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Helping our Neighbours ~
The Health and Safety Committee facilitated a new project entitled "Helping Our Neighbours". The process began with a number of residents taking part in discussion groups in November, 2011 and January, 2012. The information collected has been collated as follows:
Group A - Caring for Our Neighbours (Day to Day Assistance),
Group B - Emergency Situations (Unplanned Disruptions), and
Group C - Providing Information to Residents (Pro-Actively).
After further discussions with the Health & Safety Committee, it was suggested that Group A should be split off into a stand-alone working group. If enough interest in shown in the "Caring for Our Neighbours" initiative, it could eventually apply to the Board to form a separate Committee.
Groups B and C relate directly to health and safety issues, and will continue to be facilitated through the Health & Safety Committee under the working title of "Emergency Protocols". Please contact any member of the Health and Safety Committee if you would like to learn more or participate in this project.
For Information only
The following excerpt from Province of Ontario legislation addresses what the consequences would be if one person assists another at a time of injury or distress. It is called the "Good Samaritan Act".
Good Samaritan Act, 2001
S.O. 2001, CHAPTER 2
Consolidation Period: From April 27, 2001 to the e-Laws currency date.
No amendments.
Definition
1. In this Act,
“health care professional” means a member of a College of a health profession set out in Schedule 1 to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991. 2001, c.2, s.1.
Protection from liability2. (1) Despite the rules of common law, a person described in subsection (2) who voluntarily and without reasonable expectation of compensation or reward provides the services described in that subsection is not liable for damages that result from the person’s negligence in acting or failing to act while providing the services, unless it is established that the damages were caused by the gross negligence of the person. 2001, c.2, s.2(1).
Persons covered
(2) Subsection (1) applies to,
(a) a health care professional who provides emergency health care services or first aid assistance to a person who is ill, injured or unconscious as a result of an accident or other emergency, if the health care professional does not provide the services or assistance at a hospital or other place having appropriate health care facilities and equipment for that purpose; and
(b) an individual, other than a health care professional described in clause (a), who provides emergency first aid assistance to a person who is ill, injured or unconscious as a result of an accident or other emergency, if the individual provides the assistance at the immediate scene of the accident or emergency. 2001, c.2, s.2(2).
Reimbursement of expenses
(3) Reasonable reimbursement that a person receives for expenses that the person reasonably incurs in providing the services described in subsection (2) shall be deemed not to be compensation or reward for the purpose of subsection (1). 2001, c.2, s.2(3).
3. Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Act). 2001, c.2, s. 3.
4. Omitted (enacts short title of this Act). 2001, c.2, s. 4.