Done my 'good deed' for 2008....
Saturday, October 11, 2008 by Jafo | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Went out cycling yesterday [Saturday]...for my common 60 km run [though 'common' means it's only the second time out on the bike this year....too much work here...and in drawings...and with the house extension]...and was about 40 k into the ride...
I stopped at a kiosk in park [to restock with coke - flat, it's actually a good energy drink] and got bailed up by the 'usual' cyclist asking all sorts of questions about my bike. [It's my own design/make so is a wee bit unique].
Behind me there's a thud/crash and I look around and an elderly woman [around 80] is on her bottom on the ground....the ground being particularly uneven brick paving [potential damages claim right there]. Her companions are 'fussing' but otherwise looking quite lost/ineffectual....and all being 50/60+ I doubted their ability to even lift her safely.
So over I went...assessing damage...skin-tear to the shin....bleeding quite 'well' [small puddle on the bricks] and elbow looking quite 'second hand'.
Her daughter [maybe around 60] was dabbing at the leg with a tissue....that wasn't doing much at all except changing the colour of the tissue...so I popped out a hanky and applied pressure to the leg....asking/verifying whether she'd also hit her head or not....she hadn't.
Everyone was still fussing but not actually doing anything....so I got one of them to go inside and ask for the first-aid box....which arrived...and somehow was left to me to use. [there was probably 400 years of experience amongst the lady's cohorts but it was down to me...a total stranger to deal].
Daughter told me...at least 3 or 4 times by now that mum was on Warfarin [a bit like the relative at casualty telling the doctor what drugs the patient is on]...so I said...ok, it's a blood thinner which means these wounds are more significant than they look.
I dug through the first aid box [was pretty ordinary] but managed to find some antiseptic swabs [quite clever since I was still wearing my sweaty cycling mitts - I took them off]...couldn't find any lint-free pads but did some gauze ones...and then bandaged both injuries...stressing she'd have to get to a REAL doctor for proper care, blood pressure checks...even shock.
Then it was down to me to pick her up off the ground....better one strong person than two wobbly ones and we plonked her down on a chair. She and her companions then went on to enjoy their scones and cream that they'd been there for in the first place.
It seems bike rides always manage to be 'interesting'.
A few years earlier just up the track from there I'd had an 'argument' with 2 brown snakes [they're no #2 in the world's deadliest list].
Then the time I cam across the guy who was unconscious [with eff-all pulse] in 40 degree heat and dehydrated through a wee too much beer...
No wonder I'm not cycling all that often.....can't handle the drama....
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Reply #21 Sunday, October 26, 2008 9:36 AM
It's great to hear that there are still some folks that are unable to prevent themselves from doing good deeds for others.I tip my pointy hat to you.
One of the hardest things in life is to do someone a good deed...but don't get caught.