The Huron Expositor, 1998-09-02, Page 44 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, SEPTEMBER 2, 1996
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Wednesday, September 2, 1998
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Other losses
greater than
Diana's death
The anniversary of Princess Diana's
death has passed.
The Toss of a public figure affects
everyone because mass media invades
that person's life and gives everyone a
sense that they know the person. People
discussed Diana's life the same way they
would gossip about a neighbor's giving
opinions about how long they expected
her marriage to last or reflected on
whether or not she behaved
appropriately in a public situation.
With the first anniversary of her death,
wounds, many that have not healed yet,
have reopened on a mass society. They
are mourning a figure they never knew or
connected with on a personal level.
With her public position of power and
wealth she supported and contributed to
a number of charities and causes. Her
efforts in land mine issues are
commendable.
When you have wealth and power, it's
much better if at least a little of it can be
used for good.
But everyone seems to be forgetting a
figure far more important than Diana who
died just days after.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta died poor, by
her choice, living a lifestyle that did not
fascinate or attract the attention of a
mass society like Diana's life did.
But she devoted her entire life to
helping the poor and caring for the sick.
Diana wasn't a saint. She -was
someone fortunate enough to have
wealth and power to do some good in
this world.
But her efforts should not be admired
any more than a child who donates the
handful of change in a piggy bank to
support a cause to keep a local hospital
open.
Any loss should be mourned but let's be
a little realistic about it.
STH
Anti -drunk driving pressure
should increase in Diana's memory
To the Editor:
On August 31, 1997, the
world stood still at the news
of Princess Diana's death.
Each year we will mark the
anniversary of her death
with the knowledge that tier
life was cut short by the
senseless act of drunk
driving. Since her death,
more than 1,500 Canadians
have been killed in alcohol-
related crashes- an average
of 4.5 deaths per day. How
can we allow these senseless
crimes to continue?
Our law makers are fully
aware of these statistics, yet
they continue to make it
easy for drunk drivers to get
away with their criminal
Letters
behaviour. In Canada,
during the month . of
October, 1997, there was a
Parliamentary debate on
impaired driving. Since then
our politicians have been
silent and have not acted.
How many deaths will it
take to remind our MPs of
their duty to make more
effective laws to safeguard
us on our streets?
It has been more than ten
years since there has been a
review of the Criminal Code
as it relates to impaired
driving. Until changes are
made to the Criminal Code
and stiffer penalties for
criminals are implemented,
we will continue to have
innocent yictims injured or
killed by drinking drivers.
And, unfortunately, the
motions will he the same:
the families will have to
pick up the pieces, try to
fight for justice in an unjust
system, and carry on with
their lives without their
loved one(s). Our Federal
and Provincial Governments
must do more to protect the
innocent citizens of Canada.
I cannot understand how our
government can continue to
put off rectifying this
situation.
In the memory of Princess
Diana and in the memory of
the hundreds killed across
Canada each year, public
pressure must be placed on
our politicians. In this way,
we might halt the number of
innocent Canadians struck
down like Princess Diana
and make our roads and
community streets safe from
drunk drivers.
How many more people
have to die before
something is done?
Lynne Magee
MADD Huron/Bruce
Wingham, Ontario
Committee trying to reduce
. . o
injuries
To the Editor:
The Huron Perth Injury
Prevention Committee
(HPIPC) is asking your
readers for support and new
members to help avoid the
aftermath of disruption,
pain, loss, sorrow and
expense caused by injuries.
Injury is the leading cause
of death in people under age
44. Injury kills more
children under 19 than all
other causes combined.
There is much work to be
done.
The major task is to create
a shift in thinking. We know
that when most injuries are
investigated, they are not
"accidents." A cause can be
found and the event was
predictable. We need this
shift in thinking to take
control by creating as safe
an environment as possible.
HPIPC has subcommittees
for the four areas of
concern: motor vehicle
occupant safety, bicycle
safety, falls in seniors and
to Huron/Perth residents
farm safety. The Motor
Vehicle Occupant
Subcommittee is currently
planning a major R.I.D.E.
(Reduce Impaired Driving
Everywhere) campaign
across the two counties.
This will involve all area
police forces plus local
supporting businesses and
agencies. The Bicycle
Safety Subcommittee
provides resources while
strongly supporting helmet
use and bicycle skill
training. The autumn project
is to train volunteers to
assist with bicycle rodeos.
The Falls in Seniors
Subcommittee has an
inventory of local resources
and has published articles in
local newspapers. The
committee is working to
increase awareness of the
impact of falls, to make
homes safer and to increase
physical fitness among
seniors.
The Farm Safety
Subcommittee is concerned
with collecting accurate
baseline data about the
number of farm injuries in
Huron/Perth as well as
pursuing farm safety audits
and protecting farm families
from workplace -related
injuries.
All committees are very
keen to work ‘‘ ith existing
community groups or
interested iu,l iduals. We
also have at. injury
prevention display suitable
for any event that features
exhibits.
