Al6 - Sunday News, November 30, 1980 EEE community roundup Sa By RAMON ORLANDO, M.D. (This personal tribute by Dr. Orlando. a West Vancouver resident, also contains a timely warning for those who drink and drive during the coming festive season — Ed.) Very few of us come into direct. contact with the emergency services provided by our com- munities. I would like to share a very reassuring experience which occurred during a driving rain storm on Tuesday evening, November 18, “My colleague Dr. Joanna Bates and I encountered a major motor vehicle ac- cident on the north side of Lions Gate Bndge. We happened on the scene perhaps as early as four minutes following the ac- cident. Vapours were still rising from the now silenced engines. In the imiterval between the accident and our arnval. the West Vancouver police and the Bridge Patrol of- ficers had the traffic con- trolled and the mmediate accident area cordoned off. Two Emergency Health Services ambulances were standing by: a third had rushed one of the accessible patients, a young child. to Lions Gate Hospital. The West Vancouver Fire Department personnel were successfully disentangling the twisted wreckages. Dr. Bates and I are both experienced emergency room physicians. trained and prepared to diagnose and treat seriously Hl or myured patents, but m the con trolled environment of a amount of trepidation. Once we idenufied ourselves. we were both extended the fullest cooperation = and consideranon. SPRAWLED The driver of the southbound car. a young man in ns carly twenties. was pinned beneath = the dashboard = and steering column of his compacted vehicle He was cx penencing a lot of pam. was confused, disonenied and displaying symptoms olf impending shock Has maic companion had freed himsclf of the wreckage and was seated im one of the ambulances. The young woman who was dnving the northbound car was sprawled across the front seat of her car ap- pearing as incongruous as the vehicle. which was by now at mght angles to the traffic lanes. The two vehicles engaged head on — driver's side to driver's side The left front door of her car was accordioned bv the impact. Initial access was through an opened window. The young woman was bleeding hghtly from her nostnis and scalp mjunes. She was unconscious bul readily arousable. Within minutes, the firemen had removed the damaged door. An ambulance attendant and I] were then able to remove her via stretcher to the ambulance for a quick assessment of her mjunes pnor to transport to Lions Gate Hospital. My colleague had gained access to the northbound car through the passenger doors and was assessing the driver while the firemen = were removing the windshield and elevating the dashboard and Steermg column from the driver's crushed legs. The door on his side was removed. simultancously. allowing another ambulance attendant to administer Oo1rygen to the distressed man. As soon as tne dnver was freed, Captain Callegan snapped an order. “Get a fracture board under that man immediatcly ~ The response was Instantancous (A fracture board ts a +.” plywood platform measunng approxumately six fect by three feet Its purpose 1s to support patients with suspected oof recognized fractures} This) © ommand indicated to me that the Captain and his men knew C.G.A. Students Public Practice Employment Opportunities Our Orn mterested in recetving appecabons trom students wn the fwst/second to fourth level of C GA studies with public Practice expenence who are bootung tor Chasenging postions in pubbc oractce We are a rapdty growing frm and we have mmechate open ings in ows North Vancouver offi. e A tu@ range of fringe benefits satary COommensu ate with tevet and expenence and a chance ton advan ement wil await the Successful appb'cants appty mn confidence to A WILLIAM SMYTH, B COMM CGA 102 1975 Lonsdate Avenue, North Vanocuver,B.C. V7M 2K3 PERRAULT, SMYTH & COMPANY CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS Natona@y Evancc Pypa Poenmd@ Barctay & Oiton Cartihed Genend Accountant Terrace Prince George North Vancouver Victorta their job. It also pointed up the fact that unless one is adequately trained in first aid, no attempt should be made to move = injured patents. The driver was soon on the fracture board and transferred to the third ambuiance for splinting of his multiple fractures. His assessment was concluded prior to his departure to St. Paul's Hospital under the watchful gaze of veteran ambulance drivers Bill Blaine and Greg McGowan. _ Those of you who were “IAWS OF LIFE™ equipment used by West Van Fire Department for quickly hreaking open cars crushed in a collision im order to free the occupants. trapped im the resultant caffic jam may have ex- penenced whal appears to have been a lengthy delay. ! can assure you that the injured rescued. assessed and transported with great expediency. A mayor portion of the delay was necessary in order to were clean up the debns and remove the demolished vehicles FINE TEAMWORK Fortunately. none of the four sustained life _ during this highly threatening injunes, though the potential certainly existed. Had hospitahzation been a more urgent priority, I am certain that the efficient and expedient manner in which they were rescued from their vehicles would have afforded them the opportunity to thank their rescuers today. I cannot overstate the respect and admiration I feel for the men and women of our emergency services for the manner in which they conducted themselves coor- “ot Neem horenmameerhbegunrinimencan tnt Christmas Gifts dinated and successful rescue. I was singularly impressed with the firemen. Theirs was the major task this particular night. They displayed teamwork at its finest; the orchestration was flawless and the discipline displayed was remarkable. My experiences of that evening expanded my respect for the people of the various Community services mentioned. With Christmas fast approaching perhaps we may all express our respect for and consideration of these same people through a A doctor salutes our emergency services htule thought and effort. This accident may or may not have been alcoho! related; the majority of traffic accidents and deaths are. We might all reflect back on this accident and others that cause anguish to the victims and those close to them. As a cocktail, alcohol and gasoline is neither compatible with life nor palatable as a Christmas toast. The glow obtained from a bottle pales when compared CONTINUED ON PAGE Al7 10-30% OFF Also Chmese jackets, kimonos. shppers, brass. lacquer, porceitain. baskets, rat- tan, Chinese cooking ware and ingredients - Excellent prices - Open Sunday & Holidays - Home delivery - Compiete tine of groceries Capilano Supermarket 982 Marine Drive, North Van 988-4108 ANIMEAL PET FOODS | 1320 MARINE DRIVE "ON, VAN, 988-5012 PURINA DOG CHOW 1266 LYNN VALLEY RD. N. VAN. 988-9912 20 Kg bag (44 Ibs ) $43°° ROVER DOG FOOD KAL-KAN 25'2 of Tins DOG FOOD (All Varteties) 147 Tins PURINA | CAT CHOW MISS MEW 4ky Bay CAT FOOD (Al Vanetes) 6 G27 Tins 2/99° POZO ORGS LOOT NNGODNAGONGSS, Shipmates S Pizza tree delivery 2988 Mountain Hwy. G 985-8252 © 985-8251 (ao) @® octv Photo by Ec Bermingham BARBARA STOWE, aged 16, the daughter of Mr and Mrs (; Robert Stowe of Delta. BC.. isa 1980 BCTV Scholarship student at St) Michaels University School, Victoria Barbara halds the (suide s All Around (cord and Canada Cord, has served as a candy stripe volunteer 19 2a extended care unit for the elderly has com- peted in track and field events. and won aca- demic awards Her aim 1s to work with handi- capped children St Machaels (iniversity School believes that those young people who work hardest to develop ther talents and abili- ties today will be best prepared to serve (Canada tomorrow Legacies and donations, large os small given to the Schools Scholarship and Endowment Fund ate tax deductible For information, contact John Schaffter M.A. (Gantab), Headmaster, St Michaels University Sehool 3400 Richmond Vancouver Mapte Ridge Port Moody Road Vietona BC. veP Brandon 4aPps Mew Maa locaton ‘ue. Sar 9 30 4 30 be oY Prices in effect Dec Ist 6th