Author Topic: 1st Responder today :-( (Read 2930 times)

seaweb11 · « **on:** July 04, 2009, 04:55:36 PM »

These things we play on will bite you given the chance.

Came to the bottom of a local hill called "Brickyard Hill" and saw a moped and a bike parked on the side of the road. As I always do I asked if they needed any help? They said no, the ambulance was on its way. At this point I saw another bike 100 feet away and there was a guy lying in the weeds at their feet!

Parked my bike and went over to see how he was. His right leg was bent in a funny angle.

I asked if they had looked at him at all. No, he's fine, just tweaked his knee.

I have a fair amount of 1st Aid training from the Coast Guard so went to work. Asked him how he was etc, and started feeling my way down his leg. Found a bump and then a corresponding hole in his armored pants. I slowly put my finger in and could feel the compound fracture and it was BLEEDING HUGE!!!!!! Took off my shirt and applied pressure till EMTs arrived. 10-15 mins later EMT arrived and I was able to let them know how serious this was as they walked up and the 3 of us worked on him for 30 mins getting him sorted out and ready for emergency off Island removal.

Just had a shower to wash off, still very shaky but glad I could help.

If I could say one thing to every one here.......take a basic 1st Aid Course.

This guy could have bled to death while his buddy watched

bill440cars · « **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2009, 05:24:52 PM »

Quote from: seaweb11 on July 04, 2009, 04:55:36 PM

These things we play on will bight you given the chance.

Came to the bottom of a local hill called "Brickyard Hill" and saw a moped and a bike parked on the side of the road. As I always do I asked if they needed any help? They said no, the ambulance was on its way. At this point I saw another bike 100 feet away and there was a guy lying in the weeds at their feet!

Parked my bike and went over to see how he was. His right leg was bent in a funny angle.

I asked if they had looked at him at all. No, he's fine, just tweaked his knee.

I have a fair amount of 1st Aid training from the Coast Guard so went to work. Asked him how he was etc, and started feeling my way down his leg. Found a bump and then a corresponding hole in his armored pants. I slowly put my finger in and could feel the compound fracture and it was BLEEDING HUGE!!!!!! Took off my shirt and applied pressure till EMTs arrived. 10-15 mins later EMT arrived and I was able to let them know how serious this was as they walked up and the 3 of us worked on him for 30 mins getting him sorted out and ready for emergency off Island removal.

Just had a shower to wash off, still very shaky but glad I could help.

If I could say one thing to every one here.......take a basic 1st Aid Course.

This guy could have bled to death while his buddy watched

Sure is good that YOU were the one who stopped, Derek. Some folks just don't seem to wake up and realize just how serious things can be. Working through Bost, we have to have First Aid Training, CPR and all. And speaking of that, I wanted to try to do CPR on Brenda, but she had swelling that made it to where I don't see how I could possibly have been able to plus my throat was so stinking DRY that all I could think of doing was to try to arouse her, cal 911 and check her breathing and pulse. She was actually breathing til just before the ambulance got there and her heart stopped just before also. You are so right, a lot of lives could be saved, if only more folks knew Basic First Aid AND ALSO CPR.

Good for YOU Derek.

bucky katt · « **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2009, 06:18:18 PM »

that guys buddies are a pair of DUMBASSES

DammitDan · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2009, 06:19:18 PM »

At least they called an ambulance, right?

You did a good thing stopping, seaweb. You probably saved someone's life today.

bucky katt · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2009, 06:48:43 PM »

Quote from: DammitDan on July 04, 2009, 06:19:18 PM

At least they called an ambulance, right?

You did a good thing stopping, seaweb. You probably saved someone's life today.

+1

seaweb11 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2009, 07:32:18 PM »

I suppose having had a couple of compound fractures myself helped, but when you are holding one in your hands for the 1st time you really have to just ignore the gore and get er done.

I'm sure he's still in surgery

754 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2009, 07:45:48 PM »

maybe it was meant to be that you came along..

What condition was the patient in, was he aware he was bleeding that bad?

When I almost had my leg tore off , I was quickly aware of the very real possibility that I could bleed to death in a few minutes. Which pissed me off and made me decide that I would (try to) get through it..
Help was very near (Sturgis City park), a lot of very qualified ex medics and EMT types. I probably had a torniquet on it in 3 min or less.. and was air splinted before they moved me. Then the fun started..

I salute you Seaweb, you are a true knight of the road, you did well..

Hush · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2009, 07:58:20 PM »

Well done that man, yes even basic first aid can save a life especially in the pursuit we all love.
His mates need a boot but I suppose they could have been in shock too.
We have to have comprehensive first aid training yearly, part of the job when the odd prisoner decides that cutting or hanging is the easy way out.
I've cut one down myself and got him breathing again (it doesn't pay to ask what they are in for or you might stop)

months later I ran into him in another unit, he was past his court and remand days and just getting on with his lag, now he was happy I had cut him down and cured him.

I always enjoy my refresher courses, you never know when it could be one of your grand kids or someone else dear that you save apart from the prisoners.
Again big ups Seaweb, better than riding past and finding out later the young guy bled out for lack of simple first aid.

seaweb11 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:12:29 PM »

754:
He had no idea his leg was even broken, let alone bleeding. He was the calmest person through out the whole ordeal.

A very strange sort of shock I haven't seen before

SD750F · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:16:19 PM »

I was around when a neighbor kid got a green fracture of his radius and ulna. No problem, got his parents number and had someone call them to come home and bring their kid to the ER. Stabilized and elevated his arm and made sure he would not go into shock. Then a guy from down the street came running over. Not his parent mind you and started barking orders and wanted to call 911 to have an ambulance come and take the kid to the ER...

