I came across an unconscious woman - what should I do?

[Shoegrip]

I started this thread a few days after the event as it was still on my mind and I realised that the situation could have gone a number of ways and I wondered if there was anything that should have been done differently.

This was early in the morning in an area where it would have been quite possible for nobody to go past for several hours. It was pure chance that I was passing so there was nobody else who was going to take charge of the situation. Had it been in a city centre with lots of other people around then would I have stopped? It really would have depended on the situation and I wouldn't be critical of others not stopping as I don't know what is going on in their lives. What if they are going to catch a flight or to a genuinely important meeting?

On this occasion, lots of things went through my head. She was a pretty girl (lady) on her own, had she been attacked, if I go near her will I be accused of attacking her, is it appropriate for me to rummage her pockets? Should I move her? Is she I'll and will I catch anything from her.

It is shameful that those thought entered my mind as all that really mattered was, is she alive, is there anything that needs to be done to keep her alive, call the emergency services, try to find out if she has next of kin or contact details on her.

In hindsight, call emergency services should probably been on top of the list.

[Derek Smith]

Shoegrip said:

I started this thread a few days after the event as it was still on my mind and I realised that the situation could have gone a number of ways and I wondered if there was anything that should have been done differently.

This was early in the morning in an area where it would have been quite possible for nobody to go past for several hours. It was pure chance that I was passing so there was nobody else who was going to take charge of the situation. Had it been in a city centre with lots of other people around then would I have stopped? It really would have depended on the situation and I wouldn't be critical of others not stopping as I don't know what is going on in their lives. What if they are going to catch a flight or to a genuinely important meeting?

On this occasion, lots of things went through my head. She was a pretty girl (lady) on her own, had she been attacked, if I go near her will I be accused of attacking her, is it appropriate for me to rummage her pockets? Should I move her? Is she I'll and will I catch anything from her.

It is shameful that those thought entered my mind as all that really mattered was, is she alive, is there anything that needs to be done to keep her alive, call the emergency services, try to find out if she has next of kin or contact details on her.

In hindsight, call emergency services should probably been on top of the list.

Nothing shameful in being normal. Not only that, the concerns did not limit your actions. Good for you.

With regards to whether you'd act if there were others around, there was a test of this a few years ago. Someone made out to be ill.

If just the one person turned up the norm was that they would act in some way. If there was a group, then it often happened that they will all stand around waiting for a lead.

There were explanations for this but they amounted to guesswork.

Anyway, I don't want to seem mercenary, but enjoy the fact that you have probably saved someone's life. You are in a minority. It is surely what everyone wants on their CV. But you've done it. Hey, you are a hero, at least to her and her family, and hopefully to you and yours. Evidently the norm is for the person saving a life to feel grateful to the person they saved for the opportunity.

You've done something of such importance that no one, not even the most bitter, can take it away from you. You've been tested and passed, and with flying colours. The woman is alive and it is thanks to you.

Go buy yourself a drink. You deserve it and more.

[4x4Tyke]

The increased reluctance to intervene when other people are about is well documented and is called the Bystander effect. As the number of bystanders increases, the effect is an increased lack of individual responsibility. The effect can be broken by one person breaking the spell and helping and literally ordering other people to do something to help.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Many years ago, when I did first aid, one of the things I was taught to check diabetes by checking for acetone smell on breath and if present give sugar/glucose. In general unconsciousness from low blood sugar is fast while for hyperglycaemia is slow. (remembered with 'Fasting is fast'). Giving glucose is the safest option.

Edited by 4x4Tyke on Wednesday 26th October 15:39

[Fore Left]

brrapp said:

JumboBeef said:

brrapp said:

I've no wish to denigrate the operators who I agree do a fantastic job, but I wish they could be given some scope to depart from the set script on occasions when parts of it are obviously not appropriate. On one occasion I found a body which had clearly been dead for at least a few days and was in a state of decomposition but the operator still had to run through the 'Is he conscious, is he breathing, can you take a pulse? script before calling anyone.

How would you change the process?

Give the operators the scope/permission to depart from the standard script if their judgement tells them that it is irrelevant and wasting time.

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says, "Calm down. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence; then a gun shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says, "OK, now what?"

World's funniest joke apparently, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_funniest_j...

Well done OP and others who have helped btw.

[DonkeyApple]

What does the First Aid course say about the timings for posting photos on social media? Should this be done before the administration of first aid, after or simply instead of?