July Fourth Dundas and Gerrard , Toronto . Where the RT’s at ?

Nah!! I won’t be commenting on USA’s Independence day, not like it is not worth talking about,
but I just choose to go local today.

Yes, readers you guessed right. It is the last day of pride parade weekend and i taught of share my little july 4th experience with you.

My friends and I, happen to be around the premises of the pride parade. We were desperately searching for some good Asian restaurant to dine after a long lousy day of shopping on Dundas, we unfortunately got caught up in crowd as we walked down the street, despite our attempt to avoid the mass of people who came from all angles of the world to eye witness the pride parade. Though i did not planed to be present at the parade, I was delighted to witness a moment where all differences came to a halt, all gender orientation united in peace as one despite their various cultural and religious values

Soon enough, I was caught up by reality. The sidewalks became overly crowd people

stood on steel bars, gates, men, women and kids were pushed from one end to another, toe stepping, sweating and inhalation of various parfumes and deodorant was on the days menu as the people desperately attempted to move towards or away from Dundas and Gerrard each float or truck that passed by playing loud music and dancers, individuals wearing costumes, colorful wigs not forgetting those flashing cardboards with a written message of pride, peace or hope drew attention and eventually held up traffic on the sidewalk

For an agonizing thirty minutes, I battled my way across the overly crowded sidewalk. The longer I stayed in the crowd attempting to find a way out, the more I felt so much pressure on my chest, I started breathing with difficulties and became daisy, it felt like the air was still. A couple of people also complained about the discomfort. A taught crossed my mind, I began to fear that i might pass out or have an asthma attack. i wondered if there were other asthmatic http://www.umm.edu/non_trauma/asthma.htm in the crowd that felt the way i did? and even people with no history of a breathing disorder would there be a case of worst scenario "someone experiencing severe breathing difficulties in that packed crowd to the extend were they might need breathing assistance?" Luckly enough I came to the end of my struggle the sidewalk became less populated, slowly i regain my normal breathing pace. I guess there was more FEAR than HARM from my part.

We found a great restaurant, feed our crave but I could’nt help thinking “What if?”. I wonder if the emergency responce team at the pride event had RT’s or just trained CPR holders at hand, in case someone needed breathing assistance. Given that my experience happened on pride weekend, my imagination became creative. Was there a floats of Gay RT’s that match each year during the pride weekend ?

Would you care if you were to be treated by an RT who is a member of a visble minority, gay, gothic,quido, rasta YOU NAME IT!! or any lifestyle other than what you practice ?Above all remember the message written on the colourful cardboards shown around the streets of Dundas and Gerrard LOVE, PEACE & TOLERANCE!!!

Annais