My first Emergency Situation using my EDC Light

[lrp]

Great job!! We need more people like you!!

 

[Mdinana]

As a paramedic, I would like to thank you and the other Good Samaritans who have so often stabilized a patient, provided verbal support, and sometimes offered vital patient history info. Disregard some of the acerbic remarks, you did well. Key to any scene management is scene safety especially your own personal safety.

Sounds like you agree with me, just putting it more politely.

To some of the other posters, no, he doesn't need to stay in the car. But in the OP's post, he "immediately" got out and ran over. OK, fine. Just take that extra 2 seconds to look behind you before you jump into traffic. Make sure your car blocks the accident scene from other cars. Make sure there's no other immediate hazards (car on fire, leaking fuel as you're tossing flares out, etc). And, personally, i would have left all my lights on, as well as my hazards.

Did he do well? Sure. Is there room for improvement? Always.

 

[MichaelW]

Good work on the assist.
Did you happen to notice if it was a rear drive jeep, four wheel drive (NV242), or off-road drive model. (NV231)

Because it sounds like this person doesn't didn't know what they are driving/doing.


Tread depth and tire pressure are important for the rain.

 

[Linger]

I wish I knew your name to say 'Well done' to you properly.
Thank-you for stopping to help the other person, that is an excellent story to read about.
-Linger

 

[Stress_Test]

I've driven plenty of those Jeep Liberties on test drives (old tech job) and they're definitely not the most stable or controllable vehicles. They're very "twitchy" due to the short wheelbase. I can see that it'd be easy to lose control of one of them at highway speed if the driver isn't being careful (the victim may have distracted driving with one hand maybe... live and learn I hope).

 

[Monocrom]

There's always that handful of guys driving in inclement weather who clearly believe "Oh my SUV has four wheel drive, I don't have to slow down..", and there's always a few of those guys who find out the hard way that that's not how it works. Just a reminder to everyone, regardless of what you drive, slick conditions mean slick conditions for everybody..

All too true. I still remember attending the funeral for the son of a family friend, a few years back. He was speeding in the rain. Treating his Dodge Durango as if it were a nimble little sports car. He lost control and crashed into an older gentleman in a van. The van driver ended up in the hospital with some serious injuries as I recall. Despite what his father told reporters, the young man did indeed have a reputation for treating his SUV as if it were a sports car.

I actually do drive a sports sedan. One huge reason why I got it was because of its incredible handling. But even I know to slow down when it rains. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen some moron treating his SUV like a freaking sports car, and flying past me at around 80 or 90mph during a horrendous downpour.

Much respect to the OP for helping to save the life of someone who, hopefully, now knows better than to pretend that a public road is a race track.

 

[FlashInThePan]

Excellent work, Supa. Sounds like the flashlight was very helpful! It's always exciting to be able to help someone in need...and with emergency responder budgets what they are, I'm sure they appreciate having a good flashaholic on scene! It's amazing just how much light can come out of that little Nitecore, isn't it?!

At the risk of adding fuel to the fire, I do want to echo what mdinana and pec50 said: please, please ensure that safety is always your first priority. Though it could have been stated more tactfully, the underlying point is definitely worth remembering: always focus on your own safety first, then help others. Don't let the rush to help turn you into a victim yourself; take a moment to survey the scene and make sure that you, your victim, and your car are safe. I'd really hate to see something that started as a good deed....turn into a second tragedy. (I'm a former EMT myself, and know how dangerous the scenes can get.) This was a great act and a great story, and I want you to stay safe enough to return to post more stories like this in the future. :twothumbs

For what it's worth, I'm not immune to this either. When I come across an accident these days, my first inclination is to illuminate it; my wife helps remind me to be safe.

- FITP

 

[Juggernaut]

Just a reminder to everyone, regardless of what you drive, slick conditions mean slick conditions for everybody..

….but I drive a hovercraft?

Seriously though, good job, CPFers are like mini super heroes:twothumbs.

 

[jimmy1970]

You did a great job! You obviously are a sensible person who saw an opportunity to help your fellow man.

Please ignore the 'advice' you have received from some other posters as to what you should have done!!

You did well.

James....

 

[supasizefries]

First thanks to everyone for the kind words. Simply put, all I did was what anyone would do to help another....the same that I'd hope for someone to do for me if I were in that situation.

