Do - Not - Disturb point - Finger - at Everybody but - Self
The audio tapes of telephone conversations between the JRCC, RCMP, and FES during the search for Burton Winters are very troubling.
These recordings have been made available to the public by CBC - obtained from the Department of National Defence.
One thing is for certain - the odds for Burton Winters survival were reduced - when people in authority made the decisions they made.
This is not meant to offend - but there appeared to be a more urgency in doing a survival probability model than was coordination for rescue.
Burton Winters was lost. A young Labradorian who deserved all the resources available to help him find his way home.
If his fight to walk 19 km's - in frigid northern weather and challenging ice conditions - was matched by sheer determination of people responsible for rescue - the outcome may have been different.
One particular recording stood out to me: PRESS HERE to Listen
If one does not know what resources are available - how does one coordinate or participate in a rescue effort?
The death of Burton Winters demands an enquiry and requires enhanced not reduced federal search and rescue assets in both Newfoundland and Labrador.
The provincial component of these services known as FES (Fire and Emergency Services) needs to be questioned thoroughly by an independent body. The objective should be to determine the qualifications and knowledge of decision makers and the training provided staff.
For people reading this story - please take the time to visit the Facebook site The Burton Winters' Rescue Centre in Labrador - and please participate.
Burton Winters deserved more and your children and families deserve more.
This is not a time for federal and provincial officials to play off each other - in order to lay ultimate blame. This is a time for action - to make sure this does not happen to any other child or youth of our province.
No comments:
Post a Comment