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LET THEM THROUGH, IT MAY BE YOU
More often than not while driving on the busy thoroughfares of a metro, you must have experienced an emergency vehicle behind you seeking a clear passage to reach its port of call.
How many times you have just ignored it or even when you have wanted to give way, you were unable to do so because the vehicle ahead of you would not let you do so.
In an emergency, and when the vehicle behind you is on its way to attend one, minutes can mean difference between life and death. Seconds are critical for a patient who has been injured in a traffic accident or a person who has just had a cardiac failure. A fire tender may be on its way to attend a fire and vital seconds can be lost if you and other drivers don’t make way for the emergency vehicles.
While you are on the wheel or are even a co-passenger in a vehicle, take sirens of emergency vehicles with all the seriousness they deserve and make way for an ambulance, fire tender or police vehicle.
Someday it could be you or your near and dear ones who could be waiting for the help to arrive for rescue. The person calling for help could even be a friend, a neighbour or even someone you love.
Remember, your simple actions in such situations can indeed help save a life. You can help the emergency personnel reach their destination in time. You can achieve this by doing a few simple and little things. You can use the letters S.I.R.E.N. to remember the right way to give way to an emergency vehicle.
S stands for Stay Alert and Drive Defensively. If you hear an emergency vehicle approaching, be on the look out for more than one emergency vehicle. Keep the noise level down in the vehicle so that you can hear the emergency vehicle approaching.
I denotes Investigate, Check your rear-view mirror for any emergency vehicle, look out in front and on both sides of your vehicle, try to estimate the speed of the emergency vehicle and then plan your next move.
R signifies React quickly, calmly and carefully with due caution. You need to look in all directions before pulling over to the side. Always use a turn signal when exiting the road and don’t slam on the brakes or pull over suddenly.
E is for Enter but with due care and caution. Before re-entering the road, make a visual inspection of the traffic in all directions. Give correct signal of your intention to merge in the traffic. Make it a gradual merge.
N says Never stop at a place where you don't have enough place for safe parking. Ensure that you don't become an obstruction for the other vehicles. And never attempt to follow or outrun an emergency vehicle.
When you are preparing to give way to an emergency vehicle, be also on the look out for pedestrians who might be using the kerb for walking. At Intersections pedestrians too may be on the lookout for the emergency vehicles.They may not be aware of your efforts to yield the right of way to the emergency vehicles.
Always use your signal so that other drivers know how you intend to exit the road and look for other cars that may have to move across lanes of traffic to yield. Pull as far off the highway as safely possible and gradually brake to avoid losing control in loose gravel on the shoulder.
When an emergency vehicle is approaching, pull as far to the side as possible. Do not cross in front of an emergency vehicle which may be stopped at a busy intersection, wait for the vehicle to pass.
Let them through...Some dayit could be you or your loved ones!
Not every emergency medical response requires lights and sirens, but next time you encounter such a situation, yield immediately so that the emergency personnel can reach the person who is waiting for help to arrive. Remember, it’s important to let them through...next time, it could be you.