![]() Melissa Cotta of Tiverton and Bryan Ganley of Bristol founded Bridging the Gap for Safety and Healing. Raising the Visibility of the Need for Physical Barriers If the General Assembly had passed these bills during this legislative session, Rhode Island would have taken a leadership position and joined other states such as New York, California and Florida and countries around the world that have moved to put physical safety barriers on the bridges to deter suicides. 12, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton, Little Compton), companion measure, S-117 met the same fate by not being voted out of the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee. Those who survive the fall all say the same thing: they feel instant regret the moment their feet leave the railing.” It affects friends, families, first responders and health care professionals. ![]() And the cost of suicide goes far beyond the individual. “Last year alone, the Portsmouth Police responded to the Mount Hope Bridge 36 times. “It’s not only a serious problem, but an alarmingly frequent one,” said Solomon explaining why he introduced his bill. “Due to technological advances, there are various types of barriers and netting available to increase safety without hindering access for routine inspection and maintenance of the bridges,” he said. “Too many people have committed suicide on those bridges in the last decade,” said Representative Solomon in a statement released when the bill was introduced last January. ![]() The Rhode Island Samaritans also has signs posted at the bridge entrances with information to access RI’s 911 system for emergencies or The Samaritans one to one hotline, where individuals can speak to someone.īut determined people do jump, Solomon notes, explaining the need for passage of H-5053. The bill in House Corporations never came out of committee but that isn’t stopping the House sponsor from working to see the legislative intent fulfilled.Īccording to Solomon, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority currently has a number of suicide prevention measures in place, including a smart surveillance system allowing authorities to act quickly, but virtually no way to physically deter a determined jumper. 22, Warwick) sees H-5053, to require safety barriers or netting on the three bridges that connect Aquidneck and Conanicut Islands to the mainland of Rhode Island, as in hiatus. As the General Assembly goes into recess until the fall, Rep. ![]()
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