Most of us think it couldn’t happen to us. We don’t truly believe that we could be the ones to lose our homes or businesses to a fire, that we could be caught up in an act of robbery or violence, or that we could be in a major accident.
And so, sometimes, we forget the little things that might help prevent these situations. Maybe that involves stepping out without turning on the security system or maybe it involves driving away without buckling up.
But when disaster strikes closer to home, it reminds us that no one is immune from being touched by tragedy. That was certainly the case with a Christmas Eve car crash that took the lives of Isaac Logozar, Cassandra Logozar and Michelle Driedger, in a road that many of us likely travel between the local area and Edmonton. According to Vegreville RCMP, three more accidents have since occurred at that same S bend between Mundare and Andrew, adding more reason to be cautious while driving there.
Even though all three adults were wearing seatbelts, they did not survive the crash, a real loss in three so young, and with so much ahead of them to enjoy. However, if there was one reason for hope in this bleak story, it was in the miraculous survival of eight-month-old Aleera. Despite Christmas celebrations and the business of packing up and travelling with a baby, Aleera’s family took the time to ensure she was secured in a carseat, an act that likely saved her life and ensured she had the chance to grow up and experience all the wonders that childhood and adulthood have to offer.
If there’s any lesson to carry away from this heartbreak, then it’s that common sense measures for safety are important and that small actions can have major consequences – whether it’s replacing the batteries in your fire alarms, turning over the keys after having a few drinks or ensuring you/your children are secured in a vehicle before driving.
Here’s a wish that common sense will prevail and that 2011 sees people behave responsibly in the small ways that can have a big impact.
