I was driving to the bank this afternoon to deposit some checks and witnessed an SUV accident coming from the other direction that was finishing its final roll, and from the looks of where the breaking stopped and from the marks on the road, it had flipped 3-4 times. They were going down a curvy hill (I was going up), and the combination of speed, light rain, and leaves led to the driver just losing control. I stopped the Subaru truckster in the middle of the road and put my hazards on, grabbed my first aid kit and flares, threw some flares behind my car, ran up and threw some flares on the other side of the wreck, thinking whatever happened had already happened injury wise, and taking a minute to stop another car from slamming into the wreck was the most important thing.
Got to the guy driving the wreck, and he was out of it and a little dazed, but he seemed ok, so I checked for leaking gas or smoke. Reached in and pulled his keys out of the ignition and then pried open the hood (it was trashed and partially open, so I just had to yank on it a couple times- YAY ADRENALINE) and disconnected the battery. There was no smoke or fire, and I saw no gas leaks (miraculously), so I evaluated the driver.
He was completely out of it and had a hard time focusing, but there was no blood, I saw no compound fractures, and I quizzed him on a bunch of stuff- “What’s your name, what is your birthday, where are you from, what was your first pets name, what was your high school mascot, what day is it, where were you going, etc.” He was a little slow and groggy, and his speech was a little slurred and his pupils were super dilated and he kept grabbing his head, so I’m pretty sure he had a vicious concussion. He was breathing normally, his pulse was elevated but stable, and again, most importantly, there was no blood or any visible wounds. The good sign was that he was able to answer his questions and asked for a phone to call his mom. Fortunately, even in the country, this is a popular road, and within about 5 minutes a couple more cars pulled up. I saw a truck with an Army sticker on the back and asked the guy in there to go up the hill and block off southbound traffic, and I got a gas rig worker to do the same, using his truck to block the northbound traffic at the bottom of the hill. Since there was no threat of fire, I told the driver to just stay where he was, because I’m in no way qualified to determine whether or not he had a neck or back injury, and that it was imperative he just sit where he was until help came.
After about 20 minutes, a Deputy Sheriff came up, I briefed him on what I had seen and how the driver seemed to be doing, and then I went down and replaced the gas rig worker and directed traffic for the next hour as a couple more sheriffs arrived, the ambulance finally showed up after 35 minutes, and then a fire truck immediately afterwards. The fire crew took over the traffic direction since they have flashlights and stand out in their bunker gear and helmets adorned with reflective patches, and aren’t just some fat dude in a gray t-shirt standing in the road, so I picked up my first aid kit and emergency blankets and left.
Three takeaways:
One: seatbelts and airbags work. That guy was wearing his seatbelt and survived multiple rolls, and walked away. I have no idea if there was bleeding on the brain or internal injuries, but from the looks of it, he was just concussed.
Two: My fire department and Army training, no matter how annoying and repetitive I felt it was at the time, it just stays with you. It’s kind of weird. You just know what to do and you do it.
Three: Not to go all Army positive, but man was I psyched to see an Army sticker on that truck that pulled up- I knew he would know what to do. I’m sure Soonergrunt will back me up. All I had to say was “I got this, go block that traffic,” he said “got it,” and the two of us were there for the next hour directing traffic like we had been working together our whole lives.
I’d also forgotten how much you shake when the adrenaline wears off. When I was no longer needed, I drove away to the bank, and when I crashed emotionally I pulled over for a couple minutes and just decompressed. Listening to NPR, totebagging motherfucker that I am.
*** Update ***
LITTLE PSA:
Every vehicle should have:
Flares. I carry these LED ones for long term use, as well as these, which people recognize more. Use the disposable ones first because they are quick, then deploy the LED ones farther down the road.
Emergency blankets. I carry these.
A first aid kit- Choose your own, I have the AAA one.
A gallon of water.
I also carry these jumper cables, which in three years I have used over a dozen times.
Scott S.
Yer a good man, John Cole. :)
YellowJournalism
John Cole: Superhero
Jason P.
John, on whatever scale your pet tales normally give me a rush, this story quintuples that. You are officially a Great Samaritan.
BrklynLibrul
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. You just made my day, JC.
Corner Stone
I wonder if shit like your life happens all the time in pockets of “big cities” but we just don’t have any connections to them so they go by unnoticed.
Because otherwise I want absolutely nothing to do with the shit that goes down in your neck of Podunkville.
JenJen
I love roadside heroes. Thanks, Cole.
HL_guy
Cory Booker is a little put off that you got there first; hope you have a well-deserved drink to calm that shake.
