I had enjoyed a day off and was just leaving the house when we had a blackout. I didn't have time to investigate as I was off to get the kids from school, so thought I would sort it out when I got home. Into the car and 200 yards down the street was a guy lying in the gutter next to a tip truck with 3 people standing over him (not doing anything). When I asked if they needed help, they in turn inquired if I knew anything about CPR. I took this to be an answer of "yes".
So being a First Aid certificate holder I got into it. It was definitely one of those "time slows to a crawl" moments. He was unconscious with dilated pupils and his face was bright purple. I cleared his airway (fair bit of blood, think he broke a tooth in the fall), found no pulse and got into the compressions and breaths. Worked like a bastard I can tell you and lost awareness of pretty much anything else except a lady on a mobile taking to the Ambulance service. That and the feeling of his ribs and sternum breaking under my hands.
The Ambos arrived about 10 mins later - great I thought, I was pretty tired and needed a break.
"Good job" they said "Keep Going".
So I keep going as they set up oxygen and a defibrillator. We zapped him and kept compressing. A few minutes later (and getting REALLY tired now) he had a weak, thready pulse. So we put him on a stretcher, loaded him into the Ambulance and off he went. Somewhat shaky, I went and got the kids from school.
About an hour later I remembered that I has a CPR mask in the first aid kit in the back of my car.
And then I went back to the scene for my jumper, sunglasses, mobile phone and all the other stuff I had left there when I left in a daze.
The next day I spent giving statements to the police and being checked out the hospital. I had done a good job they said, well done. "Now lets talk about Hepatitis B and C and HIV, all of which you may have been exposed to". Great. A bunch of blood tests for both me and the patient and 12 long hours later I was given an initial all clear. Full clearance will have to wait another 3 months. Yes, I put myself at risk and I knew it at the time. But the guy needed air and couldn't wait. I don't think I could have lived with myself if I didn't just crack on. I simply did what needed to be done, as I'm sure you would all have done too.
So beer tasted a little better than usual afterwards, as did the BBQ and everything else I did on the rest of the weekend. And the patient? He is still in Intensive Care but has now stabilised. Great news indeed. I hope he gets to enjoy one of those beers in due course.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/passerby-performs-cpr-on-unconscious-truckie-20120325-1vsum.html
Well done, you earned that beer, to be honest, your statement "as I'm sure you would all have done too" is probably not as accurate as you would like, as you said, 3 people were standing around, and I don't think that is vary uncommon, most people are sheep, with only a few wolves to look over and lead the flock,(military, LEO's, Ambo's, fireman, emergency services and a small percentage of outstanding citizens) you can now consider yourself part of the pack, well done.
ReplyDeleteJust read the article, and now realize you were already part of the pack, its just confirmed now.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why everybody should learn CPR.
ReplyDeleteWell done! You are a better man than most. You have without doubt saved that man.
It is a good thing to talk about it, as it surely have an effect on you.
Lord Sowoc is right and I should get it done too. Great story, you did well!
ReplyDeleteYes, well done. It's not as easy to act as most people imagine, you either do, or you stand around waiting for someone else to. A lot of people have the training and skills and still don't do anything when that moment comes. That beer was well deserved!
ReplyDeleteYou are a true hero Paul. As others have said, a lot do nothing but not you. I'd like to think I would step up too. Great work mate.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is not just learning CPR, but acting too. Of the three people standing about, I bet at least one of them had attended a CPR class at some time or another. But we are just too easily shocked, too afraid of doing it wrong, so we tend to stand around doing nothing.
ReplyDeleteI know from first-hand experience, I was one of the guys just standing around not knowing what to do when a woman collapsed just in front of me at work one day. Luckily another person acted and started CPR and then yelled at me to call an ambulance. We both attended the same CPR class so our knowledge was equal.
So enjoy your beer, well done.
@Laffe Don't beat yourself up about it. No-one knows how they'll react in that situation until it happens. I know plenty of young cops and soldiers who froze the first time they were in a bad situation. They only froze once. Next time, your training will win over the initial shock and you'll be able to do what you have to do.
DeleteI can only agree, reactions are about training and experience and the amount required differs for everyone. Now you have that, you will have the confidence next time, should there be one. You were still there and being involved and believe me, that really helped the first aider doing the CPR.
DeleteWell done Paul ! there are not many heroes around these days, but you are one of them for sure.
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine a much better accomplishment than saving another person's life. Undeniably significant. Lucky man that you were there!
ReplyDeleteWell done Paul. Big respect to you.
ReplyDeleteWell done Paul, damn good work mate!
ReplyDeleteHi Paul,
ReplyDeleteVery well done that man! Enjoy the beer on the back of this and the UK annex of the Man Cave will hoist one in your honour!
Fantastic job,
All the best,
DC
Well done Paul
ReplyDeleteA superb story and result. Very, very well done sir!
ReplyDeleteWow, you saved someone's life, there's no nobler deed. All the more so as you knew you were risking your own with exposure to infection. Heroic.
ReplyDeleteI'd shake your hand if I could sir, well done indeed.
Mate, very very well done. Hope he buys you a six pack in return.
ReplyDeleteWell done Paul, sounds a very frightening experience, I raise my glass to you.
ReplyDeleteVery well done sir. While I have my first aid certifications but I doubt I could ever use it in a situation like yours.
