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As I was coming back from Auh today morning, chugging along at 100kph on the last lane. I saw this Mistsu Canter Puckup flash me. And being ramadhan an all I just quitely changed lanes to the left and he under took me at around 120kph.

Not more than five minutes after that, I see a dust cloud on the right of the road and there were a few cars on the road all started to brake and flash their hazard lights, As it was bright and sunny and a straight road ahead I could see quite far into the distance and there was no traffic jam or anything. But obviously something was wrong.

As I came closer and was slowing down I couldn't see what was going on. But then to my right horror, a pickup truck had crashed into the right hand side barrier and I could see the cabin was crushed and mangled very badly. I usually don't rubber neck and move on if it doesn't look too bad or if the authorities are on the scene . But this time something in me told me to stop. I must have and stopped at least a 60-70 mtrs away.

I also saw a few other had stopped and were rushing back towards the scene of the crash. A young man in front of me could not have been more than 23 or 24 was kicking out the debris away from the main highway as he was going towards the scene. Must have been quite an impact as there were big chucks all over the place upto 70 ish meters away.

As I came closer I first saw the rear bed of the pickup, It was same pickup that had over taken me a few minutes back as I remember seeing the company logo. Then then whole scene came into view. My heart skipped a beat at what I saw. The impact was so hard the crash barriers had moved atleast two feet from their original position and were now entangled in the pick up cabin which was just a mess of mangled steel, plastic and glass.

I saw a man still siting upright in the drivers seat couldn't have been more than his mid 20's, with eyes closed and some blood on his fore head. I feared the worse as the little group of people rushed towards the man. Then he opend his eyes a sigh of relief went through,
He was awake but a little dazzled and still in shock. But the relief didn't last long. As we tried to free him from the wreckage we saw his right leg was stuck between what used to be the dashboard, the gearlever and seats as the body of the truck smashed into the cabin.

Then we went to the front of what was now left of the pickup cabin and it was even worse. His leg was totally smashed and crushed and entangled in the wreck, and you could see it had almost twisted 360 degrees and totally bent in 3 places for a moment i thought it had cut right off. I thought oh lord how are we going to get him out of this without hydraulic cutters and jacks.Then I asked, more like shouted "did any one call the police", one pathan bhai immediately picked up his phone and said who shall I call dubai or Auh police, I said "just dial 999 man"

But the lord had put us there for a reason as a few of us grabbed hold of the mangled wreck of whatever came into our hands, little sharp plastic shards along of what use to be the dash, pieces of broken glass mangled steel. And we all gave it a couple of might pulls. and we managed to move it just enough to pull out the man.

I quickly ran back to my car picked up the mat which I always carry and a big four liter bottle of water which I had just filled this morning before leaving and always carry just in case, But on the way back I realised something else another pickup had also crashed just a few meters down on the opposite side and somehow managed to jump over the barrier and was now parked in the middle of both the highways, but it didn't look bad at all. For a moment I didn't know what to do. Go help this other crash or go back to the first one. Then I saw a guy in an army uniform with a few others I told him if he could please see if anybody else needed help and then ran back to the driver of the first car, I could see other than the leg he was Ok no other injuries save for a few scratches here and there.Then all of a sudden my first aid training kicked in We put him down on the mat and rolled him on his side to clear his airway in case if he had internal bleeding he would not choke on his own blood. I washed off his face and gave him some water to drink.

I was the only one who could speak Urdu there And having watched enough rescue shows and also the first aid training I knew I had to, So I started to talk to him, asked him what his name was and generally comforting him, saying don't worry about it as he was very worried about his leg, I told him its just a simple fracture, I've broken bones in the past and its no big deal and he'll be walking next to no time, And the Ambulance is on its way and you be in professional hands in a matter of minutes. Nothing to worry about and such sort of stuff.

By then the first ambulance arrived and went directly to the other crash as they could not see us because by now a lot of cars had stopped and we were obscured from view. I was kinda angry at that and ran between the parked pickups and shouted across to the other ambulance, "HEY WE HAVE AN INJURED MAN HERE" and one of the cops said sabar sabar ( Wait )

Then in Arabic I asked one of the other aged Arab man who was also one of the first one to make it to the scene what happened to the other driver, He looked at me strange and said he didn't make it in, I recited "inala hi wan inlahi rajayooun", and quickly changed the subject and started to talk to Mohd the injured driver as I didn't want him to hear this.

