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LA, RAE +43. oe ona ROE, A WE wa Lay rm ----. a -- aa a rt eT SEI et a ng ng "emg er -------------------- 4 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 18, 2000 Three riders hurt [Ea in accidents on Lake Scugog ice © a fat Eg "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Above, Scugog firefighters work with para- medics to prepare the victim of a snowmo- bile accident Saturday afternoon for removal from the ice near Seven Mile Island. Just hours later they were called out again for CHRIS HALU/PORT PERRY STAR another accident on the ice of Lake Scugog (left). In all there were three incidents involv- ing snowmobiles in which people were injured over the weekend. One firefighter calls the incidents 'frustrating.' Rash of injuries 'frustrating' for firefighters From page 1 The lead sled hit the water and went through. In his attempt to avoid the water, the operator of the second machine swerved and hit a tree stump, flipping the sled and breaking the leg of a female pas- senger. The rash of injuries is disheartening for the local firefighters, says District Chief Dave Ballingall. "It's really quite frustrating for us. The ice conditions were really crappy this weekend, but people are still out there D.C. Ballingall trating. People know the conditions, riding, and riding in areas that are known to be open and unsafe," he said Monday morning. In all three inci- dents, none of the riders had flotation no signs of rescue equipment being carried, he added. "It's totally frus- suits and there were _ they're just not adhering to the informa- tion... they all have the same attitude: It can't happen in my backyard; it's not gonna happen to me," said the District Chief. Firefighters here have seen more than their share of injury and death involving snowmobiles, he said. "Sure, we're trained to go out there and rescue them, but it's frustrating. Some of them know there's pressure ¢racks out there, yet they still go too fast, and others don't know they area and they still fly around out there," said DC Ballingall. "They just have to stop and think for a minute about what they're doing." Many firefighters still vividly recall January of 1998, when four people died on Lake Scugog in the span of a week. Snowmobile riders lost their lives when they hit open water on a stretch of the lake between Scugog Island at Caesarea, on the east side of the Island. Some firefighters, including D.C. Ballingall, watched in horror as riders drove into open water as a search for oth- ers took place in the dark of night. 'Doctors | OI Frompage't 'major problems. they're havin rooms) across the province, the lack of. available beds in hospitals and dealing with hospital and med- ical staff," said Dr. Gilmour, who works out of. the: Medical Associates of Port Perry office. = "Remuneration 'could be a major bone of con: tention in this round of talks, he said. = Presently, most doctors are paid for each service they provide, with an annual billing threshold of $320,000 for general practitioners and $400,000 for specialists. In underserviced areas there are no ceil~ Ings on earnings. \ ERR = heir billings f f fl i bi high that am their billing Hy or i The romief's comments; « impose in ERs (emergency sed by the province ri hi 1 "met, do. not sit. well with Dr. Clima ot His col- leagues. \ "It is a little discouraging to hear those comments from the premier. We made some conces: last contract, but nobody's happy when they get : (less) than their usual stipend," he said. "When we reach our threshold, our billing is reduced considerably. You look at our limit of $320,000, figure in our expenses... 'that's not our take-, home income." | Currently 'the province has a number of pilot pro- for everyone." LAER Changes must bei thade. ecause t "tem is not working, says Durham He said a large number. of doi with patients and not receiving while other physicians are seeir still billing to their threshold. a really ou pport rostering b bundle. of i money, y said & Dr. Gilmour. Tt "When they are complete, the OMA will Spey. analyze the format... but from what I" ve heard, it's not: working terribly well," "he said. *] want to say that we are not opposed to Ao an but it has to be fart for pat lents, Salth car TRS