Juror #7
JC, you never cease to impress me.
chrismealy
35 minutes for an ambulance?!
aimai
I thought you were going to say that after you pulled him from the burning wreck you saw he had a Romney sticker and re-registered him as an Obama supporter and absentee ballotted him. But your version was good, too.
aimai
Whidby
All veterans are heroes!!!
gogol's wife
Yes, you are poised to be the next mayor of Newark!
Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony
You are f’ing awesome, JC!
rammalamadingdong
You are awesome. Driver was lucky to have you there.
Jack Bauer
Good for you John.
Joe Max
John, you rock.
This is what a member of a COMMUNITY does when their fellow citizens are in trouble.
Princess
Damn right seatbelts and airbags work. I got in a fight with a semi going 70 in a tiny Subaru and walked away without a scratch because of them. What I still remember the most is complete strangers stopping by the side of the three-lane highway to make sure I was okay. It was the very best side of America and Americans, like what you did tonight (I have citizenship but I still think of myself as from away).
gbear
And he still had to apply for a new password.
Lori
You’re a good guy, John – awesome stuff you did today!!
Xecky Gilchrist
Well and bravely done!
MoeLarryAndJesus
Yeah, yeah. Really heroic.
But Paul Ryan cleans clean pans.
Beat that!
lacp
Hope you’ve been chilling with your non-human household tonight. Nothing will get you back together again better than they will. And, since they can’t say it, really, really well done.
DanF
Cole FTW!
rammalamadingdong
Also impressed with your car preparedness. I have a can of cat food, a gym bag and extra high heels. I need to rethink this.
Drunken hausfrau
Please marry one of my sisters. I love you.
Everyday heroes are the real ones… Firemen, military, librarians… Not always police (sadly…taser pigs),
DH +3 cucumber vodkas
lacp
@MoeLarryAndJesus: But does he wear short shorts?
mikefromArlington
Pretty cool.
Another topic, if I were Obama I’d claim Rmony said 74% of Americans are unwilling to work and lazy over and over until Romney corrects the %.
Birthmarker
Wow, and all of the above…
And Another Thing...
My dad was a career Navy carrier pilot, and you’d want him around in any kind of emergency. They train & train until it’s almost a reflex, and you take charge and get it done. It sounds hokey, but it’s a patriotic sense of responsibility.
pseudonymous in nc
Kudos, John.
Seatbelts and airbags work, but damn, I still think SUVs are like driving whales, and the big ones, especially, are the kind of vehicles where drivers need an extra few lessons in basic fucking physics.
lacp
@rammalamadingdong: What sort of ….encounter….are you prepped for, exactly?
SFAW
Well done, John.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Tunch will treat you any better as a result. But he should.
TaMara (BHF)
Must be hard to hide those wings when you’re out and about. Glad you were there. And I get the whole military training thing.
My dad is retired Air Force and was an EMT (thanks to a gnarly bike accident when I was 12 and he and I waited 30 minutes for an ambulance – he didn’t like the idea of standing around while I bled profusely – so of course the solution was to become an EMT and save other people).
I’ve seen him run into a neighbor’s burning house, in his underwear, pulling people out, barking orders the whole time and help another neighbor when she found her son after he committed suicide, knowing just what to do and say.
The Master Sergeant doesn’t ever really retire, does he? He’s my hero John and I think you would easily stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
JoeC
You’re a good man, John. Also, totebagging motherfo’s is a great band name…:-)
Corner Stone
@rammalamadingdong:
Why?
Steve
More evidence that we don’t need Obamacare or Big Government to take care of us. Some fat guy in a gray t-shirt will come along to help.
rammalamadingdong
In case my cat gets hungry during an urgency Pilates session at work. Obviously.
Corner Stone
Why is MNF playing Pantera?
Soonergrunt
I’m glad the guy came through it OK and that you were able to prevent any further injury to him or anyone else.
What you are describing is the “Take Charge and Move Out” effect. TACAMO for short.
You saw what needed doing and you set about doing it. The other Soldier/Veteran saw somebody who had the situation well in hand and responded appropriately.
This tends to happen in military, fire, and police personnel and veterans of those services because we are trained to survey the situation, make a decision and act, especially in the absence of higher authority.
Most people stand by and wait for others to act, and this is not a bag on them to point that out. There’s actually a known psychological phenomenon that describes this. It is, to some extent, a survival mechanism. That survival mechanism doesn’t serve your fellow man who just rolled his SUV.