Then finally a police man came looked at the leg and then asked me any other injuries I said I don't think so. he said OK wait and don't move the leg. It was then for around 5 minutes I was sitting alone with Mohd holding his hand, I continuously kept on talking to him to keep his mind of what just had happened and every now and then he would say " meri taang" my leg, and I kept on consoling him don't worry Its just a simple fracture and the paramedics are here and you'll be in a hospital in five minutes.

Then finally a lone Filipino paramedic came with his bag, From what ever I could remember from my first aid training course I relayed that information to the paramedic that he is fully awake and conscious and no pain or swelling anywhere other than his leg.
He quickly put him flat on his back checked his neck for any injuries put him in a neck brace and respirator. By this time I realised the crowd had disappeared ? It was only the cops who by now were handling the wrecks Mohd, me and the paramedic.

Then he cut open his trouser leg and it was relief and I have no other words to describe the other feeling it other than disdain, It was obvious his leg had shattered in two places just above and below the knee with bones sticking out but it was not as bad as I had thought as I initially though that he had lost his leg for sure. Then I remembered the other pickup and asked the paramedic " what about the other driver is he alive ?" He looked at me and just said " barely " This was a relief but from the look on his face it didn't look very good.

Then in the middle of the this a cop came and asked the paramedic " Ureed Helicopter " He said "la la no need" and then he went off. Then the Paramedic asked If I could help him I said sure. I held and strected the leg while he put on a temporary splint and bandage on it. It took some time and effort as it was only the two of us and we were on sandy ground but we made it. By then an ambulance came by. Then finally two of us and a cop from the ambulance helped Mohd on to the strecher and rolled him in.

There was still some water in my bottle and helped the cops and others on the scene wash there hands, picked up my mat and was on my way. Still in a daze as just to what had happened. I looked at my watch all this has had happened in a span of half an hour and yet seemed like a lifetime. Then after 5 minutes I remembered I promised Mohd I would call his company and inform someone once I got back to the car as I had left my mobile there. And the company number was on the side of his pickup. I tried to remember as hard as I could what the company name was so I could get the number from 181 but i just couldn't by then I had reached Jebel Ali.

All the way back home it kept playing in my mind how horrific the crash was how lucky he was to be alive, and how he had just gotten up today going about his daily business without a clue as what was to happen, Life is just too short and we need to make the best of it.

Ending thought I salute the people who stopped and went out of there way to help out a fellow human in need, and to all the authorities who provide such excellent first aid and emergency services. I have always respected them but now even more. All of the above are true heroes in my book..... forever !

That's horrible. However I have to say considering you have first aid training you should know better than to have pulled the guy out the truck. Unless there is a risk of explosion, leaking fuel and what not, you do not do this!

They have to be stabilised first, neck brace, IV line etc. If he had had an artery sliced through in the leg, moving him would have caused him to immediately bleed out and he would have been dead. The wreckage could have been keeping any injuries in place so this does not happen.

Well done for helping, but I think you were bloody lucky.

Chocs as usual your doing your job as a naysayer. Well aware of everthing you just said, I or shall we say we made sure the werckage was safe. There was no leaking diesel, Engine was smashed to bits so no chance of that still running.

Made sure he had no neck injuries we was still alert when we got to him. His leg was trapped and had severe cuts in the skin due to bone tearing through but he wasn't bleeding from those wounds.

You can sit here and say this and that and analyze this to death but you were not there and you don't know how it went down. What would you have done, just leave them there and just walked away, probally. I have had a friend die because of that kind of crap mentality you have by an off duty cop who smashed into my friends bike and let him lay there for over half an hour bleeding to death. He didn't do anything and didn't let anyone touch him either. later the hospital said had he been brought to the hospital ASAP he would have survived. Thankfully laws and response times have changed and now its a crime if you don't stop and assit if you see something like this and the authoritues are not on the scene yet

I really don't know what to say to about your attitude other than simply pathetic and petty. Sorry, the incident is still very fresh in my mind as it happened just a few hours ago and all you can come up with is this negativity.

I still think you were bloody lucky. He could easily have bled out on you. And no the laws have not changed that much in this country. Unless you are a qualified paramedic or doctor you can be prosecuted if the person dies as you would be held responsible.

