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My Bonehead First-Aid Mistake

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I was in such a hurry last Tuesday morning that instead of running back inside the house to get my “just-in-case” First-Aid bag, I decided to let it be & “get it later”…have you ever done that?

In an instant, I rationalized that leaving the bag would save me 30 seconds in dropping my son off at school on time. Getting him there wasn't the problem…I drove by the problem on the way back.

I thought it was odd that traffic so was congested on a street that normally had a good flow through it. Once I began to see the bottleneck of the lanes all converging into one & people standing by in the nearby gas station, I knew that I should probably try to get over & help out.

Once I got into the gas station parking lot, I saw that the victim was just emerging from the vehicle with the help of some by-standers but she was bleeding pretty heavily from an avulsion on her right hand…& I didn't have my gloves with me! Luckily, an off-duty LEO (law enforcement officer) named Craig had a go-bag in the trunk of his car & gloves. We helped her and gathered as much info as possible & gave report to the medics once they arrived.

It never ceases to amaze me at how so many people are willing to stand around to watch & record videos on their phones, yet don't take the initiative to help out. More importantly, it never ceases to amaze me that the one-time I decide to leave my First-Aid bag in the house, I would need it! Another reminder of what my good friend Adam Francis from Equip2Endure always says, “If you're not always prepared, then you're never prepared!” Lesson learned.

Here's a picture of the car after the Paramedics & Law Enforcement showed up:

Toppled_Car

-DS

24 Responses to My Bonehead First-Aid Mistake

  1. Barbara Daca March 25, 2013 at 8:19 am #

    OMy! She walked away from that with only a bloody hand? I think its time for EXTRA first aid kits! One for every vehicle, one for home, one for work and a mini in your sons outside backpack pocket (you are never too young to learn 🙂 my daughter passed her 1st first aid and cpr test at 6, she had to take it orally but she has been prepeared ever since. Since then (she is 12) she has saved two kids from drowning and one from choking and of course given out countless bandaids! 😉

    • David March 25, 2013 at 2:06 pm #

      Thanks for the comment, Barbara. She did sustain more injuries but her ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) & shock were what we immediately treated & we’re glad she was Alert & Oriented. Congratulations to you for raising such a proficient daughter! We wish you & your family continued health, joy, & safety!

      -David

      • Mike March 25, 2013 at 3:49 pm #

        What size Berkey did you sell her?

        • David March 26, 2013 at 8:43 pm #

          LOL. Thanks for the comment, Mike. I didn’t sell her any Berkey…but we did give her some water!

          -David

  2. Lou King March 25, 2013 at 8:49 am #

    Must be you weren’t a Boy Scout. Their motto is “ALWAYS be prepared.” Glad you were about to assist though. (Former EMT) Lou

    • David March 25, 2013 at 2:03 pm #

      Thanks for your comment, Lou. I was a Boy Scout & have been a Scout leader for many years. As a father, husband, & small-business owner, I’m learning new things everyday. Although I prefer to have my equipment with me, the fact that I can improvise speaks to what I call the “heirarchy of self-reliance”, with improvisation being the highest aspect of practical knowledge.

      -David

  3. carol fowler March 25, 2013 at 10:00 am #

    will be ordering before end of month, friends recommend you, blessings, Roy and Carol Fowler

    • David March 25, 2013 at 2:00 pm #

      We’re happy to help you as best we can & appreciate your comment, Roy & Carol!

      -David

  4. catricala March 25, 2013 at 10:22 am #

    David,
    I can just see you helping the poor lady… I feel for her and all who suffer…
    Thanks for doing what is noble.
    nickc

    • David March 25, 2013 at 1:59 pm #

      Thank you for your comment, Nickc.

      -David

  5. Valerie Luevano March 25, 2013 at 10:32 am #

    I’m amazed that this woman survived the destruction of her car. Your photo was a sober reminder that this could happen to any of us and that every driver has the responsibility to be equipped for any emergency, including the ability to offer First Aid. How tragic it would be to be on the scene of an accident and not be able to render help, whether to the occupants of another vehicle or to someone in one’s own.

    Thank you for sharing.

    • David March 25, 2013 at 1:59 pm #

      Thanks for the comment, Valerie.

      -David

  6. Paul March 25, 2013 at 8:08 pm #

    Jack at the Survival Podcast has a saying two is one one is none but three is me always nice to have backup but your knowledge was and is the most important thing you have glade you were there to help
    Paul FF/EMT retired Maryland

    • David March 25, 2013 at 8:23 pm #

      Thanks for the comment, Paul. Also, thanks for your service as a FF/EMT. I agree 100%. Jack’s a great guy & we’re happy to support him.

      -David

  7. Ann April 4, 2013 at 8:19 am #

    After handling a young man who had his throat slashed – with me having nothing but a roll of paper towels, I now keep a small kit in my van’s door. It is in a red case that I got from Target for free for buying a few first aid supplies. In it I keep a few pair of gloves and large sponges. Forget the little ones – you never need the little ones and little ones are in my standard first aid kit in the back of the van but I wanted those things that I’d have to grab FAST in an emergency. So it’s just gloves and large sponges.

    When I was dealing with that young man, we were at a grocery store at midnight and I asked my daughter (who was a cashier) to grab large gauze from the first aid aisle but they had none, just 2x2s. His wound was gaping more than 2″ – no way would even a stack of them would have helped so I had her grab sanitary napkins. But that definitely taught me a lesson and so that is how my kit came to be. 🙂

  8. Annie~SavorThisMoment April 4, 2013 at 9:44 am #

    Wow! What an accident! I’m amazed at people who just stand and do nothing, too. Guess I’m more of a doer! This reminded me that I need to restock my car bag…more gloves and bandages, and I took out the lighter when I was at my mother-in-law’s over Easter and needed a lighter for the BBQ. We couldn’t find matches anywhere!

  9. Bill April 5, 2013 at 10:18 am #

    YOu neverr know who’s life you might save, might be your own or one of your children or someone elses child

    • David April 9, 2013 at 6:05 am #

      Thank you for your comment, Bill. Great point!

      -David

  10. Shirley Boberg April 5, 2013 at 10:19 am #

    Thank you for being aware and responding. I need to double check my emergency kit that I keep in my car.

    • David April 9, 2013 at 6:05 am #

      Thanks for your comment, Shirley!

      -David

  11. Cal April 5, 2013 at 10:23 am #

    For a non-medically trained person, what should be included in a first aid kit? I’ve seen really complex bags, but I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea of how to help. I once stopped to help someone and was totally clueless, despite my good intentions.

    • David April 9, 2013 at 6:10 am #

      Excellent question, Cal. Thanks for asking. I personally recommend every citizen to take a local EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) or First-Responder Course. Community colleges or trade-schools usually offer these courses & they’re fairly inexpensive. You don’t necessarily have to go through all of the testing to become fully certified, but it is education that will help everyone understand the body & how it reacts to trauma. Hope that helps!

      Regarding the first-aid supplies, please visit our friends Dr. Bones & Nurse Amy at: http://DoomandBloom.net. They offer excellent advice on medical preparedness. We also carry some of their products under our “Prepper & Survival Tools” product category.

      -David

      -David

  12. Donna April 5, 2013 at 12:50 pm #

    As a health care proffessional I can appreciate your trying circumstances.. what I can suggest is taking a pair of gloves, folding them neatly and putting them into those canisters film came in and popping them into your glove box…

    • David April 9, 2013 at 6:11 am #

      Excellent tip, Donna! Thanks for your comment.

      -David

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