Why do we stop at car accidents I stopped the man had lost his leg no one else stopped to help I was covered in his blood and all I can get told after wards is that here is idea maybe go get tested for everything so off I go to the docs get needles after needles and then told on hang on u need to start hiv anti viral meds the fun goes on then my work needs to be told and now everyone is scared to talk or even come close to me even eat in the same lunch room all I keep thinking is why did I stop
11 Replies
This breaks my heart a little.
I can understand the stress you're under, but do you really regret stopping?
What if it was your son or daughter, and no one stopped? What if it was your husband or sister, and people kept driving past?
Deseases are treatable. Death isn't. All the tests are purely a safety precaution. It was one of the things I learnt when I studied CPR in school. Even mouth to mouth is enough to have them suggest testing. That doesn't mean you have a disease, but they need to be sure.
Is it worth the risk?
Damn straight it is.
Thank you for stopping to help a man in need, but please don't regret your actions.
Those treating you as though you're contaminated are the ones that need to be ashamed, not you.
I hope all the tests come back clear. x
The behaviour of your workmates is disgraceful. First of all, those viruses you've been tested for are extremely hard to pass on - via blood or bodily fluids, not by being in the same room as you. Second, (unless you have volunteered the information yourself), why do they even know?? Your employer should not be sharing that information with anyone!
It sounds like you might need to talk with someone to debrief from this experience - you've seen a pretty horrific thing and you're also under a good deal of stress. See your dr and ask about counselling.
Remember, you did a good thing. Something other people might not be prepared to do. Good on you!
Yep behaviour of work mates is atrocious!!!!!!!
Are you receiving any counseling?
I want to also thank you for stopping to help. If that was my loved one in that accident or it was me, I would be more grateful than you could ever imagine. I might not be able to express that at this moment, but that is what I'd want to say. xxx
Yes as others have said this is all precautionary but as an ordinary person we don't expect to face this kind of thing. You are very brave for stopping, don't let your idiot, uneducated work mates make you feel bad for doing an incredible thing. You are a hero in my eyes.
Are you a trained first aider?
Stopping is good
First step is calling the ambulance and police to secure the accident area that other cars don't drive straight into the stranded vehicle.
Second step is to make the area safe. Check for fuel leakage, sparks, traffic.
It actually isn't advisable to move an injured individual unless there is fuel fire etc or the position of the vehicle is high risk.
There are reasons people don't stop. It doesnt take many to stop for additional vehicles to hinder access by emergency vehicles and for traffic to be hindered.
Training in relation to responding to accidents is involved in quite a number of professions. And there are only limited circumstances in which stopping is the appropriate action unless you are a trained first aider or paramedic etc.
how did you end up covered in his blood? Did you move him?
Well this isn't very helpful.
Unhelpful.
You don't necessarily have to shift someone to get covered in blood. And I am a trained medic.
People shouldn't be afraid to stop to help, they are covered to stop and help. If someone was distressed and bleeding out you try and stop the bleeding and then get covered in blood. My guess is that's what's happened seeing as though the man lost his leg.
You stopped because you are a good person and have morals. Seriously your work mates need to grow up. They are being bullies and need to be put in their place. I would be reporting them to management. Try to stay positive it's not very likely that you would catch something.
Wowwwe extremely traumatic. You should definitely speak to a counselor. You did an amazing thing. And goes to show there arnt too many of those around.
Be proud and for those showing that kind of behaviour. Hmmm... hope thats not them one day lying in a car accident needing any assistance.
Where the hell do you work??! Needle stick injuries happen in hospitals all the above happens and no one gives a shit. Seems like you are surrounded by small minded people. Congrats on being a hero. That's an amazing thing!
I think you absolutely 100% did the right thing in stopping. It's a very small portion of the population that has HIV or hep c. I'm very very proud of you. I think that you are probably being over sensitive about people treating you differently. Well I hope so cause that is weird and horrible.
You stopped because you're a good person. And it's now very obvious that good people are rare. Forgive yourself, you did the right thing. If I was injured so severely in a car accident, I would want someone to stop too. If you can contact the injured man or his family, maybe you'll get some more information about his own health and whether he has any blood borne diseases like HIV. There's no point stressing about diseases that you aren't going to get. And if he does have any diseases that can be transmitted by blood, the chances of you contracting the disease are very low. Your skin protects you, so unless there were cuts on your hands that his blood could have entered, there is little chance that you would have contracted any diseases. Your workmates are shamefully un-educated about how blood borne diseases are spread. I suggest you ask your boss to give them the correct information, perhaps you could find some websites or brochures that you could pass on to the boss, who can pass the information on to your work colleagues.