A Cliff or an Ambulance

It struck me that there is a similarity between the use (or non-use) of walking sticks and various other health or injury-related discussions.

While some of these have gained popularity over time, others have not.

An excellent illustration of this is the use of seat belts in cars. Nowadays, most people acknowledge the importance of wearing a seatbelt, but there was considerable resistance when the legislation was initially introduced.

Likewise, although the Slip Slop Slap campaign for sun protection has strong supporters and positive health results, the crowded beaches in summer reveal that a significant portion of the population chooses to disregard it.

A fence is better than an ambulance

One could argue for personal responsibility in allowing individuals to choose the risks they are comfortable with.

However, when the risk of falling from a cliff is almost certain, surely a fence at the top is preferable to an ambulance at the bottom.

The poem that is the original source of the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff analogy is this...

For Les and Joyce

A fence or an Ambulance.

By Joseph Malins (1844–1926)

Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,

though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;

but over its terrible edge there had slipped

a duke and full many a peasant.

So the people said something would have to be done,

but their projects did not at all tally;

some said, 'Put a fence 'round the edge of the cliff, '

some, 'An ambulance down in the valley.'

But the cry for the ambulance carried the day,

for it spread through the neighbouring city;

a fence may be useful or not, it is true,

but each heart became full of pity

for those who slipped over the dangerous cliff;

And the dwellers in highway and alley

gave pounds and gave pence, not to put up a fence,

but an ambulance down in the valley.

'For the cliff is all right, if you're careful, ' they said,

'and if folks even slip and are dropping,

it isn't the slipping that hurts them so much

as the shock down below when they're stopping.'

So day after day, as these mishaps occurred,

quick forth would those rescuers sally

to pick up the victims who fell off the cliff,

with their ambulance down in the valley.

Then an old sage remarked: 'It's a marvel to me

that people give far more attention

to repairing results than to stopping the cause,

when they'd much better aim at prevention.

Let us stop at its source all this mischief, ' cried he,

'come, neighbour's and friends, let us rally;

if the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense

with the ambulance down in the valley.'