EMS Week kicks off in Morinville with demonstrations

By Monday Morning News Staff

Morinville – EMS Awareness Week (May 16 – 22) kicked off in Morinville two days early with emergency response groups from Morinville and Sturgeon County gathering at the Morinville Community High School parking lot May 14 for a free barbecue and an opportunity to dispense free information on things residents can do to prevent the need for their services.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) was on hand to give free occupant restraint inspections, including infant and children’s car seats. AHS has a DVD available through the Morinville Health Unit, online at www.safekidscanada.ca or by phoning 1-888-723-3847.

A number of students were present to talk about the dangers of texting and talking on a cell phone while driving as well as other forms of distracted driving, something law enforcement will be cracking down on with $172 fines under Bill 16.

The RCMP also had a display that graphically showed the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt. A Ford Explorer truck cab on a spit that hurled dummies out the truck windows as the truck rolled. With the windows down and the truck spinning in a rollover simulation, it took literally seconds for both occupants to hit the pavement.

EMS Awareness Week honours the emergency medical services profession, thanking the men and women for the vital work they do each day. The week also offers an opportunity to better understand the importance of EMS within the province’s health care system.

Although primarily associated with ambulances, EMS includes those professionals who provide timely medical care to the sick and injured. The province’s EMS system begins with the initial call for help and covers local first responders and those who get the patient to hospital.