Came upon a car wreck Sat night

[fishnfla]

Miata had crossed the midline, flipped over and wrapped around a telephone pole. I saw a body lying prostate on the sidewalk, alone, and a small group of people standing off to the side. I know CPR so I pulled up and ran up to the victim. He was a young man in a bad way. A deep pool of blood was streaming around his body from the back of his skull, it was everywhere. the back of his head was a mess. He was conscious but approaching shock. He was struggling to get up, moaning. I held him down and got in his face. "whats your name son? stay with me here" someone in the crowd said he was Ricky and an ambulance was on the way. The kid was about 17
"Ricky, listen to me. You have to stay still son, your gonna be Ok. Its gonna be Ok, just stay still" I looked in his eyes, holding him steady. His heart was racing I could feel it through his coat. His shoes were gone, he must have flew out of the car. He began to gag, and then vomit. I was afraid that he would choke, but didnt want to move his head, fearing a neck or back injury. I had to scoop the puke out best I could with my hand and fingers, thinking to myself: keep breathing boy, I dont want to respirate thru all this mess.

A cop showed up, I told him I knew CPR so he left me to the job. I cleaned the airway up best I could and kept him still best I could, now covered in blood and puke. the paramedics were there soon and I let them take over. I got the hell gone ASAP, drove home in my underwear.

Paper today says the kid is still in critical condition at the hospital. His passenger walked away without a scratch. Guess who was wearing a seatbelt?

Buckle up folks.

It was the second MVA I had come across on that stretch of road. Last time 3 girls flipped into Rose Bay, me and another guy pulled them out of the water and I did CPR on one, she was a bloody and muddy mess.

[Bunny]

1. Bless you for trying. I hope the young fellow recovers. n/t

[fishnfla]

11. Me too

critical condition until yesterday afternoon does not sound too good, but the trauma teams nowadays do real well. They say if you can pull thru the first 24/48 hours.

But needless to say, this young mans life will never be the same

[liberalnurse]

2. You were a blessing to the young man.

I sense your calming ways, and compassion.


I felt your entire story to my bones. The visual was familiar.

Here, have a great big HUG! :hug:

[fishnfla]

12. How does that saying go?

"save one life you're a hero, save a hundred and you are a nurse".

I did what had to be done at the time, you'd do the same. You do it everyday.Thats a real dedicated hero, to me.

:hug: back atcha'

[villager]

3. good for you, and best to that young man....

...here's hoping he makes it, and a general human "thanks" to you for getting down in the muck with him...

[fishnfla]

13. I would want the same for me and mine and you and yours

My brother-in-law held a dying man in a similar situation, motorcycle wreck. The basic human instinct is to comfort someone at that time

[radwriter0555]

4. I understand a dead body has never been pulled from a seatbelt...

I could be wrong, but every state trooper who has ever spoken, has said this.

What the HELL Is wrong with people? Just wear a seat belt.

Please, just wear your seat belt and don't drink and drive.

[CBGLuthier]

5. Not to belittle the message but

What most troopers say is that they never pull dead bodies from seatbelts. Technically true since that isn't their job, to remove dead bodies.

But it is not true that seatbelts always save lives. Maybe 95-99% of the time they do but some crashes are not survivable no matter what the conditions.

Again, this comment was not meant to say that people should not wear seatbelts but just to point out that the old saw that many troopers quote is some what inaccurate.

[mermaid]

6. That's Pure Unadulterated Bullspit

there are wrecks where, even when one wore their seatbelt, they were killed. Not to say you shouldn't wear one, because you should. I always do.

That said, I witnessed an accident about six years ago now that still sticks in my memory. A car had broken down on the highway. He was off on the left shoulder.

A tow truck came to assist.

While the tow truck was talking with the owner of the vehicle, his tow truck was blocking the left lane. Yes, he had his emegency flashers on.

A Dodge?? Opal came along at seventy miles an hour in the left lane. I was riding shotgun in my friend's Windstar while he drove. We were in the center lane.

We watched the events as they unfolded. Both of us looked at each other..."he's not...is he?" OhmiGod!!!

The Opal rammed full-bore into the back of the tow truck doing seventy. The tow truck driver and the owners of the breakdown car hit the deck. I grabbed my cell phone and dialed up 911. We didn't stop. Neither of us could offer assistance, and we'd be more in the way, and possibly cause a bigger accident.

Anyway, the driver of the Opal was wearing a seat belt. He'd apparently fallen asleep at the wheel. The entire engine compartment collapsed into the driver, he was pinned in. He died at the scene before they could get him out.

That old "I've never had to unbuckle a dead man" is pure propaganda bullshit....but, havig said that, your chances are better if you DO wear one. So please, so wear a seat belt.

But that line about never having to unbuckle a dead man always pisses me off because I know it isn't true.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. And please wear it properly...

A friend of mine was seriously injured when she tucked her shoulder strap under her arm. She's one of the ones who could have been killed while "wearing" her seatbelt. She's a very lucky woman.

[Blue Gardener]

8. That was a kind thing to do

So many people don't want to get involved. Let's hope he pulls through ok.

[Swede]

9. You did a good job fishnfla.

I hope if I am ever in that situation I could do half as well.

[fishnfla]

15. You would

just stay calm in a crisis, its so important every time

[Wcross]

10. Thanks!

Your efforts allowed this kid to survive until the paramedics arrived, he may have choked on his puke. I would be ashamed if I was in that small group of people off to the side doing nothing to help.

Good for you fishnfla, you are one of the good ones in our society.

[fishnfla]

14. That bothered me at first too

The first image was of that body alone there, maybe dying. But looking back, I realize that the scene was pretty gory and too much for the young people there, they were all teenagers. They were traumatized too much. I remember alot of crying,some in the crowd were helping with the others. I was focused on Ricky, the young man.