Can anyone explain this to me?

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Why people do not stop to help crashed cars? It seems that whenever we take road trips, we see one. I'm not talking your run of the mill fender benders, but your full blown, semi-flipping, median crashing, type of car wrecks. This may be a little off topic, but since were driving down again and we've yet to have a trip without this happening (in front of us, not from us ) I was wondering how everyone handles such things.

Now we ALWAYS stop and help. We do not own cell phones though. In the past our attempts to flag down cars has NEVER worked. It utterly amazes me that out of all the people passing by on the highway that NO ONE else ever stops, when the car clearly looks in need of help. The inevitable for us is that DH leaves me there and he drives to the nearest exit to call 911, leaving me to do what I can, which isn't much usually. I used to assume that people would call 911 on their cell phones as they drove by, but after waiting for over and hour for help one time after we stopped, I realized that this was not the case.

Has anyone else experienced the "Selfish Travelers Never Stopping to Help Others" phenomena? I've started stockpiling elaborate first aid kits in my car now as a result of this "penchance" I have for seeing such accidents. But I seriously do not get why people don't stop. I understand the safety risks posed now a-days by stopping, but it's not like these are pulled over cars with their hoods up, these are crumpled masses of metal. Is it that everyone drives by thinking that it's somebody else's problem, assuming someone else is helping? Perhaps it's my own naivety, but I just don't get it. This may have been more of a vent caused by our trip to my parents last weekend (where we saw yet another accident on our way), but I figured I'd ask the Disers who have traveled more if this is the norm, or just notoriously bad luck on behalf of the motorists I've seen.

 

[LoraJ]

I call 911, but I don't always stop to help. Usually, I see most accident people on their cell phones, if they were waving me down needing assistance, I would stop. I have yet to see anyone do this, so I don't stop if they seem to have things under control.

There isn't much I could do anyway. I am not a medical professional. If you move someone who shouldn't be moved, you could injure them more than they already are. I call 911 though.

 

[delilah]

Has anyone else experienced the "Selfish Travelers Never Stopping to Help Others" phenomena? I've started stockpiling elaborate first aid kits in my car now as a result of this "penchance" I have for seeing such accidents. But I seriously do not get why people don't stop. I understand the safety risks posed now a-days by stopping, but it's not like these are pulled over cars with their hoods up, these are crumpled masses of metal.

Some of the "selfish travelers" might be scared silly of the litiginous society in which we live today. In a serious accident, there is likely to be serious injuries in which if you move a victim incorrectly, you are likely to cause more severe injury. In my experience, nobody who survives an accident is grateful to a bystander who pulled them free of a wreck, resulting in paraplegia from an unstable neck fracture. I know I don't carry the proper equipment in my car to deal with that type of injury, and I don't think many others do, either. The best thing to do is to call 911, and and have trained professionals deal with the serious stuff. As a matter of fact, in a witnessed arrest, the first step is really to initiate EMS notification, then, start CPR. I am not sure of your training--for all I know you are an EMT or a nurse, in which case, you are probably well prepared.

 

[elf]

I've never seen an accident where other people aren't already there. I'm clueless with medical treatment so I would definately call 911. Even with my own kids I find myself on the internet looking up various illnesses, symptoms, and care.

Yet we were just having this discussion with cousins of mine recently he's a fireman and she was EMT person now nurse. They seem to always seem to be around in the first few moments of an accident's. Two of them extremely serious. One was a car of 6 nuns, flipped. She had to wait for her DH to run and go get help. She knew she couldn't pull them out but stayed held hands, prayed and waited. If something happen to me I hope someone like them was around.

 

[Christine]

I have never encountered an accident that had just happened and no one else was on the scene yet. If that were the case, I would definitely stop.

Also, at least in my area, we have pretty much been instructed to "not stop." It is just too dangerous with all of the traffic. I cannot tell you how many reports I read in the paper about a good samaritan stopping to help an accident victim (especially at night) and then they all end up getting killed by being on the shoulder or too close to the traffic lanes. Our transportation department has told us to make an emergency call and keep moving. I try to heed that fact that, since I'm usually with my kids, it is not safe at all to stop on an interstate and get out and help someone.

