I would have liked to stop...

JJR512

JJR512

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This evening, driving through a residential neighborhood, I saw a couple cars stopped in the lane, and on the other side of the street, a teenage male sitting on the sidewalk next to a scooter (the unpowered Razor type), holding his hands to his head. A woman was standing in front of one of the cars, using her cell phone. Cars (including me) in the lane blocked by the stopped cars were going around in the oncoming lane when safe. The kid looked to be in obvious pain but nobody seemed to be in a panic.

Obviously, I'd guess the kid on the scooter got hit by one of the cars. The speed limit there is 30mph, people usually drive 30-40, although a speed hump immediately prior to the scene location may have mitigated the speed somewhat. People usually slow to 20-25 for the speed humps.

I would have liked to stop to see if there was anything I could have done while waiting for a real EMS response, because I'm the kind of guy that likes to help. But I decided not to, for these reasons:

1. I had no EMS supplies with me, not even a Band-Aid.
2. I had my two young kids in the car and no other adults, and didn't want to leave them alone in the car unsupervised. (One of them probably would have waited about 30 seconds after I said "Stay in the car!", gotten out, and been the next victim.)
3. The kid was sitting on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road from the cars, and nobody seemed panicked. The kid had to have walked there, and the apparent atmospheric tone did not suggest anyone was in any serious immediate danger; even if someone was, I don't know what I could have done (see #1 above).

I have a high index of suspicion that the vast majority of you will tell me I did the right thing in this particular situation to not stop, but I still want to get it off my chest and hear that I made the right decision, because part of me still feels guilty for just driving by.
 
Good for you. You made the right decision. I recall an old saying.. "Don't just do something.. Stand there" Sometimes not getting into the middle of a situation is the best thing you can do.
 
You did the right thing. There was nothing you could do, not even calm anyone down, they were already calm! Perhaps you could have held C-Spine but really, that would have made everyone on edge.

I don't stop for minor stuff like that, either. I stop for accidents that just happened and no one is moving around yet, or if they're moving around an in obvious distress (Like outside, holding a heavily bleeding arm and screaming or something to that effect. ) or if CPR's in progress. (Especially if CPR's in progress and the CPR-ee is going "Ouch ouch ouch!" )
 
JJR512 said:
This evening, driving through a residential neighborhood, I saw a couple cars stopped in the lane, and on the other side of the street, a teenage male sitting on the sidewalk next to a scooter (the unpowered Razor type), holding his hands to his head. A woman was standing in front of one of the cars, using her cell phone. Cars (including me) in the lane blocked by the stopped cars were going around in the oncoming lane when safe. The kid looked to be in obvious pain but nobody seemed to be in a panic.

Obviously, I'd guess the kid on the scooter got hit by one of the cars. The speed limit there is 30mph, people usually drive 30-40, although a speed hump immediately prior to the scene location may have mitigated the speed somewhat. People usually slow to 20-25 for the speed humps.

I would have liked to stop to see if there was anything I could have done while waiting for a real EMS response, because I'm the kind of guy that likes to help. But I decided not to, for these reasons:

1. I had no EMS supplies with me, not even a Band-Aid.
2. I had my two young kids in the car and no other adults, and didn't want to leave them alone in the car unsupervised. (One of them probably would have waited about 30 seconds after I said "Stay in the car!", gotten out, and been the next victim.)
3. The kid was sitting on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road from the cars, and nobody seemed panicked. The kid had to have walked there, and the apparent atmospheric tone did not suggest anyone was in any serious immediate danger; even if someone was, I don't know what I could have done (see #1 above).

I have a high index of suspicion that the vast majority of you will tell me I did the right thing in this particular situation to not stop, but I still want to get it off my chest and hear that I made the right decision, because part of me still feels guilty for just driving by.
Click to expand...

One thing that is quite literally beaten into our skulls from day one of EMT school is scene safety. Scene safety means to preserve yourself first, then your partners, then the pt(s), then anyone else. "Preserve yourself" = self preservation. That includes your children. Noone and nothing will ever be more important than family. Family by blood or family by choice; nothing counts as much as your family. To hell with everybody else. I wouldn't have stopped either.
 
There are times that I have been in the similar situation and have made same decision. Based on the circumstances....I think you made the correct decision.

Jim
 
Couple of things to addition that was posted. Not everyone needs EMS or an EMT. I know its hard to believe but responding to these calls irritate me. Many times people get ouches & boo boos all the time. He was standing, chances are he was okay.

So many times we get the friendly but not necessary cell phone callers. Not realizing dispatching EMS to non-life threatening calls are dangerous itself.

Yes, people should be caring and emphatic but also realize people have minor injuries that will do fine without any major intervention(s).

You did right and safe thing, you used your head.

R/r 911
 
a wise firefighter once told me if there is nothing you can do, dont stop. I normally dont carry anything in my car for fear of it dissapearing or something my husband has left to mutate in there eating it. Not to mention 99% of the time I have my children in the car with me and I will not put them in danger to help someone else sorry they mean more to me than random strangers. You did the right thing dont feel bad.
 
You had your kids in the car. Your job is to take care of your kids. And call 911 if nobody else was going to...but you already said the lady was on the phone.
Good call not making the scene messy with extras.
If you had witnessed the accident, it would have been different in my State (but you would have just had to stay around until LE showed up, taking care of your kids.)
 
Sasha said:
or if CPR's in progress. (Especially if CPR's in progress and the CPR-ee is going "Ouch ouch ouch!" )
Click to expand...

:P:P:P Aint that the truth...

Sadly, I've also been to the complete oposite when CPR needs to be done but bystanders don't give it a shot because they are untrained or assume someone else will take charge....
 
Have to say i agree with you,

Only thing is i would have reverxsed to 2 reasons
1.Not needed
2.Kids
3.nothing with you
 
I would def. say you did the right thing. number one rule in EMS your safty first. Of course in this case I branch it off to the kids under your care at the time. plus no EMS Supplies means no way to really help other then encouraging words
 
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