(no subject)
While I'm sure I'll remember the entire trip fondly, right now something that happened at the end of the trip is currently overshadowing the beginning, and I think I need to write about that first and get it off my chest.
On the last day I was in New Orleans, we were walking through the French Quarter on our way back to our place. It was myself, my SO, and a Friend of ours who was giving us a ride to the airport walking along when I hear a thunk and a shout of "Oh my god!" from off to my left.
Glancing over, I saw a stopped silver car and a black lump lying in the road. A split second later I realized the form was a person, who had just been struck by the car.
It's odd what thoughts will flash through your mind as you dash across a street to help out another human being.
The first thought was "Wait, maybe it's a mannaquin."
Followed by "What if it's a scam artist doing one of those 'oh-no, you hit me. Give me money or I'll call the cops.'" Then "I hope we still make our flight."
I did an initial check of the victim and detected that she was breathing. Actually it sounded like she was asleep, because she was "snoring." I got up again and waffled about calling 911 or staying with the woman. I saw someone else calling 911 so I went back to her.
Though I quickly realized that could be from a partially occluded airway. After looking at the situation, I realized the best thing to do would be was not to move her at all, since she had fallen into a "rescue position" (lying mostly on the side leaning forward, legs bent to keep them from rolling onto their stomach) and was breathing.
After a few seconds, she seemed to wake up and started trying to move. Myself and 3 other bystanders did our best to engage her in conversation (she wouldn't respond) and keep her from moving too much, but we didn't want to restrain her strongly for fear of doing more damage.
My SO was talking with the driver of the car, who was standing nearby watching, crying. The Friend went into a nearby florist and got water and towels, which we put under the ladies head (after she had rolled herself over, so I wasn't -as- worried about spinal trauma). All this I realize later, since at the time I was focuses solely on taking care of the woman. Hyper-focus and all that.
By the time the paramedics had shown up, she rolled herself onto her other side, and had used a free hand to remove her dentures (part of which were broken by the impact to the ground and lying on the ground nearby), which is apparently why she couldn't talk, because she responded to the paramedics when they got there. So, at least there is small chance of major spinal damage. She complained of pain in her left leg to the paramedics. I told them she was unconscious for a few seconds and then woke up.
The three of us hung around for a little while longer, talking with the near-hysterical driver (a 20-something female) and making sure the officer didn't need us for statements. My SO left her contact info with the driver. Then we went on our way to get our stuff and make it to the airport.
Putting it together, what happened was the driver stopped at a stop sign for the intersection (SO saw this), then continued through the intersection. The road ran East West, so the sun was in her eyes. If you've ever been in the french quarter, you know about the balconies that line the streets, and how narrow the streets are. The old lady was wearing all black and walked into the road right as the driver proceeded through the intersection. In the same position I'm not sure I would have seen her either.
Even now, it's odd which images stick in the mind. I can clearly see my first glance of the scene from across the street, with her in a crumpled heap on the ground. I can also remember my first sight of her face, with the small puddle of blood beginning to accumulate from where she was bleeding from her mouth. The urgent comments of the people around her trying to keep her calm and stable as she rolled on the pavement, trying to move. The asshole drive-by who yelled at the distraught driver "There's a f*cking stop sign there!" and then proceeded to drive off.
Obviously it was important enough for him to cast vitriol at a fellow human in a time of crisis, but not important enough to stop to help out.
The "irony" of this is that because we stopped to be good human beings, we ended up getting to the airport 25 minutes before flight time. Which was 5 minutes after the baggage check-in cut-off. So we instead of a 3 hour direct flight getting in at 8, we had a transfer in Charlotte that ended up taking 5 hours start to finish.
It's one of those "life experiences" that define pivitol moments in your life. What do you do? Do you shrug and walk on, letting other people take care of the problem? Or do you dive in and do what you can, what needs to be done?