F (big, fat, honking F) on keeping your head on your shoulders! As an EMT for 13 years, I have to say, first thing on ANY call is scene safety. It's Dark. It's Raining. One car already spun out. It's CRITICAL that you don't get nailed by car number 2 being an idiot and slamming into you (especially now that you left your nice metal cocoon to stand in the middle of the freeway). It ain't the "Curve of Death" for nothing.

Don't think your little car is going to stop any other out-of-control car either. There's a reason the cops blocked off a few dozen car lengths, that ambulances and firetrucks isolate the scene from traffic (notice all the emergency vehicles parked in a row, one lane over?)

Don't be roadkill.

Sounds like you agree with me, just putting it more politely. Make sure there's no other immediate hazards (car on fire, leaking fuel as you're tossing flares out, etc). And, personally, i would have left all my lights on, as well as my hazards.

Did he do well? Sure. Is there room for improvement? Always.

I think you were a little quick to get on my case, but in all fairness, I guess when I tried to keep the story short I left out some things. I pulled over into the shoulder and yes, common sense, I did look behind me before I got out of my car. It was at night and I did keep my lights on with addition to my hazards being on. I never said I turned my headlights off. When I approached the car, I checked on the driver and did a quick scan to make sure there was no fuel pouring onto the ground. In addition, I didn't smell any. And that pic of all the emergency vehicles being one lane over, at the time I took that pic there was quite a few cop cars and other emergency vehicles BEHIND me that had me boxed in. Police were already diverting traffic hundreds of yards before the accident scene. All those firetrucks and what not had parked one lane over so that they could get a tow truck in to pull the jeep back onto its wheels. So with that all being said, I hope you'll change my grade of an F to something better.

Very good job! Congrats on keeping him company, it really helps you keep calm when someone's talking to you.

However, I have been in two traffic accidents myself, and I can tell you one thing: I would have hit you had I seen you taking pictures of me (and had I not been hurt that bad). I know you meant no harm by doing it, but at that moment, if you are taking pictures, even if you are helping, it seems like you're just stainding there for the entertainment of it. A lot of people these days film or take pictures of traffic accidents and most emergency personnel and victims (is that the right word for somebody who is in a traffic accident?) REALLY hate it. It just seems like you're only standing there to get some kind of sick entertainment out of it while the victim is suffering and the emergency personnel are doing what they can to help the victim.

Now, I know, helping was the first thing on your mind, and I am absolutely sure that you did anything that could have been done at that moment before you started taking pictures. Once again, congratulations. However, taking the picture of the driver in the car is crossing the line IMO. The distant picture of the scene is all you needed to document your story.

You're entitled to your opinion and thanks for sharing. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

Good work on the assist.
Did you happen to notice if it was a rear drive jeep, four wheel drive (NV242), or off-road drive model. (NV231)
Because it sounds like this person doesn't didn't know what they are driving/doing. Tread depth and tire pressure are important for the rain.

Sorry, didn't catch what model jeep it was. It almost seemed like he locked up the wheels entering the turn. Slamming on the brakes and locking up the wheels totally negated his AWD if he had it.

 

[sims2k]

All I am gonna say is Good Job...thanks for helping..and great story about using your EDC to light up the scene...

 

[Search]

I commend your actions.


When I was 18 I witnessed a horrible crash and stopped to help the older lady out of her smoking car. With the help of one other motorist we helped two middle aged men in shock get out of their car. It was at this time the older ladies car caught, which would have killed the older lady with her broken arm and shock. For 5 - 10 minutes we directed traffic until the cops arrived to relieve us.

Me and one guy stopped while 100+ people drove by.

You can say you were only doing what others would, but those others are a select few.

Most rubberneck, some call for help, only few help directly.

I would shake your hand

 

[hyperloop]

great job you did, when i read your first post, i made an number of assumptions that you confirmed correct later that you parked on the shoulder with lights on and checked for traffic, haha.

anyone who already EDCs a light shows that they have the mindset of being prepared and it would be hard to imagine someone with that mindset stoppin his car in the middle of the road and leaping to the rescue without being prepared i.e. by parking safely and checkin for traffic.

