I was the first responder to a car accident today

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Specializes in LTC.

i was driving in my car when i witnessed a 3 car accident. a truck ran a light and two other cars were hit. the truck flipped over to its side. my immediate reaction was:eek::eek::eek::eek:. i pulled over, got my cpr mask ( which was conveniently in my purse:rolleyes:) and ran over to the scene and started to assess all persons involved. i went to each car to make sure everyone was alert, breathing, and etc. thankfully no one was seriously injured. one guy involved was c/o chest pain and neck pain. another guy was limping and c/o pain to his ble, i sent someone to get ice and i applied it to his legs. i stayed until ems came and gave them report. i also encouraged everyone involved to go to the hospital. one bystander asked what kind of nursing i do. i said currently peds. he said " wow, how were you able to handle all those grown men"? i said once a nurse always a nurse no matter what your specialty is.

i always used to ask myself would i ever stop to aide in an accident. i guess i answered my question today. if it were my loved one i would want anyone with any knowledge of basic first aid and cpr to assist.

it felt really good to offer my assistance today. :nurse:

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Specializes in Critical care (coronary care).

hi dear,

I appreciate your work. in the future it's better that you do "Size-up" first of all.

as EMS educator, I advice you about this words:

first safety then helping.

so, I very very very appreciate your sacrificy

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Specializes in Emergency.

Good job. Ever think about joining your local rescue squad (if you have volunteer squads that is)?

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Specializes in LTC.
hi dear,

I appreciate your work. in the future it's better that you do "Size-up" first of all.

as EMS educator, I advice you about this words:

first safety then helping.

so, I very very very appreciate your sacrificy

Thanks. I did make sure the scene was safe first. My safety comes first always.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

it felt really good to offer my assistance today. :nurse:

good for you. general consensus on allnurses seems to be that if you are not at work and see anyone in need - run the other way as fast as humanly possible.

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Specializes in LTC.
Good for you. General consensus on allnurses seems to be that if you are not at work and see anyone in need - RUN the other way as fast as humanly possible.

I notice that too, so I prepared myself for all types of responses.

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I have had to stop for several car accidents. One was after and SUV flipped over and was blocking a lane completely. Keep in mind that this was at 6:30 in the morning, on a major highway leading to 6 local hospitals. I sincerely doubt (since I did not witness the accident) that I was the only nurse to pass through. It was such a horrific accident that the man's wallet was found about 500 ft away. It had been in his pocket. I commend you for stopping and doing what is right. Not too many nurses do it nowadays.

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Specializes in LTC.
I have had to stop for several car accidents. One was after and SUV flipped over and was blocking a lane completely. Keep in mind that this was at 6:30 in the morning, on a major highway leading to 6 local hospitals. I sincerely doubt (since I did not witness the accident) that I was the only nurse to pass through. It was such a horrific accident that the man's wallet was found about 500 ft away. It had been in his pocket. I commend you for stopping and doing what is right. Not too many nurses do it nowadays.

Thanks. I definitely don't have any negative feelings toward nurses that don't stop. Some people just rather not get involved and leave work at work. I totally respect that. To each its own.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Oh honey-thank goodness everyone was relatively ok and that you didn't walk into a shocking mess.

Seems like this little lift was just what you needed in your life right now;)

Proud of you!

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one bystander asked what kind of nursing i do. i said currently peds. he said " wow, how were you able to handle all those grown men"?

i would have been awfully tempted to ask what is the difference?:D

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You are my role model now. I'm the kind of person who is inclined to respond, but I worry if I will be crippled by my mind going blah at crunch time. I have just enough knowledge to assess whether people in a car accident are stable or unstable. One of my goals after graduation is to take an EMT-B course at the local community college. Just that basic course can assist greatly in situations outside the hospital.

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Specializes in LTC.
You are my role model now. I'm the kind of person who is inclined to respond but I worry if I will be crippled by my mind going blah at crunch time. I have just enough knowledge to assess whether people in a car accident are stable or unstable. One of my goals after graduation is to take an EMT-B course at the local community college. Just that basic course can assist greatly in situations outside the hospital.[/quote']

That is a great idea to take an EMT-B course ! The main thing to realize is not to do anything that would cause further harm. Never move a person and things like that. I also made sure 911 was called. I was going to call but then some other people had their cellphones out too. Never a dull moment...

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