Snowstorm poses challenges for first responders
This winter storm isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s potentially deadly. The snow is not only slowing down drivers, but emergency vehicles as well. Getting anywhere can take a lot longer than usual.
Just about all of us are having trouble with these roads, but what about the people who really need to get somewhere fast? It’s really not as much about getting to the scene quickly as it is about being prepared once they get there.
“We take a little more time getting to the scene, however when we treat a patient or we’re at a fire scene, we’re prepared to go to work immediately,” La Pine Fire District Chief Mike Supkis said Thursday. “So the time difference does not harm the total outcome.”
One way the La Pine Rural Fire District is prepared is self-deploying chains. All the driver has to do is push a button, even if they’re moving, and the chains will go right on the tire.
Supkis stressed the importance of drivers moving out of the way of emergency response vehicles. He gave a list of tips on how people could be better prepared if they have to make quick decisions on an icy road to let an engine or ambulance pass by.
“We understand it’s slick out, and you can’t change that,: he said. “Sometimes you can’t even change your tires, but what you can change is the weight distribution in your vehicle. Most vehicles are light in the rear. We try to achieve an even amount of weight on each tire or each wheel.”
That will give you more traction and stability in slick conditions.
Supkis also mentioned the importance of driving slow enough to have control of the vehicle at all times, clearing snow and ice off all windows, keeping headlights on, siping tires or using chains, and most of all, being mentally prepared for driving on ice.