Now, I think somebody would have taken action. Most people want to do the right thing when presented with a situation. I grew up in small towns, and I think that’s part of it, too. When you live in the ass end of nowhere, you have to step up because the Sheriff is 20 minutes away and the ambulance is 35.
coredump
God bless you, John!
Chris from Arlington
Good on you, Cole. Good on you.
Also, @chrismealy when you live out in the country, it can take a while for an ambulance just to get to you. Think about it, even if there is an ambulance or fire station close, chances are they’re volunteers and have to drop whatever they’re doing and get to the ambulance or fire truck before even heading to the call.
If they were permanent EMTs or fire fighters, chances are they had to come all the way from a major town. It probably takes an ambulance about 25 minutes to get to Cole from Wheeling, and a little longer than that to get there from Washington, PA or Steubenville, and it might have taken them 10 minutes to get the call and dispatch. 35 minutes. Welcome to the country.
Just speculating, of course, but such a timeline would make sense to me. I used to live in rural Western and Central PA, a good friend of mine told me of when her allergic-to-bees father was badly stung once. It was faster to call it in, drive like hell into town and meet the Ambulance half way than to wait for the Ambulance. Just the way it is.
pkdz
After I was in a car accident, a first responder wouldn’t let me move until the ambulance arrived. I was calm, but I thought she was overdoing it. Turned out that I broke my neck. Thankful that she was there, to tell me to lay still.
Mike in NC
A few weeks back I was driving to work in an extremely heavy rain, doing maybe 30 MPH to avoid hydroplaning. Some big pickup truck suddenly was tailgating me, with no lights on. After about 30 seconds he passed me on the right, then when half a mile ahead lost control and spun into the opposite lane of traffic, then skidded backwards onto the shoulder and flipped on its side. I called 911 on my cellphone but had no pity for the asshole because he had a big Confederate flag decal on his rear window. Dumb shit.
Comrade Jake
Good work, son.
Elie
Blessings to you John. Blessings. That is all.
22over7
@lacp:
Zombie apocalypse, of course. Cat food for nourishment, gym bag with hygiene essentials, and high heels for defense (that five-inch heel goes right in the eye!). Makes sense to me.
Sarah in Brooklyn
Swooning here. You’re a hero!
Lynn Dee
Awesome and impressive. I wish I had it in me to respond like that. As it is, I’m afraid I would be the lead handwringer.
Commish the First
Strong work Cole! And good advice.
TaMara (BHF)
Oh great, now he wants us all to be prepared. There’ll probably be a quiz/requirement we’ll have to ace before we can comment again.
Do-gooders. /assessing my trunk at this every moment.
srv
> 35 minutes
So someone remembered to call 911?
Always remember everybody is an idiot. Everybody. Especially after a wreck. I happened upon an AM intersection crash in Irving TX and the two drivers were out on their phones talking. I crossed over and blocked traffic, and then went back to the wreck.
Two guys were not talking to 911. I interrupted them and asked if they had – they nodded. I started waving traffic on when I heard someone crying. Walked back to the car in the intersection and beyond the beaned in door was a woman behind it.
Two guys are in animated discussions with someone else. I grab one, asked again, and he says “I couldn’t get through.” I closed his phone for him and told him to look for a gas leak and grabbed the other idiot and told him to try to disconnect the battery.
Jesus, on a pogo stick. Got in the cab with her, and she couldn’t speak english but nodded when I asked about her leg. Not dragging her out. Dialed 911. Firehouse was two blocks away.
RedKitten
Man, that’s some great work. As someone who totally freezes like an idiot in any sort of crisis, I’m in complete awe of how you just flew into action and Got Shit Done. I wonder if there’s any sort of crisis training like that for civvies — not only would I sign up for it, I’d advocate for it being a mandatory course in high school.
Jager
When I was at Fort Benning in the 60’s a fellow grad of medic school at Fort Sam and I came upon a nasty traffic on the highway back to the base. I’m pretty sure Pvt. O saved a woman’s life while I checked the rest of the passengers. I know we were really happy when those old fashioned Caddy ambulances showed up to haul the injured away. We were drunk on our asses but our training from Fort Sam kicked in and we knew what to do and how to do it. This was all pre seatbelt, airbags and decent emergency medicine, except in the military.
Corner Stone
@TaMara (BHF):
Mmmmm…
Uh, I mean, turnover TD by Broncos!
Belafon (formerly anonevent)
And for those of you who didn’t go through John’s training, find your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). It’s a volunteer organization, where you can get some of this training and work with others in case of disasters. We are trained to help firefighters and police if things like tornadoes or searches. Most recently, some of the CERT members helped care for people whose homes had been damaged by tornadoes.
