Paramedics respond to urgent calls for service on a daily basis. While responding to these life and death matters, emergency equipment such as lights and sirens are activated in order to alert the public. It is important that the public responds quickly when emergency vehicles approach. Often times, Paramedics are faced with motorists who fail to pull out of the way in order for emergency vehicles to pass safely. These situations can delay Paramedics from arriving to potentially life-threatening events. Emergency service personnel are confronted with these types of situation far too frequently. Paramedics have seen a noticeable increase in collisions involving ambulances in recent years.
On some occasions motorists have reacted to emergency vehicles by:
- Stopping short not knowing what to do
- Freezing in place
- Ignoring the lights and sirens
- Pulling in front of oncoming emergency vehicles to block the path
These situations place our emergency responders, victims of the emergency and other motorists at risk.
WHEN YOU SEE LIGHTS AND HEAR SIRENS, PULL TO THE RIGHT AND STOP!
When stopped at a red light, look around, and when safe to do so, it is legal to pull into the intersection to allow the emergency vehicle to pass. Your efforts may save a life
Motor vehicle collisions are the number one cause of Paramedic line of duty deaths in Canada. Not only is it dangerous for us to respond to calls, emergencies that take place on our roads often place responders at risk of being struck by motorists.
Reduce your speed and give us room to work when emergency lights are activated. Please allow us to go home at the end of our shift.
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