 

[calie_j]

I am a volunteer EMT and would stop if I saw an accident, usually help is already there when I drive by so I wouldn't stop in that case, but once down by WDW we saw a car flip right in front of us and stopped, a few other cars stopped too (this was 1998). The driver had already gotten out of the car so there wasn't much we could do except wait with them for the police and get some water to wash off their face so the powder from the airbag didn't irritate their skin.

In a serious accident it's best not to move the injured and without any equipment the best thing to do is call for help and stay with the person and keep them calm. First on scene would get into the back of the car and stabilize their head to prevent them from moving their neck until a collar is applied and backboard or ked is available, so that's what I would do if I stopped for an accident. Also you'd want to stop any bleeding with direct pressure and assess if they're breathing/conscious. I don't worry about lawsuits, you're covered by the Good Samaritan Laws if you use common sense.

Calie

 

[Okiemom]

We have stopped to help people before, usually they are ok. If they don't have a cell phone, we call for them. I can not image not having a cell phone now days, they are so reasonable really, for the safety they provide. I have found that when I did call 911, they tell me others have already done so. So, it might seem no ones was helping, but they could have already called it in.

 

[spiceycat]

I am a single female - I generally either travel alone or with my elder mother.

there have been accidents here - that were STAGED - they then either sued your insurance company - or worst took your car.

You are a wonderful person - but in this society please be careful - you could easily be killed by someone who had an accident.

AAA and the AL highway patrol says don't stop - just call 911 and report it - oh yes - always know where you are - kept up with the exit so you can give the exit number where you are located.

AAA says unless someone is injuried or your car won't go - to keep going and put off at an exit. Interstates are VERY dangerous to stop on even in an emergency.

you are kind person!

 

[ducklite]

I'll call on my cell phone to report an accident of any type, or a broken down car when it's obvious that it's more than just a flat--or even just a flat if I see a woman and children, especially in bad weather.

I will not stop to offer assistance to someone with car trouble--there are just too many evil people out there who use this ruse to rob good Samaritans.

As far as stopping for accidents, we will if no one else has stopped and it's SAFE to stop.

About four years ago my DH and I were travelling from Orlando to Miami in a TORRENTIAL, POURING, downpour. You could barely see fifty feet in front of you. It was pitch black, about 11:00pm. All of a sudden a car DOOR and TIRE came flying at us--and in that split second we realized that two cars ahead had collided in the center lane. I screamed at my DH to pull over, then realizing that we couldn't safely do so without risking being hit ourselves I yelled "GO, GO, GO" and we kept driving.

I immediately got on the cell, called 9-1-1, reported a collision with injury (there HAD to have been injuries if not a fatality!) gave the exact location with mile markers, etc.

If we had stopped there is no doubt that we would have been hit as well, it was simply not going to be safe.

Recently we stopped to help victims of a car crash on the way home from work. A man had crossed the yellow line and t-boned and oncoming car. We called 9-1-1 then took the fire extinguisher and first aid kit out of our trunk. The man was unconscious and we actually felt his neck to see if there was a pulse, we at first thought he had a massive MI and had died. He came to semi-consciousness about five minutes after we arrived but before the paramedics did, and we managed to get his name and sisters phone out of him, and called her and left a message. He also reached in and turned off the car.

While my husband and another woman who had stopped were aiding him, I went to the assistance of the two women who were in the other car. The driver was dazed and wandering around the middle of the road--this is a very busy four lane county road. I got her seated out of harms way on a curb, took a chemical ice pack out of the first aid kit we keep in our trunk and got it on her quickly swelling knee.

I then went to the car, and after talking to the passenger decided that she was in serious danger of being hit again due to where her car was sitting in the road. After asking if she was able to move and in any pain (a bump on the side of her head was her biggest complaint) I asked if she could walk to the curb and she said yes, so I helped her to the curb. Finally the police showed up, and then the fire department. We gave our cell phone to the driver of the second car to call a friend to come pick her up (her freind was transported to the hospital) and then waited with her until her friend arrived about 45 minutes later.

My friend and I stopped to assist a British family who had a mishap between their SUV and a moose while they were on holiday in Jasper National Park a few years back. It took half an hour for the ambulance to arrive, and my freind stood in the road waving a brightly colored shirt to get people to slow down as they passed, while myself and another couple gave some first aid and comfort to the family.

