Long weekend drivers urged to use caution

With the Victoria Day long weekend fast approaching and motorists gearing up for their first summer road trip, the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) is reminding drivers to watch out for emergency vehicles when they hit the highway. The long weekend brings with it more traffic and, sadly, that results in more collisions.

“Because incidents on Canadian roadways increase during long weekends, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and tow-truck operators are at a greater risk of harm over long weekends,” said JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson.

“Please pay attention when you get behind the wheel. Slow down when you’re driving by working emergency responders and if they approach you from behind with their lights flashing and sirens sounding, safely yield the right-of-way and pull over.” {read more}

Mad Men and workplace safety

There’s a lot to like about the TV show Mad Men.

It’s well-written, superbly acted, the plot lines are compelling and it paints an interesting picture of life in 1950s and 1960s America.

As someone who is immersed in the realm of workplace and traffic safety, there’s also a lot to take in regarding attitudes towards health and safety. The ignorance of health and safety issues on the show is, at times, downright comical.

The show’s characters, for example, drink excessively at work and at home. They also don’t think twice about drinking and driving.

Smoking is another obvious Mad Men vice. You can almost smell the cigarette smoke coming through your TV. {read more}

Protecting the line

Last month I attended a seminar in Victoria by the trainer, Brian Willis. Brian’s presentation was entitled Harnessing the Winning Mind and Warrior Spirit. The intended audience for this particular seminar was police officers, peace officers and military personnel. I am, of course, none of these.

As a writer, the chance of me getting into a gunfight any time soon is slim.

Interestingly, however, I was the one taking the most notes during the seminar – eighteen pages, to be precise. For a writer, the nuggets of wisdom gleaned were pure gold. And I’ve attended Brian’s seminars multiple times over the years. But every time I hear him speak, I not only learn new things, I’m also reminded of ideas I’ve already learned but have forgotten.

During last month’s presentation, one new component that Brian has implemented into his seminar, since I last heard him speak, was a clip from the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund’s (JPMF) Put Yourself in Our Boots safety video: “The Story of John” part. {read more}