Witness to a Tragedy
My wife had a birthday this past weekend, and we spent our early afternoon visiting an independently-owned bookstore she enjoys, followed by a stop at a new coffee shop in our town's downtown area. It had been a relaxing day up to this point and we were looking forward to dinner later in the evening.
On our way home from the coffee shop we were seconds behind a collision that involved a half-ton pick-up truck, and a motorcycle.
We approached the scene to vehicles pulling off the road onto the sidewalk and people bailing from their cars to attend to the motorcyclist.
I parked in a protected turn lane and went for the first-aid supplies I keep in my vehicle which includes tourniquets, a quick blood-clotting agent, large amounts of gauze, and other items outside your everyday standard first-aid kit. As I was parking I could see a citizen already performing CPR chest compressions on the motionless motorcyclist. There were also several people running around frantically and a man who was pacing back and forth with his hands on top of his head and arms out at a 45 degree angle. I assumed this to be the driver of the pick-up truck, but don't know for sure.
I exited my vehicle and arrived at the motorcyclist almost at the same time as the first police officer on the scene. I offered any supplies and assistance I could provide and the officer just looked down and then back at me and told me there was nothing I could help with. All I ended up doing was standing there awkwardly suspecting I was watching another human being die.
Feeling Helpless and Guilty
We later learned that the motorcyclist was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital. He was only 22 years old.
I hated feeling helpless and useless while at the scene, and felt guilty after hearing of this stranger's death that I couldn't do more in that moment. Had I been CPR certified I could've at least offered to take over chest compressions if the original Good Samaritan started to fatigue.
It was also difficult to celebrate my wife's birthday at dinner later that night knowing that another family was grieving.
What I learned
First and foremost this experience reminded me that life can take a dramatic turn in a split-second. I didn't witness the collision and don't presume to know what happened. What I do know is that regardless of whether the driver of the pick-up truck is determined to have been responsible for the collision and faces a vehicular manslaughter charge, their life is never going to be the same. They will have to live the rest of their lives knowing they killed a 22 year old; someone who was just beginning their adult life.
I was reminded how important it is to pursue goals, and hobbies. Do the things you enjoy while you're still able to enjoy them.
I also learned that I am not as prepared for a tragic event as I think I am. Sure I have some basic first-aid knowledge, but not anywhere near what I need to handle an event such as what I witnessed this past weekend.
I will add a goal to my list of things I want to accomplish to get certified in CPR. I will also look for other courses related to trauma first-aid.
If you want to get a CPR certification you can find courses through the Red Cross.
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