Yutsano
Ya done good JC. That Mitzvah will last about a decade.
MMM
How about the time you tried to jump me (my car) in the parking garage a couple of years ago? Nonetheless, great job today. L’Chaim.
TheMightyTrowel
My mom is a doctor – a pediatrician, not a first responder, but she’s ended up first responding in a few cases. I’ve never seen it (thankfully, more than one of the times she’s hauled out of the car after an accident there’s been a fatality) but my dad says she does the same thing just goes full-on intense dr mode.
ranchandsyrup
Good work Cole!
Could you tell where the breaking stopped because that was where the cardboard ended? Was there an abandoned boom box?
John Cole
@TaMara (BHF): Send me a picture and I will assess your trunk free of charge.
MoeLarryAndJesus
@lacp:
Does magic underwear count?
(Yeah, Mitt made him convert. It was part of the deal.)
Will
John, you are a fucking hero. I’m ashamed to admit I wouldn’t have known to do 90% of that.
Soonergrunt
When I was in my accident about a month ago, I’d been sitting on the side of the road for a couple of minutes and the first person to approach me was a pediatric nurse from Children’s Hospital. A LOT of people just stood around and did nothing.
People–go the YMCA, or the Fire Department, or the Community Center, or wherever it is that basic first aid is taught. Take the course, and get CPR certified, and carry a first aid kit in your car. Know what’s in it, and how it can be used. get a car charger for your cell phone and make sure that there’s always at least one phone connected to the charger whenever the engine is running.
? Martin
Well done Cole. I’m amazed you came through it without inheriting another pet.
RedKitten
Note that if you live in a snowy climate, it is also good to have a telescoping shovel, warm clothes and a blanket and a bag of non-clumping kitty litter in your trunk. Freezing to death on an unplowed back road with no cell service renders you just as dead as a spectacular car crash.
/makes mental note to get an emergency car kit the next time I’m at Canadian Tire.
Heck, I might get one for each family member too. Not an exciting Christmas gift maybe, but if they need it only once, it’ll be worthwhile.
jurassicpork
One abstract takeaway: Government regulations work. otherwise, airbags and seat belts would be optional and not standard. Also your Army training could’ve prevented turning what was already a bad night for one poor guy into a multicar calamity. You did a good job, John. You could’ve wound up saving that guy’s life.
the Conster
Oh big deal. I do that all the time/
erlking
JC, ye’re a good man. I’m stocking the Jetta tomorrow, just in case.
TaMara (BHF)
@Corner Stone: @John Cole:
Dirty, dirty, dirty.
That’s why I keep stopping by.
Uncle Cosmo
@Corner Stone:
(I’ve recounted most of this in various posts here, bear with me if it seems repetitive:)
Late afternoon/early evening last Memorial Day I was driving home from my brother’s place through midtown Baltimore when a car ran a red light at speed as I was coming through the intersection on the cross street. I saw him not slowing down & managed to wrench the wheel far enough that my driver’s side took a glancing blow but it was still enough to spin both of us around 360 degrees & smash me backwards into a parked car hard enough that that car crashed into the next one. It felt like riding a mechanical bull as I clung to the wheel; I didn’t even notice the side airbags deploy, though they bruised my arm.
The point: Within seconds people were running up to both cars shouting Are you all right? (I pushed the deflated airbag out of the way & replied, I feel OK–you take a look & tell me.) Next thing I heard was Can you get out? You have to get out. I tried the the door–jammed shut. Get out now, they repeated. Why? I asked. Your gas tank is leaking. I scrambled over the console & exited toot-sweet.
They led me (& the other driver, who also appeared unhurt) to the other side of the street, had us sit on the curb (well separated) & kept asking how we felt. Someone had already called 911 & police, ambo & fire truck arrived within 5 minutes & took over. Meantime one of the witnesses gave me his name & phone number–he’d been driving a tow truck a couple of car lengths behind me & : he saw the whole thing, including the green light as I entered the intersection. I went to the ER as a precaution but was released on my own recognizance (& seem nothing the worse for wear then or now).
To answer your question: IMO those folks who happened to be at Biddle & St. Paul streets at that time would have done (to the best of their abilities) for us what JC did if the circumstances had been reversed & we had been in more compromised positions with official help longer to arrive. There is still a strong strain of basic human decency & compassion in Americans no matter how much political poisons try to kill it off.
(PS But dankseigott for seat bags & side air belts….)
EMRVentures
You have every right to go all Army-positive. Yeah, training works, and all of us depend all the time on those who are trained.
mai naem
I want to say something snarky but really, JC, nothing snarky to say. You did something pretty awesome today.
