Just around 10:30am today, 7/13/05 I saw a man lying in his own blood in the middle of Main street in front of where I work.
Talk about a freakin' slap in the face with the riminder of our mortality *again.
I've made it through a lot of crap in my life, but everytime I see something similar to this I thank every finger on my hands that I can still function.
24yo man on a bike today...crossing at a crosswalk got hit and then smashed into the hood & windshield of a late 90's Jetta.
One of my colleagues at work was coming back from her break and her husband visited with their children and he left to go home...he witnessed the whole thing...watched the man fly nearly 30 feet from where he started.
I know first aid and CPR so I just instantly react...I ran down the stairs to see if there was anything that needed to be done or helped with. There was someone there already holding the man's head...he was face down. His bike was about 10 feet from him mangle.
I saw blood, but it was just the beginning...it had just happened! I got closer to him...mind you the middle of 4 lanes in the downtown of Concord, NH; nearly in front of the State House. I could see his skull split down the side around his ear and a flat spot toward the back of his head (like he'd hit real hard on the pavement) about 2.5" diameter.
Some bone head was yelling at me to get out of the road and I was yelling out to see if anyone was a doctor or a nurse. I had nothing and there was one woman who knew basic first aid. I was asking for a towel and someone took off their shirt and a young woman, stopped next to me in a pickup. She asked if she could help and she was a nurses aid. I told her my certifications were expired, but this man needed help badly.
She stopped, got out, and the man who took off his shirt gave it to her and she started helping. They were just trying to keep him still. You can imagine how scared you'd be, just hit by a car and lying on the pavement with blood coming out of your nose and mouth and your head hurt like hell!
Speed and lack of paying attention! I swear, I know I've been guilty of speeding, but NEVER in a city street or residential area!
Main Streen in Concord needs traffic/speed quelling is needed badly! Since I've worked in this town for the past year and a half there have been 4 ppl. hurt in crosswalks on this street in this one block area!
I've not done any searches yet, but I'm going to see if there was anything put up online.
I had a bad day, but someone else had it much, much worse! His name btw was/is Gary.
Last edited on Thu Jul 14th, 2005 03:38 am by Chelly03PZEV
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
Ugh, that's horrible... I've been a situation similar to that man's, luckily I made it out relatively OK, but I swear speed in responding and the luck of some knowledgable people being nearby can sure help a lot.
Hopefully Gary's alright too, it sounds like he landed pretty rough Good for you for taking charge and trying to get him some help Chelly, I can't believe when these crises are happening and people are preoccupied with other things (like the guy yelling at you). Or people are dumb enough to speed and be unawares in what I'm assuming is a pretty busy area? Some people are just too stuck in their own world to even see others, some woulda just run into their office bulding figuring things were taken care of.
I mean wtf ever happened to caring about a fellow man in danger or being seriously hurt? Sometimes I wonder about people that can so easily turn a blind eye, yet will rubberneck with the best of 'em at a fenderbender on the highway.
I forget the law exactly, and I'm sure it varies, but usually there's legislation that if X number of incidents happen in the same place in a certain time frame, the city/state is really forced to confront the problem area. Of course in some places "incident" has to mean death, which is unfortunate since people can be badly hurt, but it doesn't "count" in this way.
Last edited on Thu Jul 14th, 2005 04:15 am by lil duratec
I can't say much- I don't know exactly how I'd react if I was a passer-by. I mean obviously if I was the only one, I'd help out. But I don't know CPR or anything. I'd probably just get in the way if I tried to help.
I wouldn't have a problem helping someone if they needed help. But if there are already enough people tending this person, I'd rather stay out the way and go about my business than be a hinderance to whatever emergency crews / doctors, nurses, etc may be there that can actually help.
As for helping...I can't expect people who don't know what their doing to do more than try to call for help. I know CPR, both adult & infant, I've been certified, but I've let that lapse. Situations like this trigger me to think and act...I've been trained for it. It becomes instinctive for those that have had the training and experience...I've seen and done a lot in my life and if I can help in any way so be it.
That old man directing traffic was trying to send it down the side of the street where the guy was laying down and I was like dude - send them down the side street, not into the crime scene!
some people!
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
Cycling is an inherently dangerous activity. Physics is just not on your side. IMO, the real problem is multifaceted.
1. Most cyclists don't ride responsibly & don't think about how badly/easily they can incur severe injury or death. They don't use proper safety gear e.g. bright colored clothing, reflective materials, or helmets. (rather be dead than look like a nerd, ya'know) Cyclists routinely and blatently ignore traffic laws, as though they were written for "other people."
2. Motorists give cyclists no respect. Drivers think the roads are "theirs", and bikes have no right being there. This is especially true if a car driver should happen to have to slow down momentarily for a cyclist. (Oh, God forbid)
3. When a motor vehicle and a bike have a get-together, everyone, including law enforcement and the courts automatically take the side of the driver, and discount whatever the cyclist, or witnesses have to say. When a cyclist goes to court, the count is 0-2, and the third ball is already half way to the plate.
This is not always the case, but it is certainly the norm. This year, I'll probably ride 3-4000 miles. I'm at 2400 right now, and I'll ride up to, and including most of Dec. Cyclists and motorists both have much to learn from each other, and hopefully each side will learn to empathise and respect the other much more than they do now. If gas prices keep going the way they are now, (and there's no reason to believe they won't), more people may be biking whether they want to or not.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Many ppl. don't wear safty gear or obey traffic signals.
It chaps my ass when cyclists use the sidewalks and ignore the lights. I've been slammed into and knocked over and nearly run into cyclists who don't obey the rules...then again, I've been on the receiving end as a cyclist. Granted I certainly don't cycle a fraction of the miles you do and I've not been on my bike since last year, but I know the rules.
They are exactly the same as the cars...you stop at a light, you stop at a crosswalk for pedestrians, you stop at a stop signe. You also can be pulled over and fined for going over the speed limit (my youngest brother got done for this one years ago)
Drivers...I pay close attention and give room to cyclists who are doing what they are supposed to be doing...the others who risk getting hit...I avoid all together! I've beeped to get ignorant younger cyclists out of the road because they're just being dinkish...but I'm polite to those who are just sharing the roads with me.
I hope to get back up and riding again soon...as it is my injuries from my fall last Halloween have caused me to back off all of the activities I used to enjoy...just too much pain right now.
i can safely say, I'm not in as much pain as this young man though.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
Chelly: the refresher first aid can be done in 2 evenings. It's probably different where you are but at my last one they gave me a car kit that included 2 air-splints for a very reasonable cost. There are also new dressings with some sort of material that helps coagulate very quickly.
Good on you for doing the best that you could.
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A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
Good for you for taking charge and trying to get him some help Chelly, I can't believe when these crises are happening and people are preoccupied with other things (like the guy yelling at you). Or people are dumb enough to speed and be unawares in what I'm assuming is a pretty busy area? Some people are just too stuck in their own world to even see others, some woulda just run into their office bulding figuring things were taken care of.
as though they were written for "other people."
