'It puts our lives in danger': First Responders and SGI advocate for safety around emergency vehicles
First responders and SGI have partnered together to promote safety around emergency vehicles at the Prince Albert salvage centre Tuesday evening. They want to remind the public to reduce their speed when passing crews on the highway.
“Our goal with this event was to bring the community in with some really engaging demonstrations,” Michaela Solomon, a spokesperson with SGI said in an interview with CTV News.
According to the latest statistics from SGI, in 2021 there were 53 collisions involving emergency vehicles-nine of which resulted in injuries. SGI numbers also show there were 1,744 convictions for failing to slow to 60km/h.
Local firefighters demonstrated a vehicle extrication commonly known as the ‘Jaws of Life’. Prince Albert deputy fire chief Alex Paul said crews often work on the side or in the middle of the road.
“It puts our lives in danger when traffic is passing by us at a high rate of speed,” he told CTV News.
Paul said it’s not uncommon for drivers to speed past, and said first responders have to be aware of their surroundings.
“It's unfortunate that we have to spend a portion of our time on those scenes concentrating on the traffic around us, as opposed to concentrating on the job that needs to be done,” he said.
He encourages drivers to watch for emergency lights and to always pay attention to the road.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.