I’ve called 911 a bunch of times when I’ve seen stuff but have to admit, I’ve never pulled over.
There’s a bunch of places which offer first aid classes. It’s a requirement for quite a few jobs. I took one when I was in HS.
amk
Go cole, you big lunk.
Corner Stone
@RedKitten:
?
For traction?
Fuck ALL the chickens! (né Studly Pantload, t.e.u.u.)
OK, I started to nod off with “I was driving to the bank this afternoon to deposit some checks,” but then things quickly picked up.
I would simply not have occurred to ignorant li’l ol’ me to disconnect the battery and set up road blocks. I feel enlearned. Good story, good lessons for us civilians.
Frivolous
Good job, John Cole, you sexy sexy man.
Gretchen D
You rock, John. Very good advice, too. First Aid or Advance First Aid training will give people some confidence to jump in and help.
metalgirl
Supplies just ordered for all 4 vehicles – thanks for the recommendation!
mai naem
Google’s got a story saying George McGovern went to hospice today. No details on his condition. With Arlen Specter and sounds like McGovern, wonder if there’s a third politician who is going to meet their end.
Allen
I have flares, first aid kit, thermal blanket, water, food and plug in jumper cables like the City of Portland uses.
Corner Stone
This has turned into a freakin ball game.
On MNF. Monday Night Football for those who weren’t sure.
Hungry Joe
Wowza. Great work.
Amazing, the physiological response when the adrenaline is shut off. My (then) 14-year-old daughter fainted after a hospital blood test and smacked her head on the floor. The crash cart was there in about 30 seconds, there were doctors and nurses everywhere, and I was the coolest, calmest, most rational, least-fazed, clearest-eyed dad you’ve ever seen … until they told me everything was all right. I tried to say something in response, got about two words out, and fell apart. A nurse had to guide me to a chair and sit me down. Shaking, almost sobbing. Lasted about five minutes, and I was still a semi-wreck driving home half an hour later. But while the crisis was in progress, I bet my heart rate didn’t budge from its normal 58.
HE Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist
Your preparedness is an inspiration, JC, as is your level-headed performance.
PurpleGirl
John G. Cole — Mensch.
Elmo
@RedKitten: Back when I lived in snow country, I also carried a camping stove, fuel, a pot, and a stash of metRX bars in addition to your suggestions. Only I hate telescoping shovels, so mine were full size.
Corner Stone
Somebody better watch out now. The Noodler just noodled some shit on ESPN.
Gopher2b
Thanks for this. I would never have known to do several of these steps (e.g. Unhook the battery).
P.s. if you got answers to all those questions, you can totally hack into his bank account/email/whatever now.
dr. bloor
@Corner Stone: Or more precisely, a Chargers game.
Uncle Cosmo
Oh, I almost forgot: Well played, Cole, well played!
Jason
@Soonergrunt: What you are describing is the “Take Charge and Move Out” effect. TACAMO for short.
Doubtless. Lucky you had military training and not legal training, because I can imagine all kinds of things a lawyer could have done to you for doing all those things you had absolutely no authority to do.
I’m not criticising John, actually pointing out an awful lot of people these days would like to take charge, but are inhibited because of the litigation minefield lawyers have created around these situations.
Angela
Wow, good on you JGC. Very impressive. Stupid question, but why do you disconnect the battery?
YellowJournalism
@Corner Stone: Yes, for traction. I’ve learned just how invaluable kitty litter is in a Canadian winter.
mai naem
@Jason: Most states have a Good Samaritan law which does not allow lawsuits against good samaritans.
suzanne
Good on you, Cole.
Another thing: Everyone, PLEASE, if you witness a wreck, fill out a witness report for the police. I once witnessed a wreck in which a woman hit an ambulance with a patient inside, and the ambulance rolled over. (Dude had fallen out of a palm tree and was being rushed to the hospital when he was hit.) I was subpoenaed to appear in court and I testified, and if it hadn’t been for the witnesses, the woman who caused the wreck would have walked away. I also witnessed a wreck in which a white dude hit an undocumented woman’s car, injuring her. She didn’t speak any English and told me and my husband in Spanish that she wasn’t going to press charges because she was concerned about her immigration status. But because my husband and I were witnesses, the dude was responsible and the police didn’t harass her.
Henry Bayer
Thanks for sharing. Stuff we all need to learn.
Am I the only pyro in the group? I have TWO fire extinguishers, and the 10# is the backup. Score is 4 vehicles extinguished, and kept it contained for the pros in a couple more. OK, I’ve had training, but if gasoline isn’t involved, there’s not a lot of risk.
dance around in your bones
Well, I’m glad you have the experience and training to handle a thing like that.
