what would you do?

This is a story of a couple of events on my holiday I got back from yesterday. The events are linked but different in content.

Event one happened on the fist week as My wife and I went for a drive. Approaching a junction we saw stopped cars, a crashed bike and a smashed car. My wife asked if we should stop and I immediately said yes. I have had many first aid courses and training in various jobs and now it could be needed. There were people around a person in a heap on the floor and a car with a smashed front to the side.

I decided to suggest my wife go to the woman in the smashed car while I went to help others with the person on the floor. There were 3 people around him and as I approached the one to his side moved and I found myself knelt by him. I could see his right leg was a mess, at least 2 serious breaks judging by the way the bits were pointed. He was semi conscious and at first confused. A couple of the people helping said the car had hit the boy and catapulted him 20 feet to where I first saw him.

There was a nurse either end of him and I was at his side. One held his head still, one held his shattered leg still while I spoke to him. We kept talking to him to keep him awake. Strangely I felt totally calm , doing all the things needed automatically. Despite suffering from a serious pain condition it all worked ok.

Due to being in the wilds of Cornwall we knew police and ambulances would take time. Police arrived after half hour or so and let us carry on caring for the injured rider. The paramedic appeared next and took control but accepted our help. He cut away the riders clothes to check the injuries before trying to move him. His left leg was twice broken, with bone sticking through. His left arm was broken twice also. As his helmet wasn't damaged too much we presumed the impact on the car was side on.

Next came the ambulance, who helped him onto a stretcher. Soon it was obvious he had at least 5 serious breaks and the call came for a helicopter. I helped carry the stretcher into the ambulance and left the boy with the crew. I went outside and ended up talking to the riders family, reassuring them. Next came the enormous helicopter , flying over us to land in the nearby field.

That was when we were able to leave the scene. As we were parked among the carnage the police released us. We left and shared our separate experiences. I felt fine and the adrenaline ebbed away. I had finally got to use parts of my training, items spaced over 40 years. If I had approached and found the rider dead or more seriously hurt I hope I could have helped as calmly. Especially as help was so far away.

I have worked in care for many years so death and injury wasn't new, maybe that helped me deal so easily. If someone had said come and help a person with multiple broken bones I hope I would have helped the same. Not having a chance to think probably made it easier.

A week later I was needed again, again not planned but was needed at first. Arriving in a car park we noticed an old man driving around, looking lost and worried. A number of people in the car park weren't paying attention to him but as I looked over he smiled and beckoned me over.

He managed to tell me he was there to meet his daughter who he had dropped off to walk around the cliff edge. He had mobility issues so was stuck in the car and couldnt go looking for her. He asked me to help and ring the police. He said he dropped her off 4 hours before and was due to collect her at 630,it was now 830. I ended up speaking to the police and told him there was a problem either as the man was telling or he was confused and lost.

I was close to the bike accident site so knew police responce was going to be slow. The police called me back for my opinion as I had mentioned working with the elderly before. The man said his daughter was 67 so he was well in to his eighties. I wasn't sure but knew help was needed, the police control said they were sending a response car and had called in the coastguard in case.

As I waited and reassured him a van arrived. It was from a youth hostel where his daughters walk had begun. the message was that his daughter had made it round and discovered he wasn't there. So she made her way back to the start, leaving her dad to search. Dad had both phones so there was no contact. The relieved man followed the van back to see his daughter. As the van left a police car sped in to the car park, I flagged them down and sent them after the van and car.

Another good deed done for the day. Again we left the scene feeling good for helping, in both cases wondering what was the situation after. It made me feel good to have helped, hoping I helped in two different cases. It felt good to use personal experience and training for good cause.

It also reassured me I can be helpful out of work and with sudden need. Recently at work one of the residents chocked and I had to save her life by clearing the blockage. It was the most serious of the 3 events but it was in work so I have to watch all residents closely. I was prepared for any problems and was trained . Out of work I relax but I have discovered I can jump in.

What would you do?