When it's safe to stop and there aren't already a bunch of people helping, I will stop. My DH and I are both certfified in CPR and first aid, and both feel it's just the decent thing to do when possible.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I want to add--there is no reason these days to NOT own a cell phone. You can get a TRAC phone and never use it except to call 9-1-1, and thus have no expense other than teh initial purchase price of the phone (usually around $70).

Anne

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Wow! Thanks for all the quick responses! This cleared up that question a bit for me so thank you.

Also, I definitely agree, as several posters said, that you should not move an injured passenger. Just wanted to make it clear that I've never done this and never will. I'm only in nursing school right now so am not trained to do that out of a wreck yet. However if they have been thrown from a car and on the ground I've been trained to move them safely (nursing home work, we have a lot of neck and back injury residents who can be severely injured by falling out of bed, and in the event that that happens we had to learn to stabalize them.) but I've never encountered that.

I also agree 100% that if it's not safe to stop then don't. In a rain storm we drive to the nearest pay phone and call with the mile marker.

About the cell phones, we honestly don't use the phone at all. In fact appointments are the only thing we use it for so getting a cell just seemed like a waste to us. I had no idea you could get one that simply called 911 though, thank you so much for letting us know about that because now we can look into that.

For the kind people who told us to be careful and keep safe when we do this, we definitely do. I've been attacked before (not for stopping to help someone) and am all too familiar with how valuable caution is, so we always are careful when approachign things.

 

[weregoingtodw]

I want to add--there is no reason these days to NOT own a cell phone. You can get a TRAC phone and never use it except to call 9-1-1, and thus have no expense other than teh initial purchase price of the phone (usually around $70).

You don't even have to use a TracPhone any more. Cell phone companies are required to allow a 9-1-1 call through from any phone, even if the service isn't currently activated. If you have a relative/friend with an old cell, ask if you can have it just to keep in your car (of course, keep it charged or carry a car charger).

Dawgpound - re: your first aid kit - if you're capable of performing CPR, I'd add a face mask and some disposable gloves, if you haven't already. I keep one in my vehicle and have actually had to use it before (I was 7 months pregnant at the time and was wearing a shorter length sundress; I'm sure it was quite a pretty sight!). Can't be too careful!

 

[Okiemom]

I was going to say the same thing about 911 can be called from any phone that is charged. We have 2 teenage girls, and we did not want them out driving without one. So find a friend who has a old phone they are not using and do that. I honestly just say one , for $5.00 at a garage sale. Or the prepaid cell phones are cheap, and if you hardly never use it, the minutes will last a long time.

 

[JimMIA]

Just FYI, in Florida, failure to stop and render aid is a criminal offense. Obviously we don't have SWAT teams out looking for people who don't stop at accidents, and the statute is used almost exclusively in hit and run situations where nobody can ID the driver, but it's the law nonetheless.

We also have laws which shield you from liability if you stop and help, as long as the assistance you provide is within the scope of your training/experience. We had a situation just a few months ago where Senator Bill Frist (a cardiologist) stopped and saved someone's life at an accident scene near Ft. Lauderdale.

I'm sure no one would have a problem if they were alone in the car, if the situation might have posed some risk, or if there were others stopped. The first rule at any accident scene is not to make it any worse, and too many people stopped often creates dangerous conditions.

I have a good bit of first aid training and experience (retired cop and former First Responder and CPR Trainer), so I usually stop at bad accidents even if there are other people already there. I've had a number of situations where I've prevented well-meaning people from moving injured folks around -- and one where I stopped a guy from giving CPR to a person who was breathing just fine. (His explanation was that he wanted to help, and CPR was the only thing he knew how to do!)

 

[ducklite]

and one where I stopped a guy from giving CPR to a person who was breathing just fine. (His explanation was that he wanted to help, and CPR was the only thing he knew how to do!)

If he REALLY knew CPR he would have known better. The way I was taught was "If it's time for CPR the victim is DEAD". In other words not breathing--you can administer mouth to mouth. No pulse is when CPR comes into play. If someone has both, leave them the heck alone!

And agreed about the face mask and gloves. We have both in our first aid kit. Used the gloves at the one accident described above as the one lady was bleeding. Haven't used the face mask, and hope I never have to. In all honesty, with my asthma, the mouth to mouth is very difficult to do for more than a minute or so.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

In Germany it has been the law for many years that you must carry a first aid kit in your trunk, and have a 'caution' triangle in the trunk so that you can deal with an accident to some degree.