Something similar happened to my neighbor (who happened to have my kid asleep in the backseat at the time of the accident) – he got out the flares and set them up, directed traffic and etc, and when the cops came they arrested HIM for a DUI. It wasn’t even his fault.
The kicker came when a sheriff’s deputy showed up in my driveway with a subpoena for my kid – who was seven years old at the time – and I said you realize the kid was asleep in the backseat when said incident happened?
What a clusterfuck. Glad it worked out better for you.
Seanly
Good on you, John. And thanks for reminding us to carry safety & first aid equipment in our vehicles. I carry a first aid kit in my Subie, but need to get flares and emergency blankets.
I recommend that everyone get certified in First Aid & CPR. I have previously been certified and need to do it again. My current company is very safety conscious but I noticed that all the certified folks on my floor are the geotechnical engineers who tend to be away a lot.
Also, I recommend that everyone keep an eye out for an AED wherever you are. They’re great devices & meant to be used by anyone whether trained or not. McDonald’s all should have one and I think a lot of other chain/fast food places have one now.
John Cole
@Angela: Prevent any sparks that could lead to post collision ignition. All my training in this was prior to air bags, so I do not know if it will have any impact on extrication of injured and having undeployed bags deploying and causing further injury.
But basically, we cut the battery so there would be no sparks. Just because you do not see a gas leak or fuel source does not mean there isn’t one, so I always, time and situation permitting, disconnect it.
gnomedad
Bravo, John.
Side note: disconnecting a neglected battery can be a bear. Do you carry terminal pullers or something?
Allen
I’ve also thought of carrying a tri-fold entrenching tool but I can’t think of a way of securing it to my satisfaction and I don’t think I want to get hit by it at any time. One must remember that anything loose can become deadly. My Boy Scout troop leader was the Chief of Detectives In Eugene and was a trove of tales about people injured by the most innocuous items flying around the car interior. Have thought about carrying a defibrillator but my neighbors, who are both physicians assistants aren’t to keen one the idea.
Violet
Wow, John, you’re a good man. Thanks for all you do.
The Other Bob
John, Despite your preparedness,, the auto manufacturers want to screw you up. Did you know many, if not most cars do not have a spare tire? You are expected to call for road service. FSM forbid one drive prepared.
MobiusKlein
@Corner Stone:
Yes it does happen.
I’ve stopped an assault in a public park as a gangly teen, been sheltered from gang bangers by stalwart hood dwellers, been the first on the scene to find a guy bleeding on the sidewalk, stopped potential forest fire.
It happens – keep your eyes open, and don’t fear doing the right thing. Statistical karma will pay you back,
probably.
MobiusKlein
@dance around in your bones: I think just just do a formulaic subpoena for all possible eye witnesses. It’s easier to follow the pattern. Subpoena everybody there, and let the testimony work it out.
kwAwk
Are you sure you didn’t learn the proper protocol about dealing with concussions from all these years of watching James Harrison trying to decapitate Cleveland Browns receivers?
reflectionephemeral
@EMRVentures:
Agreed 100%. You did the work, and even though we all hope it never has to, it paid off.
Great work. Thanks for the write-up.
Maude
The guy was lucky you came along. There’s nothing worse than an incompetent doing the wrong thing.
urlhix
Great job, John.
My first responder training has served me and my community well in our small rural county in GA. Like you said, the training kicks in and you are able to hold the fort down until the cavalry comes. I highly recommend everyone getting the certification if your community offers it.
Corner Stone
Some crazy shit just finished in the NFL tonight on MNF. Crazy. Shit.
MikeJ
@Whidby:
I can think of a WW I corporal who wasn’t very heroic.
Another Halocene Human
I was driving a bus and an accident occurred at a T intersection in front of me and a fat guy in a grey shirt jumped out of one of the stopped cars and started directing traffic. Did a bang-up job for 20 minutes until the fuzz arrived, at which point they took over with their trademark jam-everything-up-possible and give conflicting signals panache.
Allen
@The Other Bob: If it appears that the car doesn’t have a spare tire it probably has a run flat tire.
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@Soonergrunt: I’m going to put in a plug for the Scouts here, along with military, police, and other responders. I learned first aid in Cub Scouts, then Boy Scouts. I’ve been recertified for my job every couple of years lately, as well.
Great work, John.
Angela
@John Cole: Thanks. That makes a lot of sense, but it’s not something I would ever have thought of without reading it here.
