RCMP gives tips for personal safety when you find yourself in an unknown situation
A local man, who prefers to remain anonymous, wanted to share his recent experience with residents after he was assaulted when trying to help a resident who appeared to be in distress. He wants residents to know that their safety is important to consider as well when responding to others in need.
“I was heading East down Strathnaver Ave. coming from work and there was a fellow laying in the middle of the street down near Sophia St.,” said the resident.
After driving around the person on the street, he then realized that the person had thrown something at his vehicle breaking one of the windows in. The resident then stopped his vehicle and approached the man laying in the street who then told the resident that he had been shot. The resident didn’t see any blood or anything to indicate the laying down person had been shot.
“He then proceeded to jump up and attack me. I got a cut above my eye, a concussion, a bruise on the side of my head, cuts on my leg, my chest was all sore, cuts on my arms and cuts on my feet,” said the resident.
The resident then said that the person layed back on the ground again and luckily a friend of his drove by at that point and stopped to find out what was going on.
“[My friend] asked what was going on and he said, ‘Come on. Let’s get out of here.’ I had the keys from my [vehicle] in my pocket. I got up and I went towards my friend’s car. The guy gets up again, grabs a big stick out of a garbage can, and proceeds to come after me. I hopped in my friend’s car, we drove down the street a bit and then I was on the phone calling the cops. We turned around, and we saw the fella inside my [vehicle],” said the resident.
Luckily, the police were able to come to the scene and the person was lying on the ground again. The resident came back to explain what happened from his perspective and everyone was taken to the hospital to be looked over and have appropriate medical care administred.
This incident occurred late at night.
The resident would like residents in our community to know that though situations like this are not likely to take place, they should keep themselves safe.
“Now that I look back, with my window smashed, I wasn’t cut from the window, I should have just kept on driving and called the cops as I was driving,” said the resident.
The Selkirk Record contacted local community policing officer Cst. Paul Human, and though he can’t comment on any specific situation in our community, he did have some tips that he was willing to share with residents in order to keep themselves as safe as possible.
His advice for people who come upon someone who appears to be in distress is to rely on your senses.
“What do you see or hear? Then ask yourself — with the information you have — is this a dangerous or unknown situation? If I involve myself, will I be harmed physically or mentally? Do I have the training or the tools to assist?” said Human.
He says that if you see something suspicious in our community where you are unsure if someone is in need of aid or not you should call for help.
“The quicker you can get the emergency folks on their way the better. If something looks suspicious, call and report it. Not all smoke is a fire until it is,” said Human.
It’s important, for both the person in distress and the person who came upon the situation, that first responders are called right away when something appears to be an emergency.
“[By calling,] trained help is on the way. You can communicate this as well if you feel it will help the situation. Plus, you are providing a valuable time record of when and where this is happening. This will be important for first responders on the scene,” explained Human.
He also wants residents to know that it’s ok to call for help and wait if you feel uncomfortable helping in a situation.
“If you do feel you can’t help this situation, calling for trained help is the best option,” said Human.
His best tip for personal safety is again to be aware.
“Know your surroundings. [Know] I can call for help. I don’t have to do this on my own. I will get home safe,” he said.
He wants residents to know that we can all make our neighbourhoods safer by being aware and looking out for ourselves and our neighbours.
“Want to make your neighbourhood safer? Do something about it. We all can do our part for crime/fire prevention. You know your neighbourhood better than we do. Help us so we can help you,” said Human.
