posted ago by The69thBrokage
+1470 / -0
We had just pulled into our driveway, and heard a woman shrieking for help. I went over, and she was giving him chest compressions. I was about to relieve her when the police showed up. I did what I could, which amounted to holding a flashlight for the officers, and my girlfriend helped his wife call their children. One of our neighbors who was a nurse assisted.
By my recollection there were four officers, four firefighters, an EMT, a Paramedic, and a few neighbors who tirelessly tried to save this man's life.
We didn't know him, as we're new to the area, but I do know those amazing first responders did everything in their power short of black magic to try and help this man. Our first responders are angels.
We had just pulled into our driveway, and heard a woman shrieking for help. I went over, and she was giving him chest compressions. I was about to relieve her when the police showed up. I did what I could, which amounted to holding a flashlight for the officers, and my girlfriend helped his wife call their children. One of our neighbors who was a nurse assisted.
By my recollection there were four officers, four firefighters, an EMT, a Paramedic, and a few neighbors who tirelessly tried to save this man's life.
We didn't know him, as we're new to the area, but I do know those amazing first responders did everything in their power short of black magic to try and help this man. Our first responders are angels.
You as well. I know that I don't have training for anything like that, but I still feel a little ashamed of how little I could contribute to the effort.
You can always take a basic CPR class. You never know when it will be useful.
I think I might get CPR training. We got some back in middle school, but it's been a long time since I was that age.
It changes every few years. When I first learned it 20 years ago it was 30 compressions then a rescue breath doing 60 compressions in a minute and 2 breaths. A few years ago when I checked it was 60 compressions in a row with a single breath "if you can manage it" all in a minute.
If you can work in some basic first aid you will pre-prepared for quite a lot of life's little surprises. If it makes you feel better it doesn't sound like CPR would have helped too much. CPR does not restart the heart, an AED can do that but it's not like the movies. The medics would have had an AED and it sounds like it still didn't help.
They hooked him up to the AED almost immediately. They also had a machine that did the chest compressions. They pulled out all of the stops.
Yeah if the AED didn't save him there wasn't much you could have done even with CPR. Just in case you didn't see my other comment here is the quick how to on current CPR practices.
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/cpr-steps
Whatever you do avoid doing compressions on the Xiphoid process, it can be deadly. A class will help you learn more. Or a good YouTube video with a partner who lets you feel them up. Don't do real compressions on your study buddy!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiphoid_process
I actually explained to my girlfriend the part about the Xiphoid process. I was kind of unloading that on my girlfriend. Trying to digest everything. I do think I should do a CPR class with my girlfriend.
I could use a refresher to be sure too. I haven't had any practice / checking since College. My have even been updates to the procedure since I last checked. I'll check with my nearby firehouse to see if they have any training classes.
Here is some basic info. Seems it's now 100 compression a minute followed by two rescue breaths.
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/cpr-steps
Don't worry about it. Truth is that CPR is pallative for those around the victim. Survival rate for Heart Attack victims not in the hospital is generally 6 percent. I used to teach this class when I was active duty in the 80's. Couldn't believe it. On the other hand, my wife has survived 7 heart attacks. She worked in a cardiac specialty hospital for 25 years. When she thinks she might be having a heart attack, my son (Speed Racer jr.) get's her to the hospital from the house in 10 minutes...it's a 30 min drive. 2nd to the Last one was in the hospital, RN didn't know how to call a code, 1 CNA, 1 Housekeeping lady jumped in to start compressions and yelled till someone called the Code Blue. Last one she was on a ventilator, swears she saw demons coming, a lady came in and started praying over her and held her hand till they went away. Now she's been home for almost a year on end stage renal failure. But she's a Marine Brat, and a USAF Vet. She's not going easy.
Your wife sounds like a total badass. I hope for all the best to you both.
thanks, she is.
I'm just thankful the cops pretty much were there as soon as I was. I was proud of how the first responders worked, and I'm glad my community is protected by them.
It does give me some peace knowing that he was a devout Christian, so he likely died on good terms with the lord. It made me think about a few things that I had never previously considered, namely, how I'd like to go in a manner least traumatic to my loved ones.
Brokage...Amen to that. My Grandfather was out washing his car, and came into the house to get a sponge for his wheels. Hit the floor w a terminal heart attack. My Brother and I thought as you do; what a grand exit. We both hope we are so fortunate.
Life is short. Call someone tonight in your family with whom you are estranged. Patch it up.
We're not estranged, but I told my mom I love her. My mom has volunteered for sit beside dying people who have no family, and comfort them. She's helped my process all of this.
Please be careful with that kind of advice. Many people are estranged from a family member for very good reasons, after trying for years to have some kind of meaningful relationship, and being emotionally abused, lied to, and worse, over and over again. Making people feel like they're doing something wrong by remaining estranged can be really harmful.
It's often not a matter of "patching it up". It's more often something like narcissistic personality disorder or another intractable, untreatable psychological condition. People with NPD will be manipulative and controlling at every opportunity, and will eagerly exploit a family member's repeated attempts to re-establish a relationship, and thoroughly enjoy crushing them emotionally in the process.
That's true.
And there's another side to it.
People with NPD and related disorders will interfere in good relationships and destroy them.
If you are estranged because the years just passed and life happened, or if someone else got in the way, then yes, maybe it's a good idea to patch things up.
But toxic people must be avoided.
Very true.
The call is the hardest part, I swear keep an eye on your lady pede. That's has real as it gets, she is iron born for sure.
The woman couldn't get her kids to answer, so my girlfriend took their numbers and helped blow up their phones. She's a keeper.
Good, it's always at the worst time ie. Early morning or mid day weekend. Just make sure she gets to talk about it.tough not knowing the resolution for some people.