Corner Stone
@Another Halocene Human:
NOT where I thought this was going at all.
Another Halocene Human
@mikefromArlington:
Screaming with laughter and joy at this comment (sorry, Cole).
Somebody outta tweet this at David Axelrod.
John Cole
@gnomedad:
I grabbed the positive lead, yanked on it, twisted it, yelled “motherfucker,” twisted more, yanked again, and it came off.
Rinse and repeat the negative lead.
noabsolutes
Nicely done. Human decency FTW.
hitchhiker
Years ago, my (disabled due to spinal cord injury) husband and I were driving along a suburban arterial when some guy took his turn at a 4-way stop and nailed a bicyclist right in front of us.
Jesus fuck! I jumped out of the car and went right over to kneel down next to that guy, who was lying in ditch water in shock. The people who arrived when my husband broke his neck knew what they were doing, and it’s undoubtedly the reason he got enough recovery to walk with a cane instead of being stuck permanently in his wheelchair.
I remember touching that bicyclist’s face and saying, “Can you feel your feet? Yes? Great! Can you wriggle your toes inside your shoes? You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.” He was so scared and freaked out, christ. But I was not going to let anybody touch him until the pros showed up.
For the lucky uninitiated: if there’s damage to the vertebrae, the very most urgent thing is to NOT MOVE, because the cord is unbelievably fragile. Turning someone’s head in those circumstances can be the difference between having hands that work and having useless paws.
Also, JC, yikes. Well done, you.
Another Halocene Human
@Mike in NC:
You should have gone up to his window and said, “Good one! Where’s the camera crew? This is some kind of Borat thing, right?”
Lyrebird
@Corner Stone: Yes, it will melt into ice at least a little and give you traction w/o doing salt damage, and it will also help w/moderate amounts of slush/mud (where salt wouldn’t help anyhow). It’s just little lumps of clay.
Was a kid in Massachusetts; was over 20 yrs old before I found out that some people drive around withOUT plain kitty litter in the trunk with the shovel & the reflecty-blanket.
ETA: JC, I’ve been applauding w/the others as I was reading the comments.
Another Halocene Human
@Corner Stone: NOT where I thought this was going at all.
Um… Rule 34?
dance around in your bones
@MobiusKlein:
I know it probably was a formulaic response, but to me (as the mom) it was just fucking hysterical. In any case, the kid never had to go ‘testify’. As if it would have been of any use. Being asleep and all.
My neighbor got out of the DUI, as well. The other driver was clearly at fault.
I’m still impressed with JG’s organizational skills. I guess the training kicks in automatically. Good on ya, JG.
Corner Stone
@Another Halocene Human:
There is a whole universe there man.
Henry Bayer
@Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason: Regarding the plug for the scouts, yea, they’re great. Isn’t it a shame my son couldn’t join?
fuckwit
The point of the training is to make it completely unconscious and automatic, because, in the thick of it and with all that adrenaline going, you won’t have time to do it any other way. That’s also why the training is to repetetive: to make it habitual.
BGinCHI
I’m late to the thread, but am I the only one who thinks this “story” is a parable for what Obama has to do tomorrow night in the 2nd debate?
A moocher
I suppose, John, that you are tired of all the fawning praise, but a metric fcuk-ton of props to you anyway. Seriously, good job.
Your military comments….well, I’ve often thought a couple years national service would be a good thing, except we don’t fight massive land wars anymore.
A moocher
I suppose, John, that you are tired of all the fawning praise, but a metric fcuk-ton of props to you anyway. Seriously, good job.
Your military comments….well, I’ve often thought a couple years national service would be a good thing, except we don’t fight massive land wars anymore.
randalms
Good job dude. I will let you belay me when I’m on the sharp end.
-rms
Dee Loralei
Kudos John, guy was damned lucky you happened along.
Allen
@hitchhiker: I used to live on a pretty busy street, a guy driving a CJ5 stomped on the brakes to miss a dog, flipped the jeep and got thrown out. I was sitting on the front porch and was the first on scene and had neighbors call 911. Wouldn’t let the injured guy move Just covered him with an old, but clean, army blanket. After the ambulance took the guy away but before the police showed up(?) and noticed a shopping bag, picked it up looked inside, and the bag contained a pound of pot.
dance around in your bones
Two times when I was living in Baja, people fell off the cliff (where we lived) about 100 feet to the ocean, rocks below. The first time my friend’s son saw it happen, paddled out and got the guy on a surfboard, strapped him to it with duct tape and pulled him up the cliff. The guy didn’t do so good (paraplegic) but it at least saved his life.
