I hope he is okay.

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I was on my way home and when I turned into my housing complex, I noticed a motorcycle, a man lying on the ground and few people standing outside their cars with car damage. I couldn't keep driving. i had to help. Immediately I thought he may need CPR. More people stopped and we all worked as a team to help this man. We also performed some first aid on his wounds. The life guard was only a few feet away so we had a first aid kit. 911 was called and right before they showed up, the man got up and started walking away. He didn't say anything. He than jumped into someone's car. I hope that man is okay. For him to walk away from a car/motorcycle accident, it makes you wonder. He was the only one injured from what I could see. A full report was given to the police by the person that called. Anyhow I was happy to have just freshly taken CPR. I was grateful that I could be a part of helping someone in need. I say this because as nurses we don't give ourselves enough credit. Have you done something to help someone outside of your job that made you happy to be a nurse?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Wow. That is something, Workitinurfava!

In a sense, you healed him and he was able to walk away!

It's understandable to be concerned, especially given the circumstances of your involvement. It is good that you feel grateful for helping someone in need.

I've had several instances over the years and I was able to help the majority. Off the top of my head, I can only remember two who didn't make it. But I felt good just being able to do something in all of the situations.

Thanks for sharing, Workitinurfava!

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41 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

Wow. That is something, Workitinurfava!

In a sense, you healed him and he was able to walk away!

It's understandable to be concerned, especially given the circumstances of your involvement. It is good that you feel grateful for helping someone in need.

I've had several instances over the years and I was able to help the majority. Off the top of my head, I can only remember two who didn't make it. But I felt good just being able to do something in all of the situations.

Thanks for sharing, Workitinurfava!

You are right. I told him not to move because I was concerned for an injury. I asked him if he felt pain and if something felt broken. I felt his legs and arms, looked him over. He would not stay down so the peopel with me helped him sit up. I drink some water. I told him that I am a nurse, next thing you know, he got up and walked away. I guess he felt that his assessment was complete and he was good. Why get an ER bill if you don't have to?, lol. Poor guy. Thanks for your comment.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

On one occasion, a neighbor drove to my house and told me of a fella who had rammed his three-wheeler into a concrete abutment. I grabbed my EMT kit, jumped in the neighbor's pickup and drove back to where we found the fella unconscious. I assessed him, took his VS, checked pupils, etc. and sat back and waited for the ambulance.

One of the fella's three-wheeling friends asked "Isn't there anything you can do for him?!" I told his concerned friend that as long as he had a heartbeat, was breathing, and was not bleeding the only thing I could do was monitor him and wait for the ambulance.

EMS personnel were great and thanked me for the report and my involvement.

When it was all over, my neighbor told me that when he came upon the scene, the concerned friend was beating on the fella's chest. My neighbor told him to stop it and he would go get somebody who could help.

If anyone saved that fella's life, it was my neighbor.

My neighbor prevented the fella's concerned friend from helpfully trying to beat him to death!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I'm curious, was it something along these lines?

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I was at a bar, looked over and saw a group of people standing around an unresponsive man. Did CPR for about 5 minutes until EMS arrived. The bar gave me and my friends a free tab for the night ?

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.
19 hours ago, Davey Do said:

I grabbed my EMT kit, jumped in the neighbor's pickup and drove back to where we found the fella unconscious. I assessed him, took his VS, checked pupils, etc. and sat back and waited for the ambulance.

I put together an EMT kit too. Valuable tool not only for me and my own family, but it's just good to have around. I think it's never a bad idea to be adequately prepared for the unexpected.

Hey, good job on assisting the accident victim until EMS arrived. ?

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.
On 7/19/2019 at 1:01 PM, Workitinurfava said:

I was grateful that I could be a part of helping someone in need. I say this because as nurses we don't give ourselves enough credit.

I worked in a ER and seen humanity exhibited at its worst possible hour. I never helped anyone for "credit" per se, but rather just because I care as a basic human being and wanted to see the best possible outcome occur for everyone I was involved with.

