Put Yourself in Our Boots – Police

This 30-second public service announcement (PSA) is based on the death of Calgary Police Service Const. John Petropoulos. He passed away in the line of duty on Sept. 29, 2000 while investigating a break-and-enter complaint at a warehouse. John stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and succumbed to brain injuries. There was no safety railing to warn him, or anyone else, of the danger. There was no intruder in the building and the call ended up being a false alarm. The purpose of the PSA, which features actual police officers, is to use real-life examples of workplace hazards faced by emergency responders and make the viewer think about occupational health & safety from the perspective of first responders. The TV spot, which has been broadcast across Canada and parts of the U.S., is part of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund’s Put Yourself in Our Boots safety campaign, which includes a 10-minute safety video, a series of PSAs, posters, safety tip sheets and other resources. Learn more about the campaign at www.OurBoots.ca.