esponse time all-important WHEN A fire truck, am- bulance, or other emergency vehicle is responding to an emergency, many lives are in the balance. Someone ‘at the scene where the firefighters or paramedics are headed is in danger. A. few seconds added to the emergency crew's response time can make the difference between life and death, and there are other lives at stake as well. Emergency workers risk their lives every time they answer a call. Don’t make that risk any greater than it is already. District of North Vancouver Fire Services wants to remind you to-be courteous and obey the law regarding emergency vehicles while you are driving. Keep your radio or other music Portable Spas make | big splash | in market CANA ADIANS “ENJOY be- ing in hot water — many households today have ei- ther a spa or a hot tub.: Spa: industry. sources say the ‘number promises to grow steadily. What’s causing spa sales to “steam ahead? : industry experts point to the introduction. of more attractive _and efficient. units, coupied with the development of products that have made ownership and maintenance both simpler and less costly. / According to Mary Costanzo, technical . services manager of Biolab Inc., advances in water chemistry have simplified’ the maintenance of pools and spas. Easy-to-use ‘ products take the guesswork out of keeping a spa or hot tub properly sanitized without irritating the eyes and skin or pro- ducing a chiorine odor. Test kits make it a simpler matter to check whether the chemicals are doing their job, says Constanzo, whose Decatur, Georgia, company specializes in such preducts. Younger consumers, too, are moving into the ranks of spa and hot tub owners. A 1991 survey by the U.S. Natiorial Spa and Pool Institute found that 30% of spa purchasers were men under age 40 while 36% were women under age 40. Portable spas are among the most popular recent additions to the field. These free-standing, self-contained units can be used indoors or outdoors. Installation costs are economi- cal, and, of course, the unit can be moved wherever needed. For swimming enthusiasts with little room in their back yards, another popular newcomer is the swim spa. Normally only nine to 15 feet long, swim spas feature powerful banks of jets on one end to simu- late strong currents. The swim-spa user simply ‘“swims’’ in place against this current. The other end of the spa can be used for soaking. An array of energy-saving features, including improved .in- sulation and energy-efficient pumps and heaters, has also helped to reduce the cost of ‘operating spas and hot tubs, and made them more affordable. — Distributed by the Los Angeles Times Syndicate. HOT TIPS by North Vancouver District Fire Department inside your car low enough that you can hear sirens approaching. Keeping a window slightly open can help. . Be alert for emergency lights approaching ahead, to the sides, and in your rear-view mirror. If you see or hear emergency vehicles approaching from any direction, pull your car to the Tight curb or shoulder and stop ‘until the fire trucks or other vehi- cles have passed — don’t just stop in the middle of the street — and look quickly to be sure the way is clear before you pull over. If you are stopped at an in- tersection, pull to the right as much as you can, or use caution and common sense to find another place to pull out of the way. If you are walking, stay on the curb out of the way. Keep children. close to you. They may try to run out to the street to sce the fire truck or am- bulance. Emerger.cy vehicle drivers are trained to deal with traffic. You can help by not doing anything unusual, Pull to the right as much as you can and stop. Someday the emergency vehicles may be on their way to save you or someone you love. Fer further information, contact the District of North Vancouver Fire Services - non-emergency phone number, 980-7575, or your local fire department. “Because Creativity i is the Essence of Sewing” + $03 Built-in Stitches + 371 Touch Screens + Bu Instructions *Professional Style Embroidery(with frame 100mm x 100mm) + Lateral (Sideways) Feeding » Quick Set Bobbin + Automatic Thread Cutter Layaways accepted + Free Lessons with any § machine puichase =f 3 Months No Interest etn House Financing | q ELEGANT INTERIORS BEGIN WITH BENJAMIN MOORE PAINTS Our Highest Quality interior Products OVER 700 BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM Fabric and commercial vinyls not included . Melamine Paint Urethane Reinforced Enamel ¢ Perfect for refurbishing counters, cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms. * Applies easily and dries to a durable, scrubbable and stain resistant finish. THE COLOR MATCHING EXPERT So you think you've got a hard-to-match color? Moore’s Computer Coior Matching System foves a challenge! Just bring in your sample — whether it's fabric, wallpaper or almost any decorating material — and our computer will give you an accurate paint-color match in minutes.