Statistics Canada reports the national homicide rate fell to 1.85 homicides per 100,000 population but adds that rates for other serious violent crimes – such as attempted murder, serious assaults and robberies – rose in both 2005 and 2006.Note that the stats for "attempted murder and serious assaults"... the precursor events for "actual homicide"... are up, while the actual deaths are down.
The homicide rate has been on a general decline since it peaked in the mid-1970s at just over three homicides per 100,000 population.
The Level III ALS Paramedics in a big city like Toronto are now equipped with chest tubes, for dealing specifically with sucking chest wounds... and, in addition, follow a protocol that fast-tracks penetrating trauma like gunshot wounds to a special Trauma Team at Sunnybrook hospital.
One of the unfortunate consequences of the protocols is that "Barrington Gangbanger"... who gets gunned down in a drug deal gone sideways... gets faster, more intensive medical care than lifelong working stiff, model citizen and heart-attack victim "Joe Lunchbucket".
Strange, sad and somewhat discouraging.
Paramedics... the unsung heroes of the emergency response triad.
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RELATED: Kids these days are so precocious
However, 84 youth aged 12 to 17 were accused of homicide in 2006, the highest rate since data was first collected in 1961.Well, good grief... what's happening with all "the youth" these days?
The increase in the rate of youth accused of homicide parallels the increase in the rate of overall youth crime in the same time period, says the report.
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