Of ourse it depends on the situation. But in any first aid training, one of the first things you are taught is not to move the person, unless it's absolutely necessary, but to keep them calm and do what you can until qualified help arrives.

Of course I wouldn't leave someone, or have you forgotten so quickly how I myself was the only person to run the the assistance of a local who had crashed his car into the central reservation!

Sadly like you I've also seen some horrific things and sadly some people came off worse because they were dragged out of wrecks.

It's the luck of the draw half the time.

It's not being negative, it's being practical, it's very easy to get muddled with what you shoudl and shouldn't do in these situations. There's no doubt that the guy owes you a debt of gratitude. But I also think you're very lucky it wasn't worse and nothing happened that caused you to face charges and prosecution.

Sadly, yes in this country you do have to think twice.

Please Buzz off chocs really not in the mood for petty mindedness

It's not petty. It's practical. Clearly you can't tell the difference between the two.

Been in the same situation (sort of) a couple of times on the same road. First time a mini bus overturned in front of me, throwing one person out of trhe side window, and four more plus the driver left inside. This was in the outside lane. I pulled my car up to block the lane (protect the vehicle), stuck my faithful orange flashing light on, and ran to the guy who was thrown out. He was moaning and moving around, eyes open but bleeding a bit - but in no immediate danger. I helped the others climb out of the minibus, which had come to rest on it's side. They too were all bleeding, but walking wounded. very, very lucky, the lot of them.

The next one, was when i cam e across an accident that had just happened - a Thursday night near the Ghantoot turn off. An asian guy had been crossing the road (carrying a suitcase, would you believe), when he was hit in the fast lane by a people carrier driven by an elderly arab guy. People were just standing around looking. Like you, i have had a bit of first aid training, so went to see if i could help him in any way. This guy was a real mess (as you can imagine). beyonf "first aid". People were asking me "Is he alive", and i looked into his glazed eyes. Blood was coming from his mouth and ears, bbut he kept jolting his body, and trying to speak. I am sure he heard them, and was desperately trying to show he was still alive, and needed help. Again, when there is no first aid you can give, the best thing is comfort. "Keep still, don't move. You will be OK. The ambulance is coming". It's only words, but it;s the very least you can do.

I was aware of talk of the law that will effectiovely blame the last person to touch them if they die. Unfortunately, the "human" side takes over. I can't just drive by and leave it when noone else appears to be helping, or when it happens right in front of me.

This second incident left a cloud over my whole weekend - did he survive (i think not). Has he got friends and or family here? Is he alone? Is anyone missing him?

You did the right thing, mate. It's the law that's wrong.

I'm with Chocs on this one. The first thing taught in first aid is that you should not move a trauma victim unless there is an immediate need to do so. Good job on how it eventually turned out, desertdude but if the guy had been unlucky, he could potentially have been paralyzed for life.

DD, I look up to you for doing the right thing.


Choc's, your real character is showing clear... nice to know you would rather stand back than help someone who is in danger. real nice. (let me guess, you probably want a medal of honor as well for your 'wisdom')?

dresden wrote:DD, I look up to you for doing the right thing.


Choc's, your real character is showing clear... nice to know you would rather stand back than help someone who is in danger. real nice. (let me guess, you probably want a medal of honor as well for your 'wisdom')?

FFS! Don't you people READ! I never said I would stand back! But the simple fact of the matter is, you do not move someone unless you absolutely have to, because you may do more harm than good! You can treat someone trapped in a vehicle and stabilise their vitals, until you're sure that it is safe to do so.

Jesus wept are you dim or something.

gamercowboy wrote:I'm with Chocs on this one. The first thing taught in first aid is that you should not move a trauma victim unless there is an immediate need to do so. Good job on how it eventually turned out, desertdude but if the guy had been unlucky, he could potentially have been paralyzed for life.

Thank you!

At least somebody actually READS what I wrote, instead of seeing what they wanted to.

That's exactly what I said all along!

Blue your absolutely correct, you just CAN'T stand back and not do anything its against ones natural instinct and nature. Being a well informed person will a balanced head on ones shoulder one can make an assement of the situation and what action to take.

This is also not the first time I've seen something like this. Years back while going to Dhaid similar situation. A cressida from the opposite had lost control hit the first street light with such force totally uprooting it and then hitting the second and comming to rest on its side. The roof had totally flew off and the passenger was obviously dead still strapped into his seat, lifeless with a rush of blood comming from his ear and creating a pool of blood in the sand below.

