Huron Expositor, 2007-02-28, Page 5Opinion
The Huron Expositor 4. February 28, 2007 Page 5
Brussels community appreciates first
response by its village firefighters
To the Editor,
I've just returned home from
being south and was catching up
on the news by reading the Feb. 14
edition of the Huron Expositor.
I was shocked to read about
Huron East councillors Bernie
MacLellan and Larry McGrath's
comments regarding the tired
response for Brussels firefighters
and Huron EMS and voting
against it. I can clearly see what
they are looking at - it's not the
health and welfare of the residents
of Brussels but rather the money
aspect of things.
I think it is great that the
Brussels firefighters are more than
willing to provide a first response. I
do not agree that response times to
Brussels have improved due to the
roaming ambulance, as they are
only available to Brussels under
certain conditions.
We recently had a very young
resident who frequently required
the fire department's services until
the ambulance arrived from
Wingham as it never seemed to be
in Brussels when needed.
The fire department's quick
response was greatly appreciated
by his family.
I agree with you on the fact that
the firefighters are not paramedics
but your quote in the Citizen stat-
ing "they can't tell the ambulance
not to show up" is not true to the
understanding of what first
response is.
The fire department has access to
many first aid tools - a very valu-
able one being oxygen.
Supplemental 02 (oxygen) is vital
to a person having acute medical
problems such as angina (chest
pains), CHF (heart failure) or a
person in seizure and many other
things. The fact that the firefight-
ers arrive quickly and use their
first aid skills is a great asset.
In the cardiac arrest patient,
early CPR is imperative in increas-
ing the chance of survival. Once
the heart stops pumping, seconds
count. For every minute that pass-
es without help, a person's chance
of surviving drops by approximate-
ly 10 per cent.
With CPR being initiated, a per-
son's chances of survival may
increase by 30 per cent or more.
Early defibrillation also plays a
part in these percentages and I do
not doubt it that someday, Brussels
will carry an AED (automatic
external defibrillator) to provide
further advanced care to the town.
It has been clearly documented
for years that Brussels, Ashfield,
Grey and Howick townships have
the worst ambulance response
times in the county. I am aware
that Huron EMS has started plac-
ing roaming cars in ACW and
Brussels for 12 hours each day to
cover these poor response time
areas.
However, it was not mentioned
that the cars are available only
when they are not providing Code 8
(standby) elsewhere for other units
on Code 4 calls in the county.
I have been told by paramedics
that sometimes there is not enough
staff available to cover the roaming
cars on certain days. You must also
realize that not every medical
emergency in Brussels happens
within these 12 hours when they
are "available."
Mr. MacLellan, if you want some-
thing to get serious about and dis-
agree with, I suggest you start with
the Huron County Council and the
Health, Ambulance and Social
Services Committee that you sit on.
As stated in the article, Huron
ambulances are not allowed to
travel over 20 km/h of the posted
speed limit.
See LIMITS, Page 6
$23,503 addition to Egmondville
public school officially opened in 1957
FEBRUARY 24, 1882
At the meeting of town council
held on Monday evening it was
decided to amend the dog tax by-
law, by reducing the amount of tax
on male dogs from $1.50 to $1.00
and on female dogs from $2.50 to
$2.00.
The salary of the town clerk for
the present year was fixed at $200
and his office hours are from 9:00
a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
One day last week a man was dri-
ving a very spirited team of horses
up the London Road, near Clinton,
when the whistle of an approach-
ing train, started them, and they
bolted. The driver realizing his
danger of collision with the train,
did his best to prevent the team
from crossing the track. The loco-
motive just struck the end of his
conveyance, but did not break any-
thing.
A concert given in aid of the Fire
Brigade of Exeter, a few evenings
ago, realized over $50.00.
MARCH 1, 1907
A valuable horse belonging to
Harry Elworthy, Usborne, slipped
on the ice and broke its leg. The
beast had to be killed.
A meeting of representatives
from the several school sections in
the township of Turnberry was
held on Tuesday, February 19th.
The purpose of the meeting was to
decide on some uniform action to
secure certain amendments to the
proposed new school law now
before the Ontario Legislature.
The tax rate for this year in
Seaforth has been fixed at 25 mills
on the dollar.
While threshing at the farm of
Walter Hannah, 12th concession,
Hullett, the other day, 10 horses
attached to the horsepower came
frightened and ran around the
track at a mad rate.
FEBRUARY 19, 1932
Fire early Monday morning,
destroyed the house occupied by MARCH 8, 1957
Wm. Venuis and family on the Seaforth Topnotch Juvenile "B's"
Egmondville road, south of the were victorious in winning the
C.N.R. tracks. When firemen Western Ontario Juvenile B cham-
arrived on the scene, the building pionship over Listowel, 6-5 at
was burning fiercely and they were Seaforth arena Wednesday.
unable to save the structure or any The new addition to the
of the contents. Egmondville public school was offi-
In the games at the bowling alley cially opened friday afternoon. The
on Monday night, Walter A. Scott total cost of additions and alter -
was successful in winning a chick- ations was $23,503.30.
en with a score of 280. Roy Dixon FEBRUARY 24, 1982
with 217 also won a chicken. With spring, and more signifi-
While backing out of a parking cantly the spring thaw just around
place on Main Street on Friday the corner, the Ausable-Bayfield
afternoon last, Provincial Conservation Authority is prepar-
Constable Whitesides of Goderich ing for the possibility of greater
was run into by a horse and buggy. than usual spring run-off and asso-
The driver of the steed began to ciated flooding problems.
talk loud and long about what a A Seaforth native, James F.
nuisance cars were with particular Eckert, has been elected a director
reference to the men that drive of an international organization of
them. On noticing the uniform of companies which provided food
the officer, he became quite docile processing equipment and services.
and listened quietly to the advice Mr. Eckert lives in Niagara Falls.
Constable Whitesides had to offer.