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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-10-27, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, October 27, 2004 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 Don't drink and drive: In most of the Canadian provinces, there is a policy of checking on any stalled vehicle on the highway when the temperatures drop in the single digits or below. One morning in March 2004 about 3 a.m. an RCMP officer was called to respond to such a call of a car off the shoulder on the Trans Canada Highway outside of Medicine Hat, Alberta. The constable located the car still running, stuck in the snow alongside the highway. Pulling in behind it the constable walked to the driver's door to find an older man passed out behind the wheel and a near empty bottle of vodka on the seat. He tapped on the window and the driver woke up, seeing the rotating lights in his rear view mirror and the RCMP constable standing next to his car! The man panicked, jerked the gearshift into drive and hit the gas. The car's odometer was showing 20-30-40 then 50 km/h, but it was still stuck in the snow. The constable, having a sense of humour, began running in place next to the speeding but still stationary car. The driver was totally freaked thinking the officer is actually keeping up with him. This went on for about 20 seconds when the constable yelled at the man order- ing him to "pull over." This man obeyed and turned his wheel and stopped the engine. Once out of the car the drunken driver asked about the RCMP officer's special training and just how can the constable run 50 km/h. The man was arrested still believing that an RCMP con- stable had outrun his car. Article from Pro -Trucker Magazine Block Parent Program needs volunteers Dear Editor: With pride I'd like to announce that the Block Parent Program has been in South Huron for 25 years. As you know, the Block Parent Program provides a com- munity-based safety network pri- marily for children. It includes volunteers, police and educators. Like all such programs there is a continuing need for volunteers to manage the process and for people to be Block Parents. In particular, after 20 years as chair it is time for me to step down and my term will end this year. We currently have a very effective committee with representatives in the South Huron area including Exeter, Stephen, Usborne, Dashwood, Crediton and Mt. Carmel. To continue the success of this safety program in an ever increasingly risky world for our children in partic- ular, we need new people to step forward. Will you be a volunteer Block Parent? Will you be on the Block Parent Volunteer Committee? If so please contact any of the following: Susan McGregor 235-2036; Brenda Horn 229-8176; Leanne Robinson 234-6334; Tracy Hartman 235-2830; Bev Moreau 238-8576; Betty DeBlock 235-2300; Faye Van Oss 228-7053 and myself, Lois Godbolt 235-0691. Thank you Zurich and Area Fire Department Dear Editor: Saturday morning, maybe watching cartoons with your kids, washing the car or reading the paper and suddenly "beep", you drop everything and race away - another call. Many times I have had the misfortune to come across a terrible accident - yes the police, ambulance atten- dants and paramedics are there - but so too is our vol- unteer fire department. These are the men who have the gut -wrenching jobs of cutting open the vehicles so passengers can be freed, helping stabilize backboards and equipment, holding the IV bags, sheltering victims from the weather and debris, directing traffic and looking for vehicle parts. They never know what horrors they are going to face as they travel down the road, when they'll get back home or what nightmares they may have later - but still they go out, and I for one want to thank them for their courage, professionalism and guts. It isn't any easy job, there is really no pay, and yet they go out, more often than many of us know, and they always give 100 per cent. I wonder if big city fire departments ,who are well paid, have as many calls. Thank you Zurich and Area Fire Department for once again doing the job that has to be done and for doing it so well. DEBBIE DENOMME VON memorial service Dear Editor: When my mother was diagnosed with cancer 13 years ago, she wanted to die in the home she and Dad shared with my family and me. VON Palliative Care Volunteer Program (PCVP) was there with two volun- teers who visited with Mum and Dad, or talked to the kids or me, or brought soup or just called to see how we were doing once in a while. When Mum died, the volunteers provided a link with the special memories that only happen when time is short and there is too much left to say. Tragically, my dad died unexpectedly six weeks after Mum. Our VON volunteers were by our sides, supporting us, and sharing their experience, strength, and hope. That year, we participated in a VON memorial service in downtown Strathroy, and it was a great comfort to be with others who had experi- enced loss, as well as our VON `friends' who under- stood. I am proud to say I now work for VON, with the PCVP. We are renewing the tradition of providing a memorial service for clients, caregivers, and families of the PCVP. The service is also open to anyone who received VON Nursing or Home Supports, assistance from Alzheimer's Community Support Program, Adult Day Program, or Senior Support Services. We will be having a brief but meaningful ceremony at our new VON office, 274 Head St., North, Strathroy, on Wed., Nov. 17 at 10:00 a.m. There will be candle lighting, readings, music, and fellowship, followed by refreshments. We invite all of our VON family who have experienced the death of a friend, a client or fam- ily member this year to join us at this very special time to share and cherish memories. Please feel free to call for information and directions (519) 245-3170. HOLLY WATSON, RN, Co-ordinator of Client Services VON Middlesex -Elgin Principal's message EXETER — On Tuesday of this week we observed National Students Against Impaired Driving (NSAID) Day. Students across the country took part in assemblies and activities about the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is an important message we try to reinforce through various activities organized by our OSAID group (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) throughout the year. Statistics suggest the message is getting through as the number of impaired driving charges among young drivers is signif- icantly lower than in the past. However, until we can reduce that number to zero, we need to continue to send the message that impaired dri- ving is a dangerous practice that results in