Help me put this in perspective, please (disturbing)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

Give yourself a lot of credit. You wouldn’t believe how many people are not willing to get involved.

I was in a restaurant with a child who began to choke. The child grasped at her throat and got up from the table, was obviously struggling to breathe and appeared about to lose consciousness. I got up to help the child. I applied the Heimlich, which didn’t help (turned out she had a long string of cheese lodged in her throat). I coudn’t go back to the table to get my cell phone because I needed to catch the child if she fell. Meanwhile a group of at least 10 restaurant employees had gathered round to watch the show. I yelled at them to call 911, but not one of them would do it. I repeatedly screamed at them to call 911 and they would not do it. I looked directly at the cashier and demanded that she call 911. She didn’t do it.
The child eventually coughed up the cheese and was okay, if a bit shaken. I was furious and made it known; the restaurant employees acted like I was some kind of crazy bitch.

Afterward I wrote a letter to the parent company. Actually I wrote quite a few letters because the company never acknowledged the situation, never apologized, never promised to better educate their employees.

22

A few weeks ago I was at the credit union, in the middle of a row of tellers, and an older man who’d been ahead of me was at the end. I was just finishing up my business when there was this awful “thunk” sound from my right…I turned, and it was the older man, on the ground, and it looked like he was having some sort of a seizure.

Within about ten seconds (seriously) the security guy was talking to 911. Somebody else had gotten on the floor and was protecting his head (very hard tile floor, right next to a wall) – they weren’t touching him, really, just standing guard – and I quickly realized that I could do nothing so I got myself out of there ASAP. I would have called for help if I hadn’t heard the security guy talking to them.

I hope he was all right. It was very scary to see, and I was unsettled for several hours afterwards.

I’m glad to hear the guy in your incident was okay.

23

I can remember two specific incidents on my own with seizures.

The first made me really proud of my mother. I was probably ten or so, and the whole family was out to dinner. Suddenly a man falls off his chair, violently shaking. Both my mother (an RN) and a man at another table who was a doctor hopped up and took charge together. They cleared away that table and its chairs very quickly, and while the doctor kept watch on the man, my mom ran out to our car, where she had a number of medical supplies (for doing home-visits for the elderly). Don’t remember if any of them came in handy, but the fact that she was up and helping that quickly left quite an imprint on me.

The second was about two years ago in a classroom, when a student with mild mental retardation went into seizure. Most people were afraid, but luckily I remembered what my mom had done years before, and I and another student cleared away all the chairs from him, and we gave him a slight push away from the wall. The TA was calling 911 in the meanwhile. Class ended early, and unfortunately the guy who had had the seizure had to drop out of all his classes that semester because of whatever medical problem triggered the seizure.

I guess I was lucky that my first experience was something where I saw people calm and in control of the situation, and that I myself was too young to do anything except watch.

Quickly acting people, whether calm or hysterical, are truly to be applauded. You certainly have no reason to regret anything you did in the situation, as the other posters have said. You did wonderfully. It is a scary thing. And maybe next time, if unfortunately you have a next time in your life, you can know what to do with a little more calmness. Though, the hysterics might have been a good thing. Lets the dispatcher know GET THERE NOW.

Side note: I have to smirk when truly nice, inspirational words are spoken by a user named Pervert. :wink:

24

Thank you all so much for your replies. It really helps – I am a bit haunted by the incident and hearing other stories and affirmation that I did OK matters. I am by no means a “hero” – I swear, it wasn’t the type of crowded room type thing and I stepped up – there was no one out there when it happened (except the woman he was with) and there was no way I (or anyone) could have not gotten involved. It was just scary. And you do keep replaying it in your mind as Rocking chair said. Thanks again, really.

25

I know my last post was a little gushy, and at the risk of getting even more gushy, I have to object. You were indeed a hero. You may not have been the only hero out of a room full of “cowards”, but this is the telling line: “and there was no way I (or anyone) could have not gotten involved”. Unfortunately, the fact is that there are many ways in which other might not have gotten involved. Go back and read "lainaf’s post again. It is entirely possible that someone else might have acted totally irresponsibly.

But even if this were not the case. That is even if most people would have acted as you did (I’m willing to believe this, most people are willing to help in situations where the problem is this obvious), it does not diminish your actions below those of a hero. You did what you could and it was enough. Moreover, you did this despite the trauma you were suffering from. That is the mark of a hero.

I know it is hard to apply that label to yourself. Somehow it seems rude to accept such accolades. But rest assured that the label fits. What you did was heroic. And again, thanks for doing what you did. Seriously, when the aliens are trying to decide whether or not humans should be allowed to survive, your action (and those of others like it) will be among the things on the list in our favor.

26

Sat on Cookie, You did the right thing. If you don’t have medical training, the best thing to do to help someone is call and get an ambulance. Seizures are very scary to watch and look nothing like portrayed in TV and movies. You made a phonecall to help a stranger, not everyone will do that. If you are still feeling sick about it, go see your doctor, pastor or a couselor to talk about it. ANd also consider taking a CPR or First aid class so if this ever happens again, you won’t feel so helpless. But first, give youself a pat on the back.

27

Well done!

28

Sat on a Cookie, Pervert is right. (I just had to say that.)

A hero is not someone who performs an act others are too frightened to attempt; a hero is someone who performs an important act when they seem too frightened act. Granted, you weren’t in danger, but plant guy was, and you came through when scared. That makes you a hero.

(Don’t let me get started on sports “heros”.)

29

Sat on Cookie the three words that are most important in giving first aid are “check, call, care.” The woman with plant guy did check. You did call and the guy who knew CPR/First Aid did the care part until the paramedics arrived.

Getting help there asap is the critical element. You did that. Good for you! You are a hero because you did what you knew you could do to get that help.