ReplyDeleteI just hope someone like you will be around if I have an accident someday. I feel a big respect for you!
ReplyDeleteVery cool and impressive of you to do that! Kudos for saving the guy!
ReplyDeleteNo good deed goes unrewarded, good karma is to follow. have a beer on me!
ReplyDeleteAs for taking risks, I know what you mean, I helped a guy in a motercycle wreck back in my teens with my mother. I was covered in blood as I was trying to apply pressure to wounds to stop him from bleeding out while the ambo was on the way...not a fun thing...guy had broken ribs, one leg looked liks a string of sausages, another twisted at angles not possible, a bone sticking out of his forarm on the left side, he was in shock and had a bad concussion along with multiple cuts and internal injuries. He lived and stopped by to thank us a year later when he was selling magazines on his sr year in school. Everyone asked if I was worried about blood issues like HIV, etc...
Wow, that sounds a lot more traumatic than my experience mate. I'm sure your Mum was super proud of you standing by her at your young age, which would have made it that much worse for you.
DeleteWell done Paul. There's nothing in the world quite like those three feelings: 1st, the feeling of having helped save a life. Second the somewhat disquieting sensation of feeling ribs pop and knowing you have to keep going anway and thirdly, the very disturbing feeling of having your blood tested for blood-bourne infections.
ReplyDeleteI've gone through those same tests three times now: twice for needle-stick injuries while searching a suspect and once after being bitten in a massive brawl at the charge-bar. I know how much it can upset your equilibrium for a time, but in all three instances I received the all clear. Luckily, each time the ned in question was sensible enough to volunteer for blood tests themselves (making themselves look good for the sheriff). Even when their results came back clear, there was still that lingering doubt -had they been carrying someones else's needle? Had they shared a needle recently?
Just try to keep it to the back of your mind and move on until the results come back. Honestly, it was harder on the wife than it was on me. One of the reasons I eventually called it a day and starting painting for a living. It helps to sit down with your wife and chat about it, as I assume you have done already.
Keep that mouth guard in your pocket-book next time. :D
@Laffe Don't beat yourself up about it. No-one knows how they'll react in that situation until it happens. I know plenty of young cops and soldiers who froze the first time they were in a bad situation. They only froze once. Next time, your training will win over the initial shock and you'll be able to do what you have to do.
Thanks for sharing your story LL, I really appreciate it and it helps put it into context. I am proud to serve in a uniform but I don't think I could be a cop - anyone who had carried a badge has my sincere admiration.
DeleteMy pleasure Paul. Fire off an email if you need to talk things over or get something off your chest. brian@leadlegion.com.
DeleteWell done Paul! Reminds me that I probably need to re-do my certification. I also remember reading somewhere about current thinking going to compression only. But if he was obviously not breathing I'm not sure how I would react.
ReplyDeleteGreat job mate, having been a lifeguard for 8 years I am happy I have never had to resuscitate a person. Don't beat yourself up about forgetting the mask, in those situations it's impossible to get everything right. You're a hero pal, did all the right things.. he's stable too. Job's a good 'un!
ReplyDeleteWell done you've earned your beer!
ReplyDeletePD
Great job!
ReplyDeleteThose are the every-day-heroes!
Well done that man; whichever way you look at it he can enjoy his next beer because of you! Cheers.
ReplyDeleteThank you indeed everyone for your comments, well wishes and support. I am proud of my actions, but really just did what was necessary in the situation. Fingers remain crossed for the truckie.
ReplyDeleteMaybe my scouts will listen to my next First Aid lesson more closely now :-)
Thank you for thinking of others before yourself. You sir, are a true hero to the man you helped, his own and all of us who know of your selfless act. Its a true sign of a man who without pay or promises helps one who needs it for no other reason then because it is the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteCheers to you,
Brian
Well done! As a 22 year firefighter/paramedic, I can tell you you did indeed make a huge difference in his outcome. A few seconds longer, the outcome would have been different. As for the tests, been there too, its no biggie. Chances for transmittal through mouth to mouth is minimal.
ReplyDeleteAmazing post. My jaw dropped through the floor and kept going when I read this. Been years since I did a first aid certificate. In fact more than ten. Might be time I did it again. All the best from the top of Oz.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Top man.
ReplyDeleteAll the best
Airhead
Thanks Gentlemen - your thoughts and support is very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat work.
ReplyDeleteCPR doesn't always "work", but it looks like this is one of those times it did.
Current thinking is that compressions alone (i.e. without ventilation) is sufficient, and in any case much preferable to nothing at all!
Just last week I came across a traffic accident outside my place. An old motorcylist sustained an open fracture of the thigh bone - it was sticking out and the end was chipped and dirty, and the limb was bent so there was little visible blood loss. He was still conscious and in rather good spirit, no doubt helped by a passing jogger who kept him engaged in conversation.
I waited by them until the motocycle paramedic arrived, when I declared to him that I was a doctor and offered to help him.
The jogger was a little surprised and apologised, presumably thinking that he was in my way - I told him that without the equipment there was little I could actually do to help as a medical personnel, and that he was in fact doing more by reassuring the casualty while helped came.
My point is: even if you are not medically-trained or a first-aider, sometimes being a decent person means a lot to someone in need too.
Anyway, ribs do fracture commonly during CPR (some might even argue that they *should* if you're doing it right), so don't worry about that part.
I hope the repeat blood tests will all come back negative. Keep us all posted.