Sudden Happenings

 

Sometimes things happen so fast that we are just not prepared for them.

Today, while returning from work, I saw a min-van overturned in a ditch under a bridge.   I immediately hit my brakes, turned around, parked and went down into the gully.   The minivan was completely upside down, steam coming off the underside of the engine.   I tried calling 911 but my cell had no signal.  I went on down.

The driver was there, but it took a little while for me to be able to tell that he was even alive.   I got close enough that I could hear him breathing, but it sounded like he had punctured a lung, or like breathing though water; that gurgling sound.   Blood was coming from his mouth and covered part of his head.

I tried to talk to him, to get him to respond, but he did not.   At this time, I hailed the next car that came down this country road and he called 911 on his cell phone.   But even he could not keep the signal and he had to call back.   Finally a dump truck came by and he used his two-way to call EMS.

I found myself telling this man that he was going to be fine.   That help was on its way.   All the stupid things that I always see on TV, but what else could I say to him.   I was not even sure the was conscious.

When the other man got out of his truck and knelt down by the man I went around the overturned minivan and looked to see if there was a passenger.   The entire passenger portion of the cab was completely crushed.   I thought the worse at that point.

Finally, a medic happened to be driving by and she stayed with the driver.   We had to wait for EMS and the police to show up.

This was the first time I had been around this kind of thing.   I felt helpless while waiting for help to arrive.   If this had happened in the city I think we would have had someone there within 5 minutes.   Out in the country it was more like 15 minutes.    The longest 15 minutes of my life.   I assume, even longer for the driver.

This happening reminded me that we really have no control over things sometime.   Sometime we feel helpless and do not know what we can do.    We are told that under certain conditions we are to do nothing.   We wait for the professionals to arrive.   We wait for someone who is trained to take over.

Sometimes we can do more harm by trying to do good when we do not have the skills or the training to provide the help that is really needed.

This goes for more than just accidents and car crashes.   Sometimes, we would like to think that we can counsel someone about a crisis they are currently experiencing.   It is the wise person who knows when to request that the other person get some professional help.   Otherwise, we may do more harm.

We cannot solve some problems.   We must ask for help.

I must ask for help.