I was the first responder to a car accident today

[NurseLoveJoy88]

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:. 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.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I would have been awfully tempted to ask what is the difference?

Great one!!! Very little difference, lol. Two of the men were about to fight, they were acting like kids.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I was in a 5 car crash (I was slammed from behind by a truck travelling at 85+mph, launched me into the car in front of me, bounced off that car and spun in circles and got hit by an oncoming car and then bounced off the jersey barrier, then finally stopped facing north in the south bound lanes). Anway..

I was blessed enough to have 2 off duty firefighter/paramedic, a ER doc who had just left the ER, and a nurse come to me and my family's aid. The nurse told me straight up "sweetheart your family is fine, they are all out of the car and they are all over there. You need to sit still and try not to move. there isn't much I can do for you but offer you a hand to hold until they get you out." She noticed my arms and legs were all burned from the air bags and ran and grabbed some water to wash off the chemicals that were still on my arm and legs..OMG once she did that the pain i was feeling was cut in half! If I could have kissed her i would have.

To the OP let me tell you, your actions were surely welcomed. Even if nothing can be done for the accident victim (no supplies, etc) a simple gesture of offering your hand to hold makes a terrible situation just a bit more bearable :)

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I was in a 5 car crash (I was slammed from behind by a truck travelling at 85+mph, launched me into the car in front of me, bounced off that car and spun in circles and got hit by an oncoming car and then bounced off the jersey barrier, then finally stopped facing north in the south bound lanes). Anway..

I was blessed enough to have 2 off duty firefighter/paramedic, a ER doc who had just left the ER, and a nurse come to me and my family's aid. The nurse told me straight up "sweetheart your family is fine, they are all out of the car and they are all over there. You need to sit still and try not to move. there isn't much I can do for you but offer you a hand to hold until they get you out." She noticed my arms and legs were all burned from the air bags and ran and grabbed some water to wash off the chemicals that were still on my arm and legs..OMG once she did that the pain i was feeling was cut in half! If I could have kissed her i would have.

To the OP let me tell you, your actions were surely welcomed. Even if nothing can be done for the accident victim (no supplies, etc) a simple gesture of offering your hand to hold makes a terrible situation just a bit more bearable :)

I'm glad you and your family survived the accident. :redbeathe

[eagle78]

You go girl!!!

:dancgrp:

[sweetnurse63, BSN, RN]

You did a great good samaritan deed, not all nurses would have stopped, thank God it wasn't more tragic than what it was.

[Isabelle49]

I don't understand how, with good conscience, a nurse would ignore an accident or someone in dire need. This would be unforgivable in my mind.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

I don't understand how, with good conscience, a nurse would ignore an accident or someone in dire need. This would be unforgivable in my mind.

Some fear getting sued, which is completely understandable. Some may blank out and not know what to do.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I don't understand how, with good conscience, a nurse would ignore an accident or someone in dire need. This would be unforgivable in my mind.

What about an unsafe scene or not having training to know what to do? It's not uncommon for well-meaning Good Samaritans to get injured themselves when trying to respond to something they don't have the equipment or training for. It sounds like the OP did a great job, and made sure the scene was safe before approaching. But if you don't know what to do in a given situation, you can be more of a hindrance than help so I would never judge someone for feeling unable to stop at the scene of an accident.

[nohika]

Some fear getting sued which is completely understandable. Some may blank out and not know what to do.[/quote']

I think mostly getting sued, tbh. I know I'd be afraid.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

"Who was that masked Nurse?!"

"WONDERNURSE!!!"

Awesome job!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I to always worried about how I would respond if I had to stop at an accident. As you found out, something kicks in and you just go do your thing.

Every accident I have been a first responder at, I never panicked until it was over.

Good for you!!

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I to always worried about how I would respond if I had to stop at an accident. As you found out, something kicks in and you just go do your thing.

Every accident I have been a first responder at, I never panicked until it was over.

Good for you!!

Yes I can relate. I honestly didn't panic until I got in my car and drove away. At the time I was calm and just did what I can do.