After realising what had actually happened me and friend started to look for the driver after looking about to see maybe if he was thrown out of the vehicle. But after seaching we found in curled into a ball in the footwell of the car, where all the pedals are.

He was alive and moving and talking but very slowly we pulled him gently from the cramped position and lucky he had no injuries other than a bruise on his cheek but was totally dazed. We pulled him across to the side of the road gave hima pillow from the car, and after seeing everyone was out of danger and the police had been informed. We carried on our way not wanting to get involved in any official bussiness.

Orb as far as I know the law has changed and in fact as stated in my post before, in dubai atleast it is considered a crime if one fails to stop and assit. Will look it up to make sure.

Anyway what was the point of post DD, do you want a medal or something?

Also I would add that you encouraged the driver to perform an illegal manoeuvre too, allowing him to undertake you. Whereas you should have stayed where you were and let him go around you to the left, as you're supposed to!

SO playing deviols advocate, the encouragement of his bad driving in the first palce could have contributed to the accident.

The only reason I posted this was as I myself was a bit traumatised and it helps to talk to others and let it out. Think of it as therapy. Meaningless pats on the back from you or anyone else mean nothing to me nor do I crave to look for them.

I don't give a flying _ _ _ _ what you think. I'm just glad there are still people in this world who would rather step up and help someone than stand back and watch the show or pass the ball to next inline.

When a man is down an ounce of help is better than a pound of preaching, which seems to be your only talent of late.

I would help also, however, many people have been in trouble for helping...

A man had a heart attack few years back on an Abu Dhabi street. The poor guy who offered water to him was put in jail until it was ascertained that he didnt cause the death.

Till such laws are cleared up, most people will tend to stand back, heartless as it sounds to me and others...

Chocs' stance is being completely misunderstood here. She isn't advocating that anyone should be left alone to die. What she is advocating is standard first aid procedure the world over.

Most people's intentions are in the right place but even good intentions can have bad consequences.

.

Chocs' stance is being completely misunderstood here. She isn't advocating that anyone should be left alone to die. What she is advocating is standard first aid procedure the world over.

Most people's intentions are in the right place but even good intentions can have bad consequences.

Vary valliant of you to come out and defend chocs honour, but the simple fact she didn't show a single shread of sympathy or concern for the injured and what might have been a fatality shows her intention.

Instead she took this oppurtunity for more preaching and how Ms Know it all she is and what proper procedure is blah blah blah or she likes to call it "well informed and educated "

I have no quibbles with choc but she could have been much more polite and diplomatic in her approach. What would it be like if god forbid your in a serious accident and instead of comming and offering what little help I can I go off with " you idiot ! don't you know how to drive, look at you, you almost killed yourself, serves you right you deserve all of this and in fact should have been dead "and walk off ?!

I had been through what you can't call an everyday occurance and in all honesty still a bit shaken up and just want it to put it out there, get it off my chest and she barges in with all sorts of crap.

Please.

Yay whinge and beatch about another persons post,the simple fact is these people who cause these accidents are un educated muppets who have no idea on how to drive and no idea how to keep the vehicals safe and well maintained.

Stop hiding from the truth idiots

Agree with the post above. Whats horrible is when some innocent gets injured due to someone else driving recklessly.

Mnay microbus/truck drivers have a false sense of machismo and a huge ego. They justify reckless driving by claiming they are "men" enough to be reckless (unlime wimps who insist on safety). Then when an accident happens, they put it down to destiny and not their own driving...

Chocoholic wrote:That's horrible. However I have to say considering you have first aid training you should know better than to have pulled the guy out the truck. Unless there is a risk of explosion, leaking fuel and what not, you do not do this!

They have to be stabilised first, neck brace, IV line etc. If he had had an artery sliced through in the leg, moving him would have caused him to immediately bleed out and he would have been dead. The wreckage could have been keeping any injuries in place so this does not happen.

Well done for helping, but I think you were bloody lucky.

From my own experience and talking to paramedics after two horrific crashes in my country, I have to agree with Chocs on this one. Its better not to move someone with (visible or non-visible) fractures because of the reasons Chocs writes, incl. arteries.

