LIVING
LIVING
JULY 2009
LIFE IS COOL…SO LETS PROTECT IT!
Writing can be a form of
catharsis which is what this month’s (or what is left of it ) is
for me.
One can be enjoying life one
minute and then it can turn into hell within a split second.
Last Saturday was one such
example. George and I were driving home, having spent the
morning with delightful people in picturesque surroundings. We’d
had mountains, fresh-air, sunlight, sea-views, good coffee and
interesting conversations and were on our way home to the
children for a late lunch. As we approached the cross roads
where we’d turn right into our road, the traffic had reached a
halt and a crowd had gathered around a motorbike which was lying
across the road and being the same colour as our older son’s, I
yanked on the hand-break and sprinted to the scene.
Fortunately, I didn’t find our
son but unfortunately for another familyI did find a man lying
unconscious in the road. He was lying on his abdomen and he was
breathing, so I felt it was best to leave him as he was;
nevertheless, the day was scorching hot and I asked some kind
concerned neighbors to bring a light cotton sheet so that we
could protect him from the relentless sun and keep shock at bay.
The ambulance arrived within
minutes and a soft collar was placed around the man’s neck to
support his head whilst the difficult transfer from road to
stretcher was made.
Sadly, although he lived for a
few more hours, he didn’t regain consciousness and died.( R.I.P)
The roads of Aegina were built
for a community who travelled mainly by mule and bicycle, hence
they are narrow and convoluted. Over the years, new roads have
been built to accommodate the increasing number of cars and more
recently, they have been re-surfaced. Perhaps this is a mistake,
as I frequently see motor cyclists and car drivers racing along
as if they are driving on a motorway and there aren’t any paths
to allow pedestrians the safety they deserve.
Many Athenians have their
holiday homes here and it seems they have a penchant for the
largest tank-like vehicles they can find to drive treacherously
along the arterial roads. How then, are our children supposed to
enjoy an innocent bike ride along the coastal roads if they are
faced with egoists on wheels?
Pray you won’t meet with an
accident because the ambulances possess solitary drivers. In
England for example, every ambulance contains a trained
paramedic who is skilled in venepuncture, can start life-saving
plasma expanding infusions and administer oxygen therapy to
shocked victims.
As for the teenage motor-bike
riders, many of them don’t possess the required diploma that
teaches them the rules of safe driving and the majority of them
believe that they are invincible! Vanity supersedes safety on
this island which is why they prefer to ride with their hair
flowing rather than encasing their skulls inside the safety of a
helmet. On many occasions, I have tried persuading my own son
that being alive is cool; death and paraplegia are definitely un
–cool and this is the message that has to get across to the
youth of Aegina. I cannot wait for the day when he is old enough
to drive a car and as a responsible parent, I will nag him about
the concept of road safety whilst driving around on this island
that is definitely not designed for road safety.
A FEW TIPS THOUGH:
DO keep nagging to teenagers
about the issue of personal safety, i.e.: wearing helmets on
motor cycles and not listening to i-pods whilst cycling
DO purchase a luminous
waistcoat, the type that night workers and policemen wear. We
have two for night walking and vehicles are definitely able to
see us from quite a distance.
DO keep a well stocked first-aid
box at home and in your car.
DO have medical insurance if
you choose to live here.
DON’T assume people will
follow safe driving laws..Many tourists are unaware of some of
the unofficial junctions which locals are aware of.
GENERALLY….keep your wits
about you. Use your eyes AND your ears when out and about.
Alison Lorentzos
copyright 2009
