TRANSECURE calls of the month for 2005

Ottawa – TRANSECURE Award Ceremony  

Every year, local police services join OC Transpo’s Transecure Committee in selecting and honouring employees who made some of the best TRANSECURE calls during the previous year. One call is selected each month as the call of the month. There are 12 employees being honoured at this year’s ceremony. 

January

On January 5, Bus Operator Gary noticed a regular passenger who travels from the South-end and rarely travels past Rideau Centre. He began to wonder why this gentleman was still on the bus at Maple Lane. Gary noticed that the gentleman was disorientated and becoming worse by the minute. He contacted Control and informed Supervisor Ricardo of the situation and requested assistance. An ambulance responded and transported gentleman to hospital where he recovered from a diabetic seizure.  

February

On February 18, Bus Operator Ed observed a car coming toward him crowding his lane. Ed pulled to the far right side of the roadway to avoid a head on collision. The driver of the car grazed the entire length of the bus and continued slowly away. The bus operator parked his bus in a safe location and chassed the vehicle on foot. Ed was able to bang on the car window and get the driver to stop. The driver was not aware that he had come into contact with the bus. A witness called 911 as Ed returned to his bus and called Control and informed Supervisor Craig of the situation. The male driver of the vehicle had previously been working on refinishing furniture and had become disoriented due to the refinishing lacquer fumes. 

March

While performing bus shelter maintenance on Craig Henry on March 23, city employee Kathy was approached by a very upset woman needing assistance. The woman had stopped to put a letter in the mailbox and accidentally locked her two year-old child in the car with the heat on high. Kathy immediately called the St. Laurent Garage Supervisor, to see if there was a mobile mechanic in the area. The Supervisor immediately dispatched 501-west service truck to the scene to assist. The mechanic and Kathy were able to successfully unlock the car doors within seven to ten minutes and the mother was reunited with her child.

April

On April 8, Bus Operator Abukar noticed an elderly male falling in a construction zone. Abukar contacted Control and advised Supervisor Roy of the situation and requested an ambulance. The male had major cuts on his face, head and nose. Abukar stayed with the injured man and provided first aid to his cuts until the ambulance arrived. 

May

On May 25, Bus Operator Eric saw a four-year old boy standing on the street in bare feet and wearing only his pajama bottoms. When he got closer to the boy, he darted out in front of the bus. Eric stopped his bus and went to the boy; the child was lost and frightened. The bus operator brought the child on to the bus and contacted Control and advised Supervisor Hunt of the situation. Supervisor Hunt contacted car 302, Supervisor Wright and Ottawa Police Service. Eric informed his passengers that there would be a minor delay. Supervisor Wright and the OPS arrived within minutes and transported the boy home to his grateful parents. 

June

On June 2, Bus Operator David noticed a teenage female and male standing back from the shelter at Orleans Park and Ride. David witnessed the girl attempting to hide what appeared to be a rifle behind her leg. The male boarded the bus while the female stayed behind. David contacted Control and informed Supervisor Bolestridge what he had witnessed and gave him the location and description of the female. Transit Law Enforcement Officer and Ottawa Police Service were advised of the situation. David’s keen eye and excellent description of the female assisted authorities in locating her and retrieving the weapon, which turned out to be a pellet gun. The OPS made a successful arrest within minutes. 

July

On July 20, Bus Operator Ken observed an elderly female against the shelter at Rideau Centre in extreme pain. Ken contacted Control and advised Supervisor Villeneuve of the situation. He stayed with the female until a Supervisor and Ottawa Paramedic Service arrived. The woman was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with two fractured legs. 

August

On August 16 while in service on the O-Train heading to Greenboro Station, Light Rail Operator, George noticed three small children ranging from ages four, five and eight years old not wearing a shirt board the train at Bayview Station. Upon arriving at Greenboro Station, the bus operator questioned the eldest as to where they were going at 7 a.m. in the morning. The response did not make sense so George kept an eye on the three children. When he arrived at the station for the second time, George contacted Control and informed Supervisor Drisdelle of the situation. Transit Security was informed and further investigation by a Transit Law Enforcement Officer led to a call to both Ottawa Police and Children Services. Ottawa Police Service transported the children home. The parents had already called OPS to report their children missing.

September

On September 12, Bus Operator Terry noticed a female lying in the street on Queensdale at Albion; she was short of breath and disoriented. He contacted Control and informed Supervisor Bolestridge of the situation. When Ottawa Police Services arrived at the scene they discovered that the female had recently suffered a brain aneurism. She was transported to hospital by Ottawa Paramedic Service. 

October

On October 22, Bus Operator Daniel picked up an elderly male on the corner of Rideau and King Edward.  The passenger required the use of a cane and was having problems catching his breath. Daniel asked the man if he was all right, the man replied that he was. By the time the bus operator reached Montreal Road, the man had passed out and had no pulse. Once Daniel and another passenger had the man lying on the floor of the bus, Daniel performed CPR. Thanks to his quick response he was able to restore a pulse while waiting for Ottawa Paramedic Service. Upon their arrival, paramedics used a defibrillator and were able to restore a stronger pulse and stabilized the heartbeat before transporting the gentleman to the hospital. 

November

On November 11, Bus Operator Ernie witnessed a two-car collision on Saville Row and Prince Charles Street. A disoriented elderly female was hanging out of the driver’s side of one of the cars. A female hearing the impact ran from her residence to assist the female who eventually fell out of the rolling car. Ernie noticed that the car was still rolling, parked his bus in a safe location and ran beside the car until he was able to climb in and bring the vehicle to a safe stop before it went into a crowd of onlookers. 

December

On December 5, Bus Operator Tammy responded to a Ottawa Police Service missing person report. She contacted Control and advised Supervisor Bolestridge that she had seen the 15-year-old mentally challenged youth the police were looking for coming out of the General Hospital and heading towards Smyth Road. OPS had considered sending out a search party, but thanks to Tammy’s keen eye and quick response the missing youth was located and returned home.

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