What would you do?

[FrenchieBoy]

I had just left home this morning to take the wife shopping and noticed an elderly lady waiting to cross the main road. (This main road in question is always very busy one) I slowed down to hold the traffic up a little but noticed that the lady was looking very "wobbly" and unstable so I pulled up and put my hazard lights on. As I got out of the motor it looked like she was about to keel over so I rushed (As best I could) and tried to support her by the arm so if she fell I could at least help to "break her fall". As it was she did fall but I was able to stop her from falling heavily. A couple of the girls from the Hair Dressers shop opposite saw what was happening and came running out. They said that they not only knew the lady but she was trying to get over the road for an appointment she had with them. The lady was conscious but was struggling with her breathing so I asked if maybe I should call for an ambulance. The girls said that it might be better if we helped her into the salon where they could sit her down comfortably and make her a cup of tea, phone her husband and assess the situation a little better. There was a heck of a lot of traffic passing but only one 4X4 pulled up (As I forced the traffic to stop) and asked if we needed any assistance.
I have just got back from shopping and popped over to the salon to ask how the lady was- She was still there and sitting up in the chair having her hair done and smiling and thanked me for stopping to help her!
I have faced a similar situation once before when another elderly lady had collapsed at a bus shelter (Again right by the side of a busy main road) and was lying on the pavement unconscious. There were literally dozens of cars driving past while that lady was lying on the pavement unconscious but not one of them stopped to offer assistance or see if she was OK. I made her as comfy as I could with my coat etc under her head and called an ambulance. When the ambulance arrived (Quite quickly thank heavens)) it turned out that the lady was having a heart attack - Fortunately she survived and we have met up and spoken since!
It really disgusts me how so many people can just drive on by when they see that someone is in potentially serious trouble and distress and turn a blind eye to it!
I'm sure that I know the answer already but what would you guys do if faced with a similar situation?

 

[User00025]

I had just left home this morning to take the wife shopping and noticed an elderly lady waiting to cross the main road. (This main road in question is always very busy one) I slowed down to hold the traffic up a little but noticed that the lady was looking very "wobbly" and unstable so I pulled up and put my hazard lights on. As I got out of the motor it looked like she was about to keel over so I rushed (As best I could) and tried to support her by the arm so if she fell I could at least help to "break her fall". As it was she did fall but I was able to stop her from falling heavily. A couple of the girls from the Hair Dressers shop opposite saw what was happening and came running out. They said that they not only knew the lady but she was trying to get over the road for an appointment she had with them. The lady was conscious but was struggling with her breathing so I asked if maybe I should call for an ambulance. The girls said that it might be better if we helped her into the salon where they could sit her down comfortably and make her a cup of tea, phone her husband and assess the situation a little better. There was a heck of a lot of traffic passing but only one 4X4 pulled up (As I forced the traffic to stop) and asked if we needed any assistance.
I have just got back from shopping and popped over to the salon to ask how the lady was- She was still there and sitting up in the chair having her hair done and smiling and thanked me for stopping to help her!
I have faced a similar situation once before when another elderly lady had collapsed at a bus shelter (Again right by the side of a busy main road) and was lying on the pavement unconscious. There were literally dozens of cars driving past while that lady was lying on the pavement unconscious but not one of them stopped to offer assistance or see if she was OK. I made her as comfy as I could with my coat etc under her head and called an ambulance. When the ambulance arrived (Quite quickly thank heavens)) it turned out that the lady was having a heart attack - Fortunately she survived and we have met up and spoken since!
It really disgusts me how so many people can just drive on by when they see that someone is in potentially serious trouble and distress and turn a blind eye to it!
I'm sure that I know the answer already but what would you guys do if faced with a similar situation?

Exactly the same as you my friend.

 

[Kjf]

Same as you did mate , good on ya Pete

The world is fecked mate , plain and simple , I can't stand most humans , but would never walk on by if one of them was in need of help

Kjf

 

[Ade8mm]

Well done Frenchie. Most right minded people would have done the same. Many people however dont.

Many years ago I had a client meeting in Coventry City Centre. It was mid morning and I came across a man lying on the pavement with a very serious head wound. He was a rough sleeper by the looks of him. People were just walking round him trying not to notice him. He was unconscious and dark arterial blood was pooling round his head. The police station was literally 100 yards away. I ran to it and told them what I had just seen and the plod on the desk just said,

"Oh yeah, we know about him" and wandered off to put the kettle on.

The poor man most likely died.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Well done Frenchie. Most right minded people would have done the same. Many people however dont.

Many years ago I had a client meeting in Coventry City Centre. It was mid morning and I came across a man lying on the pavement with a very serious head wound. He was a rough sleeper by the looks of him. People were just walking round him trying not to notice him. He was unconscious and dark arterial blood was pooling round his head. The police station was literally 100 yards away. I ran to it and told them what I had just seen and the plod on the desk just said,

"Oh yeah, we know about him" and wandered off to put the kettle on.

The poor man most likely died.

It's situations like that which make me wonder what society in general is coming to!

 

[SimpleSimon]

There are a great many selfish people who would simply think "not my problem" and move on. There are a far greater number of people who probably would help, but for whatever reason lack the confidence or common sense to know what to do, or even do ANYTHING.