needless damage, injury, and death. As part of NSAID Day, students were given a 'Call Me' contract to fill out with their parents. The contract requires the student to promise never to drive while under the influence and to call home to arrange a ride if the student has been drinking. The parent makes a similar promise about driving under the influence and promises to be there for the student, ready to suggest alternatives, to pick the student up, or to arrange a safe ride for the stu- dent. We encourage you to sit down with your son or daughter and fill out this contract. Doing so will pro- vide a great opportunity for parents to discuss this issue with their kids and to show how much they care about the safety and well being of their children. We hope all parents will take advantage of this opportunity to have a conversation that could save lives and pre- vent injuries. The other major event happening in secondary schools across the province this week is the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). The literacy test is being written by Grade 10 students, as well as students who have been unsuccessful on the OSSLT in previous years. In order to provide a quiet atmosphere for the administration of the test, Avon Maitland schools are requiring only Grade 9 students and stu- dents taking the OSSLT to be in attendance on Wednesday and Thursday mornings this week. At South Huron we will be running all four classes in the afternoon on these two days: a second bus run just before our normal lunch time will pick up senior stu- dents and have them at school in time for first class at 12:25 p.m. There are some important changes occurring with the literacy test. While it remains a diploma require- ment, this is the last year the test will require two days to administer. Although we haven't been given the exact details about the changes to the structure of the OSSLT, we have been advised that starting next year, it JEFF REABURN PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE will take only one morning to complete the test. The other significant change has to do with the way in which the test is marked and the reporting of the results. In the first four years of the OSSLT, students have been marked separately on reading and writing and the reports they received indicated whether they had passed each part. Students who had passed one part but not the other were required only to pass the part on which they had been unsuccessful in the previ- ous writing. This year, for example, we have several students who need only pass the reading portions of the test because they passed the writing part last year. Starting this year, however, students will receive a combined score that will indicate that they have been successful or not on the whole test. This is the last year, therefore, that students will have the option of writing only the part (reading or writing) in which they were previously unsuccessful. The combined score will improve the chances of passing the test for students who may be strong in one area, but weaker in the other, but it will mean that unsuccessful students are required to re -take the entire test after this year. For more information on the OSSLT, please visit the following Web site: www. egao. com. Hospital Happenings Flu shot reminder EXETER — The flu season is here once again and with it, we are also reminded how important it is to get your flu shot. Experts have predicted we are long over- due for an influenza pandemic, which will be devastat- ing when it arrives. When we look worldwide and see the concerns with the Avian Flu in Asia, SARS and other emerging Febrile Respiratory Illnesses, experts agree a pandemic may not be far away. That is why it is important for us to educate all people on the impor- tance of infection control measures, vaccinations being a priority. Influenza, also known as 'the OU7H flu,' is a serious respiratory disease caused by a virus. People who get influenza sud- ASSOCIATION denly develop a cough, fever, chills, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. People of any age can get influenza. Most people who get influenza are ill for two to seven days, although the cough may last for weeks. Influenza can lead to pneumonia, hospitalization and even death in some people, particularly the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung problems. When a person with the flu coughs or sneezes, mil- lions of viruses spray into the air. If you breathe the virus into your mouth or nose, or you touch objects which have been infected with the virus, like phones, keyboards and door handles, you can get the flu. People with the flu can be contagious for about a day before their symptoms appear, and up to a week after- wards. Anyone over six months of age who wants to avoid the flu should consider getting a flu shot. Babies, young children, the elderly and those with health conditions like asthma, diabetes, kidney disease or heart disease are at risk of getting really sick with the flu and its complications. People at risk of flu complications and those in close contact with those at high risk should consider themselves a priority for getting the flu shot. The flu shot is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. People who should not get the flu shot include infants younger than six months of age; people with a severe allergy to eggs, egg producers or other flu shot ingredi- ents (thimersol); people who have had a serious reac- tion to the flu shot before should not be vaccinated and people who are acutely ill with a fever at the time of the flu shot should wait until they recover before receiving the vaccine. The influenza vaccine does not contain a live virus, therefore you cannot get the flu from the vaccine. The risks are very small. Some side effects that may occur are soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given; this may last one to two days. Life threatening allergic reactions are very rare. You must remain in the clinic area 15 minutes after the needle is given. Two free flu vaccination clinics will be held for the patients of Dr. Chan, Dr. McLean, Dr. Wong and Dr. Skelton at the Exeter Medical Centre Friday, Nov. 5 from 1-4 p.m. and also Monday, Nov. 15 from 1-4 p.m. There will be two free community flu clinics following these clinics. The first community clinic at the Medical Centre will be held Friday, Nov. 5 from 4-7 p.m. and the second clinic will be held Monday, Nov. 15 from 4- 7 p.m. All are welcome! Wearing a short -sleeved shirt makes it easier for you to receive your vaccination. Some of the above information was used with permis- sion from the Huron County Health Unit. URON OSPITAL