Nursing is interesting in the fact that there's no other job that we can do that will somehow provide us with this kind of gratification and personal satisfaction knowing we can make such a profound difference in other people's lives. ?

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When I was a brand new RN, I thought I could be of help at accidents out in the field...not anymore. Unless I can apply pressure to someone that is bleeding or they have literally coded (I have only encountered the former), I leave them alone and wait for emergency services. My goal is to get bystanders to understand....we need to wait for EMS.

There was an article on here awhile back where two nurses attempted to remove a man from a car...he was not in immediate danger. Nurses were later sued because he became paralyzed from being removed from the car. It was determined had he been appropriately removed (by those with the training and equipment) he may not have suffered permanent disability.

"Why get an ER bill if you don't need one?" Unless your accident is VERY superficial (fender bender), you need to be evaluated. I would never put my license at risk and tell someone, "Oh, you look fine" and tell them to go home and rest.

When I was in college, a girl got into a HORRIBLE accident with her boyfriend...he crashed his car going over 100 MPH trying to show off. When EMS showed up, they concentrated on her boyfriend...he had the visible injuries, facial lacerations, broken arm, broken, leg, etc....she actually WALKED out of the accident. EMS almost completely ignored her.

The last thing she remembered was sitting down in the grass and someone asking her if she was OK...other than a few minor facial lacerations, she didn't even look like she was hurt...she woke up several days later. She was cut from her sternum all the way down, cracked 10/12 ribs, she passed out because of internal bleeding, spleen ruptured, lacerated liver, etc.

She had the most serious injuries and most all were invisible. Her experience left a lasting impression. Adrenalin is a very powerful thing in our bodies..it can make us walk around like nothing is wrong..and not even feel pain when there may be major injuries.

If you wonder why someone would just "walk away" and practically escape after an accident...oh, there are reasons why...they probably don't have a license, have a warrant, impaired, or at fault. There is always a reason.

Just be careful.

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43 minutes ago, Jory said:

When I was a brand new RN, I thought I could be of help at accidents out in the field...not anymore. Unless I can apply pressure to someone that is bleeding or they have literally coded (I have only encountered the former), I leave them alone and wait for emergency services. My goal is to get bystanders to understand....we need to wait for EMS.

There was an article on here awhile back where two nurses attempted to remove a man from a car...he was not in immediate danger. Nurses were later sued because he became paralyzed from being removed from the car. It was determined had he been appropriately removed (by those with the training and equipment) he may not have suffered permanent disability.

"Why get an ER bill if you don't need one?" Unless your accident is VERY superficial (fender bender), you need to be evaluated. I would never put my license at risk and tell someone, "Oh, you look fine" and tell them to go home and rest.

When I was in college, a girl got into a HORRIBLE accident with her boyfriend...he crashed his car going over 100 MPH trying to show off. When EMS showed up, they concentrated on her boyfriend...he had the visible injuries, facial lacerations, broken arm, broken, leg, etc....she actually WALKED out of the accident. EMS almost completely ignored her.

The last thing she remembered was sitting down in the grass and someone asking her if she was OK...other than a few minor facial lacerations, she didn't even look like she was hurt...she woke up several days later. She was cut from her sternum all the way down, cracked 10/12 ribs, she passed out because of internal bleeding, spleen ruptured, lacerated liver, etc.

She had the most serious injuries and most all were invisible. Her experience left a lasting impression. Adrenalin is a very powerful thing in our bodies..it can make us walk around like nothing is wrong..and not even feel pain when there may be major injuries.

If you wonder why someone would just "walk away" and practically escape after an accident...oh, there are reasons why...they probably don't have a license, have a warrant, impaired, or at fault. There is always a reason.

Just be careful.

Good points. I didn't give him the all clear to leave. He chose to walk away. He was told to wait for EMS but chose not to.

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Specializes in Surgical Specialty Clinic - Ambulatory Care.

Wow! That was more excitement that one would care for, huh! Great job! Sorry the guy wasn’t interested in doing what was best for him. Hurts my soul too when people do that.

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A large part of the American public simply cannot afford an ambulance bill.....

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