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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, September 25, 2013 | 6 Editorial The profound terror that must rip through the heart of a child as they clutch a stuffed toy given to them to cuddle as they see their most precious world -- their family, their home and their `stuff' -- endangered by ames licking into the sky. The toy they squeeze, and the rm arms of a re ghter around them, does not lessen their sadness or fear. This is what re safety is all about. This is the scene re ghters know. This is what they want to prevent by sending a message about re safety. It is also why the Oakville Fire Department, each year, as it did on Saturday, stages a teddy bear triage, junior re ghter games and re demonstrations... family fun that's packed to the brim with safety tips to send the message home before a re strikes. The Oakville Fire Department members have attended, all too often, the re scenes as described. They would prefer people took heed of re safety tips so re ghters may not have to arrive with hoses, trucks, ladders and heavy gear. The Oakville Fire Department's 14th annual Fire Prevention Week kick-off event at its South Service Road training campus was, as always, a family event. Besides kindling the hero admiration in youngsters and reassuring homeowners of the skill of our local re ghters, it bore a message. Amid the free barbecue, entertainment and demonstrations, was the theme behind many of this year's demonstrations... re safety while cooking. "Fire Prevention Week acts as a welcome annual reminder of the vital importance of home re safety -- having a home re escape plan and practising it often, installing working smoke alarms on every level of your home, and checking them regularly," said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. The event ushers in the Ontario Fire Marshal's Of ce's 2013 Fire Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 6-12. This year's theme is Prevent Kitchen Fires and encourages families to talk about and practice re safety while cooking. Many of Saturday's activities played off this theme. "Cooking is the No. 1 cause of house res and a signi cant contributor to re-related deaths and burns," Michael Harrison, public education of cer for the Oakville Fire Department, said. "Knowing how to practice safe cooking habits is a fundamental step in re prevention." · Never leave the room you are cooking in unattended. · If you do, turn off your cooking appliance. · Keep a proper-fitting lid and oven mitt close by to smother a potential re. · Avoid the use of appliances with timers, such as slow cookers or ovens when no one is home or asleep. · Keep a one-metre, kid-free zone around your appliances when cooking. Keep pot and pan handles turned inwards, out of reach of kids. · If a fire does occur and if it's safe to do so, smother the re by sliding a proper- tting lid over the pan and turn off the stove. · Call 911 immediately from a safe place outside your home if you can't extinguish the re. It is recommended you keep a properly maintained ABC extinguisher in an easily accessible location in your kitchen. For more information, visit www.oakville.ca. "Connected to your Community" E N D 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 114 Vital lessons F O R A F R I The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production A group of a dozen friends took part in the rst annual Hope for Zambia, Walk for Wendy. It raised $7,500 in support of Oakville's Wendy Vansteinburgh Bourgon who's currently doing grassroots work in the Village of Mbayi in Chingola, Zambia. The walk was held earlier this month from downtown Oakville's St. John's United Church and was organized by Carolyn Dyck. Vansteinburgh Bourgon is expected to return in November and will be the keynote speaker at a gala fundraiser set for Nov. 24. Her blog can be found online at www.wendybourgon.com. SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Letters to the Editor MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution Reader shocked at accident outcome Re: Mom is frustrated after son is injured, Oakville Beaver, Sept. 19, 2013 As a parent in our community, I am appalled at the driver who did not err on the side of caution and contact emergency services after her vehicle collided with 12-year-old Jeremiah Lully, who was riding his bike on the way to summer camp. You ful lled your legal obligation by stopping at the scene and asking Jeremiah if he was OK, however, rendering assistance by a prudent person would include ensuring that quali ed help arrive to assess his physical condition for injuries. Most people are aware that many injuries such as fractured or broken bones, internal bleeding and concussions are not apparent from the outside or to a layperson. Jeremiah may have also experienced physiologic or, at least, emotional shock and may not have responded appropriately. Jeremiah also likely did not want to cause any trouble or get in trouble. Legal obligations aside, did you ful ll your moral obligations? Did you do the right thing? Did you try to call his mom? Did you consider calling his school? I would also ask you to consider if it was your child who had been hit by a vehicle, would you have acted differently? Would you have called emergency services? I am also appalled at the response of Halton police. Their public affairs of cer stated, "the youth did not realize he had a concussion and said he was ` ne.'" Since when is it an expectation that a 12-year-old child recognize whether or not he or she has a concussion? I would think that police would uphold the highest standard whereby anyone, particularly a child, hit by a vehicle would always be assessed for injury by quali ed personnel as a precautionary measure. The children in our community are one of our most precious resources and they cannot always take care of themselves. We -- as adults -- need to be prudent in caring for them, whether they are our own children or not. Diane Pass-Bartholomew, Oakville CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. 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