Actively working
community members
include several highly
valued community
volunteers plus
representatives' from
Beautnolnt Dairy Farms
(Mitchell), Ontario
Provincial Police, The
Canadian Red Cross
Society. District Health
Council. Huron County
Farm Safety Association.
Wingham and District
Hospital, Alexandra Marine
and General Hospital, Rob
Evans Chev-Olds
(Goderich), Huron
Expositor (Seaforth),
Seaforth Community
Hospital, MADD Canada,
Perth CCAC, Perth
Addiction Centre, Huron
Addiction and Assessment
Referral Centre, Perth
District Health Unit, Women
Today, Stratford Police,
Town and Country Support
Services, Ministry of
Transportation Ontario and
Huron County Health Unit.
The next HPIPC general
meeting is September 9 at
9:30 a.m. at the District
Health Council in Mitchell.
New members and
supporters are always
welcome.
Interested? Contact the
Huron County Health Unit,
RR #5, Clinton, Ontario,
NOM ILO. Phone 482-3416
or 1-800-265-5184 or fax
482-7820.
Marguerite Thomas
Chair
Physicians know what is and isn't working
for their patients' personal health care
By Dr. William Orovan, President,
Ontario Medical Association
It's one of Ontario's lesser known but
significant developments in the health
care field. For the first time, the medical
profession and the government have
created a structure that enables them to
work together to manage how health
services are delivered for the benefit of
all Ontarians. We're the only province
to have a joint Physician Services
Committee, with government and
medical profession representatives
working to enhance the quality and
effectiveness of medical care. During a
time -of turbulent change in health care,
the Physician Services Committee
provides a measure of stability in the
health care system.
Physicians work closely with patients
to manage their personal health care,
and we know what is and isn't working
in the health care system. We also know
that the population is growing, aging.
and living longer and thus making more
demands on our system. For these
reasons, we need to strengthen the
health system so that it can meet our
changing needs. It makes sense for us, to
have a business -like environment in
which physicians and the government
can work together to improve the
delivery of medical services.
As members of the Ontario Medical
Association (OMA), which represents
doctors in the province, we measure the
decisions- of the Physicians Services
Committee against a set of principles
that focus on the health care needs of
the residents of Ontario. We believe that
everyone in the province deserves the
best medical care and advice, with your
personal needs always placed ahead of
the system. You should have timely
access to a doctor and to appropriate
health care service and information.
You also deserve to be heard, to have
your opinion known, when decisions are
made about your health and about the
health care system overall.
By developing a business -like and
productive relationship with the
government, unlike the difficult times of
the past, physicians have brought about
positive and in, some cases, long
overdue reforms. Just recently. we
negotiated improvements to a contract
with the Ontario government that will
make it much easier for physicians to
practise in northern and other under
serviced communities. We have
modernized the OHIP schedule of
benefits and we are examining health
care utilization to determine where our
limited resources should best be placed.
As well, the OMA and the
government have initiated five
voluntary pilot projects in Ontario to
test a Primary Care Reform initiative.
The results of the pilots will be
carefully evaluated. We hope, the long
run, primary care will be• more
accessible and more effective for
patients. Primary Care Reform will
improve disease prevention', increase
health promotion, and will create a 24-
hour service to patients.
The OMA is also working hard to
identify problems that affect the health
of Ontarians. Recently we published a
study that showed that pollution causes
the death of approximately 1,800 people
per year across the province due to
respiratory and cardiac disease. We
hope that brining attention to this issue
will help to decrease a serious problem
which affects all of us.
Physicians of Ontario feel an
obligation to .identify problems and
devise workable solutions, along with
the government, to ensure the future
stability of the health care system in this
province. In today's health-care system.
the status quo is simply not an option.
Crime doesn't only happen in the big cities,
safety steps, like locking cars, are necessary
Many people who live in our area feel we live in a rural
area and don't practice safety. They say crime only happens
in the big city, not our community. Car doors are left
unlocked, windows down and even leave their vehicle
running when they run into stores or for that important
coffee. Statistics show that nine out of every ten vehicles
are left unlocked. Items are then stolen out of these vehicles
victimizing the careless owner.
The following suggestions won't eliminate motor vehicle
thefts or thefts from your car entirely, but it will go a long
way in helping to discourage thieves.
• Keep your vehicle locked at all times.
• Never leave your keys in an unattended vehicle, even
when running a quick errand.
• Always roll up the windows tightly.
• If possible, never leave your keys in the car when it is in
a parking lot.
• Don't hide spare keys, they can be found.
• Keep vehicle and house keys on a separate key ring.
• Install a locking type gas cap.
• If you have a garage, use it. Lock the vehicle and the
garage.
• Do not leave personal identification or credit cards in
your vehicle.
• Park in well lit areas with pedestrian traffic.
• Park your vehicle facing the street. Anyone tampering
with it is more likely to be seen.
• Keep parcels out of public view.
• If you leave your coat or purse anywhere, take your keys
with you.
• Consider installing anti -theft devices.
An awareness of these crime prevention pointers, together
with your own common sense, can help make crime
proofing a way of life.
(Prepared by Senior Constable- Don Shrop.chall,
Community Services Officer with the Huron OPP.)
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