I few years ago the wife and I were travelling to Snowdonia on the A5 when the van a few cars ahead of us veered over the white line and collided head on with a car coming the other way. Everyone got out of their cars and... Stood around staring. Mrs got the map out and called 999, I just started telling (not asking!) people what to do.
By the time the first Police officer arrived I had tracfic controllers, first aiders, casualty monitors, and privacy screen holder-uppers. Nobody refused me

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Well done Simon for keeping a cool head and getting things properly organised, I raise my hat to you sir!
There are no doubt a lot of people with plenty of common sense and a good degree of "humanity" that are willing to help but I am so concerned at the amount of people who are happy to go through life thinking "It's not my problem" and just walk or drive on by while turning a blind eye! I have to wonder how those same people would feel if it were them in trouble/distress and everyone else just turned a blind eye and ignored them?

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Just the very same as you, well done Frenchie!! Brings my thoughts to the parable of the Good Samaritan.........humanity remains the same as times past, there are those that will and those that can’t or won’t, and as Simple Simon says most need to be told what to do before they will act.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Just the very same as you, well done Frenchie!! Brings my thoughts to the parable of the Good Samaritan.........humanity remains the same as times past, there are those that will and those that can’t or won’t, and as Simple Simon says most need to be told what to do before they will act.

Thank you! Please let m make it quite clear that I didn't do what I did for thanks or pats on the back, I did it because it is what I believe anybody with a little bit of common sense and thought/consideration for others would do!
The way that I see it is you never know when you might need some help of some sort - What goes round can come back round! (I was very fortunate that there were people around who knew what to do when I had my first heart attack or I might not have been around now!)

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Well done Frenchie. Most right minded people would have done the same. Many people however dont.

Many years ago I had a client meeting in Coventry City Centre. It was mid morning and I came across a man lying on the pavement with a very serious head wound. He was a rough sleeper by the looks of him. People were just walking round him trying not to notice him. He was unconscious and dark arterial blood was pooling round his head. The police station was literally 100 yards away. I ran to it and told them what I had just seen and the plod on the desk just said,

"Oh yeah, we know about him" and wandered off to put the kettle on.

The poor man most likely died.

I was born and lived my first 23 years in Cov so am not surprised by the plod reaction as the area has really gone downhill, but plod should be required to react imo.

 

[tarponhead]

Its called bystanders syndrome - everyone thinks/hopes that someone else has called 999. Trust your instincts and do what the majority of those above say they would do. I wonder if the fact that as stalkers we learn to act and think under pressure, makes a difference? Especially as often there is no one to ask - we just have to make the call and then act - or not.

 

[parkyboy]

As a trained work place 1st aider i have been involved in several incedents like this...i would have done exactly as you did mate...good on you for caring...Hugh.

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Thank you! Please let m make it quite clear that I didn't do what I did for thanks or pats on the back, I did it because it is what I believe anybody with a little bit of common sense and thought/consideration for others would do!
The way that I see it is you never know when you might need some help of some sort - What goes round can come back round! (I was very fortunate that there were people around who knew what to do when I had my first heart attack or I might not have been around now!)

Praise where praise is due, your a caring human being, if only the rest of humanity was as kind.

 

[dartmoordog]

Absolute top man FB.

 

[steve54]

Thank goodness there are still decent folk like yourself Frenchie', - who will not turn a blind eye .
As a former nurse, with my wife (currently nursing),and my daughter (currently nursing) , we have each had similar encounters outside work, and done our best to assist.
It amazes me , - as others have stated , the number of people who do not attempt to help , - or even acknowledge the individuals in need of help.
More likely to film it to put on bloody "Titter" or "Faceache" !!!!

 

[Tagoat]

Thank you Frenchie. You're a gent & a human being.

 

[Mud Stuffin]

It staggers when people actively don’t do anything but I’m sure they’d be the first to squeal if no one helped them when they needed it.

I came across a smartly dressed Indian chap face down on the pavement bleeding from a wound on the back of his head directly opposite Liberty’s in London during rush hour one morning at about 0830 with literally hundreds of people walking past and he was also right next to a manned stall of some sort. Only after the paramedic I’d called turned up on a bike did people stop and take any notice. It’s shocking what some in society think is acceptable.

 

[tozzybum]

Your 1 of lifes true gents Pete but a minority in this me me me world.
Such a pity today's generation would rather get their phone out to video incidents instead of dialing 999.
Makes me cringe for my grandkids growing up in such a selfish world

 

[opticron1]

Thank goodness there are still decent folk like yourself Frenchie', - who will not turn a blind eye .
As a former nurse, with my wife (currently nursing),and my daughter (currently nursing) , we have each had similar encounters outside work, and done our best to assist.
It amazes me , - as others have stated , the number of people who do not attempt to help , - or even acknowledge the individuals in need of help.
More likely to film it to put on bloody "Titter" or "Faceache" !!!!

Hit the nail on the head Steve! See it all the time …… any drama/RTA/accident/punch up.... there'll be a queue of nose pickers filming with their "smart phones" (certain irony there?!), while a few public spirited souls continue to try and look after their fellow man or woman, the police see this all the time and increasingly saw it more in A&E and on the Wards...… arses!

 

[Overlay]

keep doing what your doing, the caring attitude in some quarters are history now - the don’t care attitude is a growing menace in society - thank goodness there are still decent caring people around - it helps the world go around in a better way

good on you for being a decent human being

kindness doesn’t cost a penny, the reward is someone has been helped - that’s priceless

phil