A few years ago I was t-boned by someone running a red light at high speed, hitting me and sending the car behind me careening into a stone wall. Several cars stopped, but I couldn't focus to get my cel phone out. It took about 5 minutes before a cab stopped and asked his dispatcher to call 911. The woman in the car behind me was in really bad shape - her car virtually disintegrated on impact.

The at fault driver wasn't hurt, and just hung around until he was charged. When I was leaving the scene, he pulled out a cel phone to call a cab! I am going to be empathetic and say that he was originally too shocked to call 911.

I only started carrying a cel phone in the past few years, but call 911. I don't think that I have ever been first or second on the scene, but if I was NOT alone in the car I would stop. Now, if I was alone, I may think twice, sad to say, but that this the reality today..... that doesn't make me feel good saying that.

 

[calie_j]

The way I was taught was "If it's time for CPR the victim is DEAD". In other words not breathing--you can administer mouth to mouth. No pulse is when CPR comes into play. If someone has both, leave them the heck alone!

As a CPR instructor (2yrs, American Heart Association) and an EMT (11yrs) I question how long ago your class was and who would tell you that. CPR is cardio (heart) pulminary (lungs/breathing) reresuscitation (doing these functions for the person to try and revive). There are many situations which will use rescue breathing without chest compressions but if the heart is stopped there is never a situation where the breathing would be adequate and not require full CPR of both mouth to mouth and chest compressions. We teach that there are very few situations which you wouldn't attempt CPR, the main one being if they are obviously dead.

Not trying to get flamed just passing along correct information from my own training. Many people are trained in CPR but unless they keep up their certificates (which is now done every 2 yrs here, too long in my opinion) to stay informed on the changes that are frequently made and get regular practice it's very hard to remember what to do when faced with a real situation and the adrenalin flowing. I think it also helps to remember CPR if you're taught the why's behind what you are doing, for example if you know that MOST children in cardiac arrest are because of an airway problem (no oxygen the heart slows and stops) it makes sense that you should attempt to solve that problem immediately and not waste any time trying to get oxygen into them, now you know the reason behind 1 minute CPR on children BEFORE calling for help (unless there's an extra person to make the call) and it's easier to remember if faced with the situation.

It's great how many people carry first aid kids along with face masks and gloves. Soon we'll all have a defib in our kits too

Calie

 

[LoraJ]

This reminded me of when i was a vicitm in an accident. I was the passenger ina cab that got T-boned. My mouth was a mess. I couldn't talk, I could only scream in pain. The cab driver only checked on me about 5 minutes after the accident and right before help came. Right after he checked on me, I guess the peopel standing by watching finally noticed I was in the cab. One guy came over and grabbed me out of the cabbed and put his shirt on my face over the bleeding. that was very nice of him to do, but when the ambulance arrived as well as the cops, they thought he was my friend. So they put me in the ambulance and asked him "is she your friend? The guy wanted to ride to the hospital with me. i have no clue who he is and can't say anything. But the cops wanted to keep him around to get my personal info for the accident report.

The guy had noinfo on me of course, so my name is not on the accident report. It was extremely difficult for me toobtain it and it is giving me lots of problems in the lawsuit.

So, while I appreciate he wanted to help, I wish he hand't.

I once did witness an accident happen. It was a spot where 4 lanes merge into one. I'm not sure who was in teh wrong, I think this truck may have been merging early, but the front of the truck hooked on to this woman's car in front of me. I was honking like mad but the truck would not stop and ended up crushing the front of her car.

It was not safe for me to get out but as soon as I could i pulled over and called 911 and told them what happened, I wanted to get back to her but I would have been killed trying to get back over by foot.

My co-worker was 10 minutes behind and said when he drove by, help was already there.

 

[Laurabearz]

I saw a horrific accident on 65.... I stopped to help and saw things I wish I never had.... still see them, flashes here and there.....

I no longer stop, but call 911.

And I want to give a huge shout out to all the people who see that kind of thing on a daily basis.... (((((Hugs)))))

 

[cranbiz]

As a volunteer firefighter, I stop when there is no other help present, no matter where. If there is already help there, anyone stopping is just in the way.

The only time that I won't stop is if it is not safe for me to do so, as I have to be uninjured to perform my duties. I will always call in a need for help on my cell phone.