A terrible problem is happening while you read this sentence, right now … right here… in Shanghai… This isn’t just any other article about problems around the world; this involves YOU!

The Ambulance Make Way Club. What is it and why was it established? We’ve realized that a lot of people don’t stop on the side for the ambulance to get through in Shanghai. That’s why the Ambulance Make Way club was established. Our goal is for the Shanghai citizens to move aside when they see or hear the ambulance- and we need everyone’s help!

Imagine yourself in typical Shanghai traffic. Suddenly, you hear the whir of an ambulance siren splitting through all the noise. So as a natural instinct, you want to move to the side and stop for the ambulance to get through. Yet slowly as you look around, you suddenly realize that no one else is moving aside for the ambulance. The sad, frantic whir of the ambulance is saying only one thing-I desperately need to get through. But no one pays even the slightest bit of attention to the siren; it was as if they didn’t even hear it. As all this happens right before your eyes, you feel like you can’t do anything to help the ambulance and its desperate passengers. But now, you can- WE can…together!  

This is the reason the Ambulance Make Way Club was established. Our goal is teach Shanghai residents and citizens to move aside and stop on the side when they hear or see the ambulance.

How can we do that? If you move aside to save someone else today, someday, others will do the same for you. Every single second is crucial to the patient, and it really would only take a few minutes for everyone to move to the side, but those few minutes might just save a life. Yet still, no one does it. Why not? We don’t think it’s because they don’t WANT to, they just don’t realize the problem. The thought of making way to the ambulance simply never crossed their minds. So our first step in achieving our goal is to spread the word about this problem.

We will contact various bus/taxi/license companies, we will write to the local newspaper, we will give speeches to the other schools, both local and international, we will talk to the traffic directors, the idea’s are endless! But you can help too! Please try to tell at least one other friend about this problem and let them know, that their choices can make a difference. If at least half of the people do stop on the side for the ambulance to get through, the rest will surely follow.  

How can you contact us? If you have any ideas, questions, feedback or any other thoughts, you can e-mail us at:makewayclub@sasstudent.org or visit our website at:http://ambulancemakewayclub.wikispaces.com. Although this is a big project, we are confident that we WILL be able to accomplish it with everyone’s help. Again, your choices can and will make a difference! 

By Stephanie PHEN, G6, Pudong Campus