So this is for you:

SAT ON COOKIE! WOOHOO!!! YAY SAT ON COOKIE! WAY TO GO!!! SAT ON COOKIE! WOOHOO!!!

30

I’m really touched by the replies, here. I’m sorry I haven’t had time to respond more until now.

Perv (can I call you Perv?), thank you, but honestly and truly, if I did anything heroic, than I have to thank my alter-me for that, or my arm, which reached down to grab my cell phone. I just reacted as, I SWEAR, anyone would have in that situation. simple as that.

Salem, Good lord. Just reading your post made me frightened for what you went through. I can imagine being the exact same way where your daughter was concerned.

Jackelope, wow. I can’t imagine what that must have been like. And right, there’s this weird brain processing that happens that goes from…huh…this looks off to me and then jumps to panic and are you OK? It sounds like your instincts were right on.

Lainif – Again, wow. It just stuns me that you would direct people to call 911 and they wouldn’t do it. I dunno what that’s about. Perhaps just total and complete lack of comprehension that a tragedy can occur in front of their eyes? That’s just nuts. For what it’s worth, you rock.

It’s Friday and I feel better about the whole thing. Funny, odd or what have you, through a series of misadventures, my dog got into her (BIG) bag of dog food on Monday night and ate and ate…the only reason why I figured this out was because she wasn’t eating on Tuesday morning and the bag looked somewhat ransacked (not empty). She’s not normally out of my sight for too long so I knew it was probably a rather brief (relatively speaking) chow session. Still, I was nervous w/events of the day before on my mind (things can change so quickly) so doggie had a visit to the vet to be thoroughly x-rayed and checked. That’s really the only fallout. Dog paranoia.

As many of you have posted, it’s just surreal. I don’t know anyone else in my complex, yet I have since remembered looking directly at this one guy and making him confirm our address with me. I wouldn’t recognize him today if I fell over him. I think that’s part of what I’m saying – after an incident like that, you feel so self-conscious – God, did the poor man hear me say he was dying, did the guy who I looked at for address confirmation think I was crazed?

Ya’ll have helped me realize that that stuff if par for the course and just happens. Thanks. Big, huge hug for helping with perspective. Dopers never let me down.

31

Sat on Cookie - You did exactly the right thing. I salute you.

32

I can hardly believe you doubt anything about how you acted. Frankly, there is not a lot to be done in that situation except call for help and keep the person away from anything that can injure them. If it makes you feel better, I can give you a personal story. I am a doctor, and I have a limited amount of emergency supplies in the office. A few weeks ago, the daughter of one of my patients who had brought her mother to me suddenly started seizing. I had no anti-seizure medications and it would have been difficult to give anything in that situation. What did we do? I had my staff call 911, and kept the patient safe while she seized. (I also commandeered her mother’s oxygen tank for her-but that probably didn’t help). Was I scared? Absolutely. I was terrified that she wouldn’t stop seizing and would die. So, looking at your story, I can reassure you that you did just as well as a “trained professional” could in that situation. You kept it together enough to do the important thing-you called 911. That is the absolute first thing to do and the most helpful, and trust me, NOBODY would give a second thought to you sounding panicked; the operators expect it.

33

Not so much about seizures, more directed at the OP.

Two years ago, I had a severe asthma attack. I had not had any sort of asthma complications in over six years, and I was completely unprepared for it. When we got to the emergency room, the words, “she could die” were spoken. Scary as anything, but I didn’t. Personally, I’m more interested in my not dying, than dwelling on something that was said. You reacted well, and they survived. Focus on that.

34

Couple of stories.

First, my son has had several febrile seizures (seizures brought on by high temperatures, not uncommon in small children). The first time it happened, in the middle of the night, I thought he was going to die in my arms. I had no idea what to do. I know Dangerosa called 911, and I have no idea what part (if any) I played in that.

Second, at a playoff baseball game a couple of years ago (ALDS, Game 2, Twins vs. A’s in the Metrodome), a man in the row ahead of me had a seizure. One minute he was fine, the next he was vomiting and unable to breathe or speak. The crowd was so large it took about 5 minutes for the Dome safety staff to get there. However, there were at least 3 people with EMT training who leaped (literally, in one case) to the rescue. I was so proud of my fellow humans that night. Me, I did nothing – the rescuers were so fast they were helping him before I realized how serious the problem was.

Third, one night over at a friend’s house there was a house fire next door. I was on my way upstairs from the basement when I heard “somebody call 911” and decided that “somebody” could be me. I had the operator on the line when I got upstairs and was able to clearly and coherently give the address, the nature of the issue (house on fire) and the direness of the situation (no humans inside).

I’m 1 for 3. :slight_smile:

So, to echo the praise of others: Sat on Cookie, you did good.

35

Here you go - I have (used to have) a fainting disorder. I would faint. A lot.

I specifically remember fainting at school one day. I hit my head so I was bleeding a little and I was really pale and lying on the ground. (Well, I’m guessing I was pale - I didn’t have a mirror handy at right that moment, but I have seen myself passout on other occasions in mirrors and I’m typically very pale).

Anyhow, I was sort of conscious, but not enough to sit up or open my eyes and I heard a girl say “oh my god, she’s dead! she’s dead!” I remember thinking “No I’m not - shit I better get up because I’m scaring people.”

So I got up, went to the nurse, ate something and there you go. I harboured no ill will towards the girl who thought I was dead, and kind of felt bad for scaring her like that. I’m sure if the guy was conscious and was hearing what you were saying, he was glad of the urgency in your voice and your concern at his well being. I know that I (was) would be.

36

Sat on Cookie, I can’t speak for other seizure-prone people, but I have never heard anything said to me while having a seizure. The brain just goes wacko and nothing gets through until it settles down.

You did a really good thing mate.

Max.