First Aid

[Stid2677]

Was at a hunting lodge this Veterans day weekend and while we were enjoying dinner a young man stood up choking on a piece of chicken. There was 9 other people in the room most older than I, was surprised to watch as no one including the young mans 2 Grandfather stood and did nothing. When I saw that he was silent and turning blue I pushed my way to him and proceed to do the Heimlich maneuver. After the 3rd attempt he spayed chicken across the room and began to breath. Lucky for him, he was a small guy as I don't think I could have done the same for some of the big guys there. This is the 2nd time I have used my first aid training during a hunt. Seems like a good idea to me to seek out some training if you might be doing a remote hunt. Even basic first aid can save a life.

Steve

 

[daddie63]

Well done Steve. He was lucky you were there.

 

[realunlucky]

And a good reminder you may need basic skills anywhere you go even in a room full of people. Thankfully you were there to save his life

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[Stid2677]

I'm sure they would have done something, but scary how quick things can go sideways.

 

[Ian]

They very well may not of, you likely saved his life, at least prevented possible brain damage. Hats off to you Steve. it is interesting the freeze response that is common in emergency situations. It's sometimes hard to break through, and intervene.

 

[toddb]

Great job. Has to be quite a feeling knowing you are part of saving someone's life. Keep it up.

 

[Stid2677]

Great job. Has to be quite a feeling knowing you are part of saving someone's life. Keep it up.

Don't want to sound harsh, but I really did not give it much thought. I acted more on instinct and training, too many years in the military in harms way maybe. I was kind of surprised how silent the room was after. I was like,, nobody going to eat that chicken??? The food was off the chain,, that fried chicken and collard greens cooked southern style was banging and I was hungry as a hostage. I have seen far worst than some puke on the floor to stop me from finishing my meal.

The one thing that did give me something to reflect on, was that young man never said a word to me after and would not even look me in the eye. Now it very well could be, he did not know who it was that helped him. After a few drinks I did ponder about all that training I had while in the Army, during the time I always felt it was a waste of time,, I guess not.

 

[Beendare]

He never said "Thanks"?

That just floors me.....

 

[Zbot]

You'd be surprised how many people have no idea what to do and think 911 is the answer for everything. I blame it on the schools....they should teach CPR/HM alongside the 911 protocol. My kids get taught at home what to do to atleast try to save a life. All they learn at school is to call 911 and help will come. Nobody talked about how long that might be


Youngest save I have is 4 YO on Halloween candy from that night, while everybody stood around and asked eachother to call 911. Had to push my in in, like you, to fix the situation. See it all the time, everybody wants to watch but nobody helps. Makes you think...

 

[Grumman]

Great job, he is lucky you were there. Sounds like everyone else got hung up in the bystander effect where everyone else did nothing thinking the next person would save him or call for help.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[backcountry_hunter]

You'd be surprised how many people have no idea what to do and think 911 is the answer for everything.

I think you'd be even more surprised at how many people have FA/CPR certs or First Responder and do exactly what Stid encountered.... I've had exactly what he encountered take place in an busy metropolitan restaurant on a Sunday morning and quite literally nobody came to this guys aid. My wife and I had just walked through the door and his daughter or niece or something was screaming "he's choking" and everyone stayed seated. After a similar story about 1/2 dozen people came up to me and told either myself or the restraunt manager that they were FAS/CPR/FR trained..... well why did it take me walking through the door 1/2 way through his episode for anyone to do anything?

You don't see it often in EMT(b) or EMT(p)'s but lower level training seems like its often forced down people's throats via employer or what have you and they really have no general interest in using it.... every. So a situation like this comes up and it's deer in the headlights. 95% of FA/CPR trainees don't take it serious enough and view it more as a day away from work.

I don't know how many time's I've used my med training in the woods. More than I can count

 

[rodney482]

Great job.

 

[Kevin Dill]

Good work Steve. I have always thought most people are willing to help but lack the necessary training and skills to recognize what actual emergency is happening and how to deal with it appropriately. First aid skills are valuable!

I was young and recently married...sitting in a steakhouse with my wife....the guy at a table beside us was having a coughing fit and not looking good. He sounded awful and lurched from the table into the foyer...I figured he wanted some privacy and fresh air. My wife was concerned and so I followed him to the foyer....where I found him down and blue. He was unconscious and apneic. I figured he might have an airway obstruction and 'swept' his throat with my finger...nothing. I got him in position and performed the Heimlich x 3...nothing. I shouted at the desk to call for an ambulance and I started chest compressions and respirations...he was pulseless and still apneic. Someone joined me and we worked together until the ambulance arrived. The paramedics couldn't get an IV started and after 3 tries I identified myself as an RN and I started that IV line. Then I requested lidocaine and atropine IV...which was given. I basically took over the situation and controlled his care until he was loaded. I learned later that he survived and was grateful. I was pretty disheveled when I returned to our table and didn't have much appetite. The restaurant staff came and thanked us....and we had dinner on the house.