One of her kids arrived as things were winding down. He's still laying in the garage, surrounded by his family.
Also, Shock can last for 7 days.
Shock can last for more than seven days. Believe me. It took me three weeks to let myself cry . I had kids I felt I had to be strong for. A Grief consul er brought it out.
I hear you. Everyone handles it differently. There are no rules when grieving.
Good job ... also, she's gonna need love over the next few weeks... be a fren.
Hey, brother. This could stick with you for a while. Pray a bit, reach out to friends, even if you think it's not bothering you.
Seeing how violent CPR is was the most jarring part. That, and the blank eyes of someone whose soul just left their body. I texted my mom that I love her and I held my girlfriend's hand.
Yeah its pretty common for people getting there ribs broke because of how far down the chest compressions need to be for it to work
Considering I'd only ever seen it done in movies and on dummies, it really was a shock.
When I had a CPR class they told us to expect to break ribs when yourr doing chest compressions.
In fact if I remember correctly its more expected. If you're not breaking ribs, you're probably not doing enough compressing.
I know exactly what you mean, I saw a man who’d apparently had a heart attack driving crash into a car a few yards away from me... All kinds of people jumped in to help, which was the only good thing about it. I cried when I got home & told my hubby it... it took a while for me to get over it. Bless you and the gf for trying to help.
My girlfriend needed to cry on my shoulder a bit too.
Bet my bottom dollar neither OP nor anyone on that block noticed the race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or politics of the EMTs, bystanders, or the poor departed man himself. We're all in this together. Sorry you had to experience it OP but glad he had good people around him at his end.
I did notice their races. They all were members of the human race.
I just feel so sorry for his wife. I pray she finds peace.
Well said.
Noted to appreciate our blessings today. Thank you.
He was called home.
I tried to pray, but in the moment, my brain was racing, and I couldn't really find the words. I hope God could understand my sentiment. I'm thankful the man's pastor could be there for him.
The Lord sees men's hearts like a sharp-eyed man sees a pasture on a clear morning.
I'm normally the type who never shuts up, so it's weird that I couldn't get the words out talking to the big man.
We spend most of our life ignoring our mortality. Seeing the raw truth of it up close and personal can do a number on how you process it. You don't always have to use words to talk to God. He knows the content of your heart.
There are people who would have filmed the event or just walked into their home and ignored it, but you jumped in to offer whatever help you could. That is commendable and admirable.
I hope you find some peace with the experience.
I just feel so awful for the family. We're finding out now that he was a pastor. I'm thankful that he woke up today right with the lord. It seems the world lost a good man.
Thank you for your kind words. I'm a bit shaken, and I have a bit of a headache, but I think I'm doing okay all things considered.
I'm so sorry that you went through that . You can't feel bad for not finding the proper words. Sometimes the situation is just too big.Words seem small and insignificant.
I just hope the big man upstairs can translate what was in my heart.
Thank you, man. I'm doing okay. I have a good woman at my side. I just held her a little closer tonight.
Wow!
Shit. That sounds traumatic.
I hope I never watch a person die.
I never want to see it again.
Sorry friend. That’s a difficult experience. Be proud you were there to assist, and saw it thru. Godspeed to your neighbor, and wishing strength for his family.
My mom said the same thing when I called her to tell her I love her.
Thank you. All my best to your mother. Tell her to keep fighting.
He wasn't conscious or responsive when I got there.
That's rough. Sorry for his family
It was a rough thing to witness.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke (Lk 10:25-37).It is about a traveler who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. First a Jewish priest and then a Levite comes by, but both avoid the man. Finally, a Samaritan happens upon the traveler. Samaritans and Jews despised each other, but the Samaritan helps the injured man.
Thank you for being a good neighbor.
This experience really makes me want to reconnect with my faith. I'm by no means atheist, but I haven't been to church in quite a while. I told my girlfriend when we were sitting and digesting what had happened that I think we should start going to church.
And OP visited favorite bulletin board to discuss. Probably knows us better than the neighbors. Similar thing happened to me. I got the facts about cyanosis, that is, blue-ing of the corpse (and other facts about death) from online "frens." It was a unique emotional exchange, for me, I was first to admit. Talk about it. Hugs!
One of my best friends isn't talking to me right now because of politics. I was there with my girlfriend, and I called my mom, but you can't talk to them like you can with a regular old friend.
Having had to give CPR to someone with my sketchy 20 year old recollection of the certification I once had, I know what you are going through. Thankfully, my son is still with us today.
Go take a BLS class. You never know if you will need it, but you'll be glad you took it if you did.
My girlfriend suggested that this morning.
Oh wow that must have been a horrible experience.It's bad when the person is unknown, but for your own son!
Surprisingly enough, the world slowed down and I was calm and did everything that they had trained me for (eventually). I had my other kids go to their room, my wife (screaming hysterically) dial 911 and call her EMT friend all at the same time. You'd be amazed at what you can do when failure is unacceptable.
I’m sure they’ll be voting for Biden next month
Cmon man! Did the dude die, or was he still alive when they transported him away?????
He died. They didn't even bring him to the hospital.
Yeah I saw some shit like that as well....Imagine dying on the sidewalk/driveway instead of being in bed surrounded by family. Guess it could of been worse though..
Life is short.
Probably couldn't get in to see his doctor because of the Coof theater.
He died of *the covid
yeah let's not get overboard here most EMT/doctors/etc are all for the BLM bandwagon & very anti Trump. Most are pretty useless aswell. Of course there are some good ones so that's probably what you saw
Citation needed.
Paramedic here, very much MAGA.
Another medic here. Most of us are on the Trump train! BLM can suck it. Also, I’m my area we have some of the highest cardiac arrest survival rates in the nation. I work with people who are literally saving lives every day. That’s maybe a tick above useless.