How long were you using your D10 for? Was it on 14500 or NiMH or primary and what setting was it used at? That information would be great to know esp if in a situation like yours, i wouldnt want my light to dim out or fail, though i do carry spare cells with me.

 

[Icebreak]

Kudos on the first response. It's difficult to tell that kind of report without leaving out a detail or two. I would think any critique shared is born from genuine concern. Still, it's awfully hard to know exactly what transpired in a situation unless you were actually there. I'm glad there are people that will stop and help. I don't think it's the majority of people that are capable of doing so. I've seen groups go into frozen mode until someone steps up and show that calm yet energetic help can be given.

Good job, supasize and thanks for the inspiring report.

 

[supasizefries]

Did the emergency personels ask you about the light?

No, none of the personnel asked about my light. I think they were too concerned with the accident.

BTW, you forgot to tell us what the cops issue torches where (that they holstered..), Maglightes I assume?

I didn't get a good look but they did look like C Mags but I'm not sure. They seemed to be incans because they had quite a warm tint. Good call on the highly visible vest.

How long were you using your D10 for? Was it on 14500 or NiMH or primary and what setting was it used at? That information would be great to know esp if in a situation like yours, i wouldnt want my light to dim out or fail, though i do carry spare cells with me.

Thinking back on it, it's hard to know for sure how long I used my D10. I would venture to say it was approx. 30 mins or so. It was used on "high" using an Eneloop. Towards the end, I did notice it dimmed a bit. The Eneloop wasn't fully charged going into this situation. I didn't have a spare AA on me, but I did have my 2nd EDC light...a Lummi Raw NS on my key chain.

 

[Kestrel]

CPFers are like mini super heroes:twothumbs.

:thumbsup:

 

[Mdinana]

I think you were a little quick to get on my case, but in all fairness, I guess when I tried to keep the story short I left out some things. I pulled over into the shoulder and yes, common sense, I did look behind me before I got out of my car. It was at night and I did keep my lights on with addition to my hazards being on. I never said I turned my headlights off. When I approached the car, I checked on the driver and did a quick scan to make sure there was no fuel pouring onto the ground. In addition, I didn't smell any. And that pic of all the emergency vehicles being one lane over, at the time I took that pic there was quite a few cop cars and other emergency vehicles BEHIND me that had me boxed in. Police were already diverting traffic hundreds of yards before the accident scene. All those firetrucks and what not had parked one lane over so that they could get a tow truck in to pull the jeep back onto its wheels. So with that all being said, I hope you'll change my grade of an F to something better.
.

OK, fair enough, you didn't say your lights were turned off. I suppose you got me there. And I suppose checking the environment was about as good as could be expected for the middle of a freeway.

I'll bump it to a B. If only because you didn't mention a reflective vest. In all fairness, I don't have one either - though my old EMS jacket has a few reflective strips amongst the "I'm invisible!" navy-blue.

As for you others, no one has ever accused me of being tactful. :nana: I hope my bluntness has driven home a few points to everyone who read it. Sure, stop and help. It's usually a good thing. Just don't get killed doing it!

 

[besafe2]

As others have said, great job. Thanks for all you did.

 

[FlashInThePan]

SupaSize, I hope you didn't read my comment as implying that you did anything wrong. As others have already said, the original post didn't really contain enough info to conclude much of anything about safety - i.e. whether you were or weren't safe. By default, I'd probably just assume that you were responding safely.

As Icebreak noted, my comments really were borne from a genuine concern for CPFers' safety. My only goal was to remind people that even though mdinina's comments may have been worded a little harshly, they still raised an important point. (In other words, "don't just ignore the message because of the messenger.") Seperate from whether you acted safely or not, it's important for all of us to remember to be careful when responding. So while I didn't want his point to be overlooked, I certainly didn't intend to use you as an example. If it came off that way, or if I offended you, I sincerely apologize. I'm thrilled that you were able - and more important willing - to help a person in need...and I'm guessing that the accident victim was too!

Again, I wasn't trying to criticize your actions; if it came off that way, I apologize. Hopefully this post will clear up any confusion...

- FITP

 

[supasizefries]

FITP: No offense taken whatsoever! I was responding to Mdinana's first post. I read your post and appreciated what you had to say. Again, I never took offense to what you had to say.

Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone for their input. :thanks: