Vent - bloody selfish sods leaving an injured man in the road!

KateBob

I fell once in the middle of Nottingham, all the younger people just walked on past and it was down to a couple of nice old ladies to help me up and check me over (bit embarrassing as I was only 25 at the time)

Also once came across a man lying in the middle of the (it was 2 in the morning) and my brother stopped the car, got out, ordered me to lock the doors and then went to check him over (drunk of course but managed to get him off the road and on his way).

olias

I'm sorry, I really don't believe the 'worried about litigation' or any of the other things said. In my experience, I truly believe that these days a large part of society just don't give a !!!!!! about anyone but themselves. It's as simple as that.

I used to live in Australia (far North Queensland), which people joke is 30 years behind us. When I broke down once, every car that went past stopped to see if we were OK and whether they could help us. Can you imagine that happening in this country today?

Olias

fluffnutter

faerie_girl wrote: »

Theres something called bystander syndrome where everything think someone else will help so they carry on walking. I am sure I heard of something in New York years ago where someone was bleeding to death in a busy street, blood pooring over the pavement, and everyone walked past him.

This is often the case and is common where a lot of people are present. It's to do with people's sense of responsibility. Apparently if you're ever in trouble yourself (and can speak) you're supposed to directly ask someone to help. Seek out a friendly face and give specific instructions. If you don't everyone will just stand there staring at you!

fluffnutter

jonnyd281 wrote: »

There is anecdotal evidence from the US that medical professionals will walk past a person in distress because they are afraid of being sued if they intervene and the person dies, or, is disable by life saving treatment. With the likes of injury lawyers 4 u and the other ambulance chasers, I feel it is only going to get worse in this country.

My brother's a quack. He tells me he has a duty of care to everyone at all times, and rather than being in trouble if he helped, he'd be in trouble if he didn't. It's in the hippocratic oath actually.

Leory

I am doing a fair bit of road biking at the minute in preperation for a long charity ride in August.

I just hope that if I had a fall from the bike, that there would be someone around like you rather than others who drive past:A

dori2o

relic wrote: »

Bloody selfish injured man laying in the road!!

As this is coming from you it is actually hard to say for sure if you are being sarcastic or not.

scottishblondie

I've experienced similar twice in my life (I'm only 26!). I can't imagine not stopping to help someone, I think the only reason I wouldn't is if they were clearly getting competent help already. After all, if it was me I wouldn't want extra people hanging around just to stare at me!

I found a guy lying on the pavement of a busy road - totally off his face, bleeding, and with a broken arm - I don't know how long he'd been there or how many cars had gone past. I can only think that no-one had spotted him as they were driving. While waiting for the ambulance he came round, got up, and started wandering across the road. Still no-one stopped, and I had to attempt to get him off of the road by myself. In the end it turned out he'd been out all night drinking (and possibly taking drugs) and then had suffered an epileptic fit during which he'd cracked his skull and broken his arm. As he was being put into the ambulance he tried to kiss me to say thanks for the help. A lovely thought, but thankfully the ambulance guys restrained him! :P

The second time I was with my ex when we found an old lady lying on the pavement, unconscious. It was about 10pm, but the area is full of pubs and restaurants so there were a number of people around. We made her comfortable and called an ambulance, but nobody stopped to ask if they could help. We don't know how long she had been there before we found her, but she had bags of shopping with her from a supermarket just down the road that closes at 9, so it could have been a while.

jonnyd281

fluffnutter wrote: »

My brother's a quack. He tells me he has a duty of care to everyone at all times, and rather than being in trouble if he helped, he'd be in trouble if he didn't. It's in the hippocratic oath actually.

I quite agree, my wife is a psy nurse, personally if I found someone bleeding in the street I would stop (touch wood it's never happened) but like I say you here stories.

trukdiver

ahrimaniac wrote: »

Called an ambulance - another car drove past. Then he started fitting, which was bloody scary, then he was out, not moving. Checked and it felt like he had no pulse, which really was frightening, and I gave him (literally only ten seconds but felt like an age) mouth to mouth and heart massage, and he came back round pretty instantly.

The advice on what to do keep changing but the last time I did a refresher, we were told to not even look for a pulse because lots of people can't find it. The main thing is to keep the circulation going until the ambulance arrives.

Here's some info from St John's Ambulance
http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/unconscious-and-not-breathing.aspx

It may be worth printing this and putting it in your pocket:
http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/pdf/Chest_compressions_and_AED_%20info_guide.pdf

jamespir

poor fella