The second time a girl (rather drunk) tried to hang her butt over the cliff to take a pee and fell off the cliff entirely. I was woken up by a friend who told me what happened, and I ran down the dirt path to where she was lying half in the water, and covered her up with my down comforter until the paramedics arrived (30 minutes later).
A year goes by, and I saw the same girl standing at the cliff edge, and I went over and said “You’re the girl who fell off the cliff, right?” She says, yes, she spent 6 months in a full body cast, but is fine now. I told her I was the one who covered her with the comforter until the medics got there, and we shared a big hug. She was so grateful to be alive. I remember telling her not to move at all, just try to stay warm. It may have saved her life (plus the paramedics – I’m not trained, but I remember stuff from TV shows. Ha.)
Genine
You did a great thing, John. I’m so proud of you! You’re awesome.
Citizen_X
Good on ya, Cole.
(Making mental note to buy flares & re-up my First Responder training.)
wenchacha
John, I am particularly touched by your heroic action today. I crashed my car into a tree on a stretch of I-90 around 11:30 this morning. Driving along at the limit or slightly above, I decided my jacket was too warm, and tried to remove my arm from the left sleeve. At that point, I headed to the right side of the wet road, tried to get back into the center of the right lane, and over-corrected. I remember doing lots of steering, and feeling as if it was useless. The car did at least a 360, maybe a little more, still too fast for me to gain control until it headed to the left lane, then down a wet grassy bank and into the trees.
I was so pissed at myself for being stupid, hated crashing the right-and-front end stuff, and cried plenty. After I called AAA, some friendly Canadians stopped to make sure I was okay. They had already called 911, and waited with me and my lab, Ruby, until the ambulance arrived.
Ruby is fine, I’m fine, but it’s been a long day. Anybody who stops to help is a fine human being, in my book. These guys kept me company, and just made small talk, but they didn’t make me feel dopey for crying and their genuine concern helped me gather up my composure more quickly. Everybody else was great, too: ambulance guys, state police, and the flatbed truck/wrecker.
Mr. Cole, your virtues far outweigh any criticisms you hold against yourself. Face it, dude: you’re a mensch.
The Other Bob
@Allen:
No, some just come with fix a flat
sharl
You done good, John. The guy was lucky you were there.
RedKitten
@Corner Stone: Yup. Road salt only works well in certain temperatures. Kitty litter works all the time.
Gregory
You’re a hero, John, seriously.
Lojasmo
Paul Ryan would have done it quicker. Seriously, though. Good job.
GMVictory
When did you call 911?
We dispatchers are always curious about how long it takes for someone to call when an emergency is encountered.
Nothing a dispatcher loves more than a caller who has their crap together, is calm, and, most importantly, knows where the hell they are at.
kc
Good thing you were there. 35 minutes for an ambulance? Yikes.
Denali
John, you are what the world needs now!
Uncle Cosmo
@The Other Bob: And “fix-a-flat” is useless for sidewall blowouts or bent rims. Bunch of car salesmen were not pleased when I pointed this out to them while shopping for a replacement vehicle last summer. At least with a doughnut you can drive to a tire store.
Soonergrunt
@RedKitten: “makes mental note to get an emergency car kit the next time I’m at Canadian Tire.”
Can you pick me up one of those giant inflatable beavers while you’re at it? I never did find one at the store you gave me.
Kathleen
Former Navy Corpsman and 20 year Paramedic here. Most of my career was spent working rural scenes and I have rolled up on enough scenes with Good Samaritans doing their thing. There are two kinds, those are “helping” and folks like you who are getting stuff done.
Thank you for your service and the aid you render. You make a difference in peoples lives for the better.
You write pretty good, too.
LanceThruster
You’re a good man, John…but aren’t these stories supposed to end with everybody coming inside for lasagna?
LanceThruster
@Kathleen:
And sometimes Good Samaritans can contribute by what they don’t do (or are able to prevent). Was first on the scene of an accident on a mountain road where a VW bug hit a tree. Gasoline smell everywhere and some guy that pulled up wanted to get out his torch to cut one of the passengers from the vehicle.
I also learned I get very woozy and nauseated around severely injured people, but still maintain just enough to do what I can to help.
CynDee
Well, done, John. I’m so glad you told us how you did things. You’ve done double-service, and it’s certain to help others help others in the future. You’re always getting people to pay attention to the important things. We can’t say enough good about you.
Full of Woe
That man was very lucky to have you passing by. I hope he’s all right.
Jim McDonald, who posts over at Making Light, has a page outlining homemade first aid and other types of emergency kits.