syndicated columnist, Copyright 2000 Haika Enterprises, C22-11.