I made the choice that was right for me, and I hope it's the same choice I'll make next time. I'm not sure I'd like the person I'd be if I could walk away.
On the last day I was in New Orleans, we were walking through the French Quarter on our way back to our place. It was myself, my SO, and a Friend of ours who was giving us a ride to the airport walking along when I hear a thunk and a shout of "Oh my god!" from off to my left.
Glancing over, I saw a stopped silver car and a black lump lying in the road. A split second later I realized the form was a person, who had just been struck by the car.
It's odd what thoughts will flash through your mind as you dash across a street to help out another human being.
The first thought was "Wait, maybe it's a mannaquin."
Followed by "What if it's a scam artist doing one of those 'oh-no, you hit me. Give me money or I'll call the cops.'" Then "I hope we still make our flight."
I did an initial check of the victim and detected that she was breathing. Actually it sounded like she was asleep, because she was "snoring." I got up again and waffled about calling 911 or staying with the woman. I saw someone else calling 911 so I went back to her.
Though I quickly realized that could be from a partially occluded airway. After looking at the situation, I realized the best thing to do would be was not to move her at all, since she had fallen into a "rescue position" (lying mostly on the side leaning forward, legs bent to keep them from rolling onto their stomach) and was breathing.
After a few seconds, she seemed to wake up and started trying to move. Myself and 3 other bystanders did our best to engage her in conversation (she wouldn't respond) and keep her from moving too much, but we didn't want to restrain her strongly for fear of doing more damage.
My SO was talking with the driver of the car, who was standing nearby watching, crying. The Friend went into a nearby florist and got water and towels, which we put under the ladies head (after she had rolled herself over, so I wasn't -as- worried about spinal trauma). All this I realize later, since at the time I was focuses solely on taking care of the woman. Hyper-focus and all that.
By the time the paramedics had shown up, she rolled herself onto her other side, and had used a free hand to remove her dentures (part of which were broken by the impact to the ground and lying on the ground nearby), which is apparently why she couldn't talk, because she responded to the paramedics when they got there. So, at least there is small chance of major spinal damage. She complained of pain in her left leg to the paramedics. I told them she was unconscious for a few seconds and then woke up.
The three of us hung around for a little while longer, talking with the near-hysterical driver (a 20-something female) and making sure the officer didn't need us for statements. My SO left her contact info with the driver. Then we went on our way to get our stuff and make it to the airport.
Putting it together, what happened was the driver stopped at a stop sign for the intersection (SO saw this), then continued through the intersection. The road ran East West, so the sun was in her eyes. If you've ever been in the french quarter, you know about the balconies that line the streets, and how narrow the streets are. The old lady was wearing all black and walked into the road right as the driver proceeded through the intersection. In the same position I'm not sure I would have seen her either.
Even now, it's odd which images stick in the mind. I can clearly see my first glance of the scene from across the street, with her in a crumpled heap on the ground. I can also remember my first sight of her face, with the small puddle of blood beginning to accumulate from where she was bleeding from her mouth. The urgent comments of the people around her trying to keep her calm and stable as she rolled on the pavement, trying to move. The asshole drive-by who yelled at the distraught driver "There's a f*cking stop sign there!" and then proceeded to drive off.
Obviously it was important enough for him to cast vitriol at a fellow human in a time of crisis, but not important enough to stop to help out.
The "irony" of this is that because we stopped to be good human beings, we ended up getting to the airport 25 minutes before flight time. Which was 5 minutes after the baggage check-in cut-off. So we instead of a 3 hour direct flight getting in at 8, we had a transfer in Charlotte that ended up taking 5 hours start to finish.
It's one of those "life experiences" that define pivitol moments in your life. What do you do? Do you shrug and walk on, letting other people take care of the problem? Or do you dive in and do what you can, what needs to be done?
I made the choice that was right for me, and I hope it's the same choice I'll make next time. I'm not sure I'd like the person I'd be if I could walk away.