A couple years ago we walked into a grocery store and noticed an elderly woman with a head injury. The automatic doors had closed on her before she cleared them and knocked her into a grocery cart. She was bleeding and confused. My wife and I jumped in and gave first aid. We determined she needed medical eval and helped her until she was transported. The family was basically helpless and so were the store personnel. Ten minutes after she left...we were shopping and a clerk located us. He handed us a $50 gift certificate and thanked us.

I suppose we've done first aid or rescue more than 2 dozen times in our marriage and travels. It pays to be prepared and willing. You can save someone's day or their life. You'd appreciate it if needed, too.

 

[motts]

The one thing that did give me something to reflect on, was that young man never said a word to me after and would not even look me in the eye. Now it very well could be, he did not know who it was that helped him. After a few drinks I did ponder about all that training I had while in the Army, during the time I always felt it was a waste of time,, I guess not.

I wouldn't worry too much about this as he was probably embarrassed more than anything else, or he might have been trying to come to terms with what had just happened. I've heard a lot of people say "I feel so stupid" after an event, even though it may have been completely out of their control.

Years ago, I literally had to drag a guy that I was camping with more than a mile out of the woods in the Adirondacks in January because he made several poor decisions and was well on his way to life-threatening hypothermia - he never said thank you or even acknowledged that the event took place.

 

[Larry Bartlett]

I wouldn't ponder too much about that young man's response, Steve. If you've never been scared sober by what you believe to be possibly the end of your life....well, it's a silent retreat into a very humble and scary moment of a thin threshold of life/death balance. By the time that moment is decided by a chemical exchange, a normal response is never expected. That kid was likely so overwhelmed by fear and then embarrassment that he simply couldn't respond "normally."

Shit man, one old timer in the hospital I served swallowed a piece of Army steak and passed out before I opened his bedside curtain and found him dead and pale. Dinner had just been served and i was making rounds to check on needs.... I saw his plate unfinished and thought he died from a heart attack. Must have choked out silently because no one around his bed even knew what happened.

I opened his mouth and saw a small piece of gristle in the back of his throat. Tried the modified Heimlich from lying position and couldn't pop it out by force. Grab that shiz with my leatherman and pulled it out, then started chest compressions with no pulse. 10 pumps later he came back to the light...

The first thing he did was ask what happened. The 2nd thing he said to me was why the "F" did you bring me back to this "F'd" up place. He had terminal cancer and was done with the fight. I brought him back to die slowly from chemicals and pain. I'll never forget the conflicting emotions I felt about the event.

You're good man mister Steve. Just gotta do your thing and move on. Good man indeed.

The mind is a fragile human condition.

 

[Stid2677]

I wouldn't ponder too much about that young man's response, Steve. If you've never been scared sober by what you believe to be possibly the end of your life....well, it's a silent retreat into a very humble and scary moment of a thin threshold of life/death balance. By the time that moment is decided by a chemical exchange, a normal response is never expected. That kid was likely so overwhelmed by fear and then embarrassment that he simply couldn't respond "normally."

Shit man, one old timer in the hospital I served swallowed a piece of Army steak and passed out before I opened his bedside curtain and found him dead and pale. Dinner had just been served and i was making rounds to check on needs.... I saw his plate unfinished and thought he died from a heart attack. Must have choked out silently because no one around his bed even knew what happened.

I opened his mouth and saw a small piece of gristle in the back of his throat. Tried the modified Heimlich from lying position and couldn't pop it out by force. Grab that shiz with my leatherman and pulled it out, then started chest compressions with no pulse. 10 pumps later he came back to the light...

The first thing he did was ask what happened. The 2nd thing he said to me was why the "F" did you bring me back to this "F'd" up place. He had terminal cancer and was done with the fight. I brought him back to die slowly from chemicals and pain. I'll never forget the conflicting emotions I felt about the event.

You're good man mister Steve. Just gotta do your thing and move on. Good man indeed.

The mind is a fragile human condition.

Thanks Brother,, we need to go kill some fish next summer. Have a couple drinks, poke the fire and ponder life.

 

[woods89]

Way to go, Stid!

My experience is pretty kindergarten compared to the rest of this thread, but I had an awakening as to people's lack of helping about a year ago.

I was fueling up in town. Fuel island was full, and I noticed a vehicle parked next to the curb of the parking lot. The driver was standing next to it, and looked like he was in pain. I swung by on my way out and asked if he needed any help.

Turns out he was suffering from a kidney stone and in pretty serious pain. He was on the phone with 911 when I walked up and soon was writhing in the grass. He was coherant so I just sat with him and made sure the ambulance could see us when they pulled in. So I really didn't do anything but provide moral support.

I was struck, however, by the fact that he was laying in the grass in obvious pain and NOBODY else stopped to see if he was ok. I'm sure 10-15 people came and went while we were there and either they didn't notice or didn't want to get involved. It made me resolve to trust my gut when I see something that doesnt seem right and make the effort to stop and see what is going on.

Dude could have been having a major heart attack right there for all they knew...........

 

[KMBH]

Nobody talked about how long that might be

.

When seconds count...we will be there in minutes.