I asked "Why, it's just a minor break and his parents are coming to drive him to the ER." He said "Who are you? And do you have First Aid Training?" And I responded with a yes and that I was current in my training. He then announced that he was a Fireman and that he was going to take over. Well that was all I was supposed to hear, and I let him proceed to call the ambulance and remove my restrainer and force the kids arm back until it became a compound fracture... I think he wanted to ride in the back of the ambulance??? Wanted to report him, but they wouldn't because the only one who can according to their rules was a MD.

754 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:21:48 PM »

Seaweb check Jimmys build thread, some info for you there..

coldright · « **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:34:07 PM »

Nice work today and quick thinking... and a good reminder to always assess the injuries when you come upon a scene. Bleeding out from that injury could have happened very quickly. All you all who ride bikes... get your first aid training.

BobbyR · « **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2009, 09:28:20 PM »

Nice going, you saved a life and good things come back to you. Both of you were lucky. No better feeling than helping someone out.

bucky katt · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2009, 12:00:08 AM »

good on you for stopping and helping this man. i wish everyone would step up and help out those that are in need instead of driving on by

demon78 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2009, 03:40:29 AM »

Good man Seaweb.
Bill the demon.

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2009, 06:24:27 AM »

I've been on the recieving end a few times. I looked at my leg going the wrong direction and would tell people to turn my bike off and don't touch me until medics come. The real pain comes later...

So let me ask- with a compound fracture, I would have been inclined to squeeze the artery in his though rather than apply direct pressure. Would that have been the wrong thing to do?

Frankenkit · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2009, 07:57:50 AM »

not necessarily, it's just hard sometimes to correctly find the artery and might have been easier at the time to apply direct pressure. If the guy was still wearing armored pants or w/e, it would've been really hard to find that artery.
That said, maybe I'm not reading it right but it sounds like he broke his tibia, maybe fibula, too... but down there, I'd have thought about wrapping a hand around above his knee and putting pressure on his popliteal artery. ...still would've been difficult depending on muscle/armor/leathers... so the default 'direct pressure' still applies, I think.

coldright · « **Reply #17 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:22:46 AM »

And when in doubt... a good old fashioned tourniquet is always an option, esp. when an EMT is on the way. Remember, you are saving a life, not a limb. Stop the bleeding in whatever way seems appropriate for the injury.

Ecosse · « **Reply #18 on:** July 05, 2009, 03:32:40 PM »

i salute you seaweb.

btw: a couple of compounds? holy crap.

seaweb11 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 05, 2009, 04:17:32 PM »

Quote from: Ecosse on July 05, 2009, 03:32:40 PM

btw: a couple of compounds? holy crap.

Yeah, collar bone and a wrist

I was a bit ADHD as a kid....."still am". Had more hospital stays for concussions than I care to remember. Broken so many bones I lost count at 25!!!!!

The one the family likes to remind me of is the broken arm at 3 years of age when I jumped off the roof of the house and tried to fly

They tell me I climbed a trellis. Landed on a concrete patio

P.S. I have since got my pilots license

..........bad sleep last night, couldn't get that bone image out of my head, was up 4 hours before normal this morning.

mlinder · « **Reply #20 on:** July 05, 2009, 04:33:26 PM »

Good for you helping and keeping the bleeding down.
Wish more people were inclined to help in situations like that ((or even far less dangerous situations.)
Apparently, when I had my accident, a woman stopped and kept me from moving around. I was told I tried to get up and go to the motorcycle. Might have been a bad idea with 6 broken vertebrae. Good thing someone knew to keep me still.

bucky katt · « **Reply #21 on:** July 05, 2009, 05:00:57 PM »

Quote from: seaweb11 on July 05, 2009, 04:17:32 PM

Quote from: Ecosse on July 05, 2009, 03:32:40 PM

btw: a couple of compounds? holy crap.

The one the family likes to remind me of is the broken arm at 3 years of age when I jumped off the roof of the house and tried to fly
They tell me I climbed a trellis.

P.S. I have since got my pilots license

sounds like the time, when i was 6 that i decided to see if i could do what santa claus did and i ended up sliding off the roof into the juniper bushes. they knew me and my mom by name at the hartford hospital ER as i was constantly doing dumb stuff like that

Chris Schneiter · « **Reply #22 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:08:07 PM »

Good job Web... I'm a member of the National Ski Patrol. It's so important that people have at least first aid training. You never know when you'll run across a bad situation, I Have.... you have... you didn't plan on it, but you knew what to do..

Magpie · « **Reply #23 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:24:08 PM »

Good job Derek! That will get an honourable mention in the big book.
Cliff.

seaweb11 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 05, 2009, 11:08:06 PM »

Quote from: Chris Schneiter on July 05, 2009, 08:08:07 PM

Good job Web... I'm a member of the National Ski Patrol. It's so important that people have at least first aid training. You never know when you'll run across a bad situation, I Have.... you have... you didn't plan on it, but you knew what to do..

Funny, I actually got my 1st "Industrial 1st Aid " ticket at 18 when I wanted to apply for the Whistler Ski Patrol.
Who knew that 25 doctors were going to apply the same year

tramp · « **Reply #25 on:** July 06, 2009, 03:37:32 AM »

how can you not know your leg is broken that bad
ya did a good thing seaweb

medic09 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 06, 2009, 06:49:11 AM »

Good job, Derek!

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Author Topic: 1st Responder today :-( (Read 2930 times)