But then again DD, you're response sounds very rational, affectionate and responsive. I think you did very good reading from your post.

Unless the car with passenger was upside down, leaking fuel or on fire the victim can be taken out fast. If not, let him sit tight and talk to him. Thats what I learned.

People should realize this as not everyone judges all to rational after seeing such horrific images. Calmness is key.

Fortunately in this case, nothing resulted from his actions. All praise for DD!

ps: I don't understand your criticism on Chocs reply, DD? You shared us your traumatic experience, and she gives you some very good advice (be it in her authentic way) , so why not pick up the good arguments and learn from her?

There nothing wrong with improving your skills. And all praise to you again for showing calmness and responsive action as you wrote.

Cheers!

desertdudeshj wrote:

Chocs' stance is being completely misunderstood here. She isn't advocating that anyone should be left alone to die. What she is advocating is standard first aid procedure the world over.

Most people's intentions are in the right place but even good intentions can have bad consequences.

Vary valliant of you to come out and defend chocs honour, but the simple fact she didn't show a single shread of sympathy or concern for the injured and what might have been a fatality shows her intention.

Instead she took this oppurtunity for more preaching and how Ms Know it all she is and what proper procedure is blah blah blah or she likes to call it "well informed and educated "

I have no quibbles with choc but she could have been much more polite and diplomatic in her approach. What would it be like if god forbid your in a serious accident and instead of comming and offering what little help I can I go off with " you idiot ! don't you know how to drive, look at you, you almost killed yourself, serves you right you deserve all of this and in fact should have been dead "and walk off ?!

I had been through what you can't call an everyday occurance and in all honesty still a bit shaken up and just want it to put it out there, get it off my chest and she barges in with all sorts of crap.

Please.

You're lucky you hadn't posted this in Romance. The Fat Controller would have locked the thread and deleted your posts as soon as you argued with her.

Anyway well done, it was a cool and brave thing you did. Whatever the rights and wrongs of moving/not moving, and the blood money issue (I don't even know how this law is now), your compassion was tremendous. I hope I would find the same presence of mind if faced with this situation.

Speedhump wrote:

desertdudeshj wrote:

Chocs' stance is being completely misunderstood here. She isn't advocating that anyone should be left alone to die. What she is advocating is standard first aid procedure the world over.

Most people's intentions are in the right place but even good intentions can have bad consequences.

Vary valliant of you to come out and defend chocs honour, but the simple fact she didn't show a single shread of sympathy or concern for the injured and what might have been a fatality shows her intention.

Instead she took this oppurtunity for more preaching and how Ms Know it all she is and what proper procedure is blah blah blah or she likes to call it "well informed and educated "

I have no quibbles with choc but she could have been much more polite and diplomatic in her approach. What would it be like if god forbid your in a serious accident and instead of comming and offering what little help I can I go off with " you idiot ! don't you know how to drive, look at you, you almost killed yourself, serves you right you deserve all of this and in fact should have been dead "and walk off ?!

I had been through what you can't call an everyday occurance and in all honesty still a bit shaken up and just want it to put it out there, get it off my chest and she barges in with all sorts of crap.

Please.

You're lucky you hadn't posted this in Romance. The Fat Controller would have locked the thread and deleted your posts as soon as you argued with her.

You should see how she PM's me...

No more comment, don't want to derail this thread.

Chocs can take her so called "good advice" and shove it. It was hardly two hours since it happened and Ms know it all starts her " authentic " preaching, really wasn't in the mood or frame of mind for her authentic ways. Heavens sake, there is a time and place for everything.

But she couldn't keep her big trap shut even for a few hours. She had to spread her pearls of wisdom immediately. That is truly pathetic.

Chocoholic wrote:

gamercowboy wrote:I'm with Chocs on this one. The first thing taught in first aid is that you should not move a trauma victim unless there is an immediate need to do so. Good job on how it eventually turned out, desertdude but if the guy had been unlucky, he could potentially have been paralyzed for life.

Thank you!

At least somebody actually READS what I wrote, instead of seeing what they wanted to.

That's exactly what I said all along!

It's not what you're saying, it's how you're saying it.

You started off with

I still think you were bloody lucky. He could easily have bled out on you. And no the laws have not changed that much in this country. Unless you are a qualified paramedic or doctor you can be prosecuted if the person dies as you would be held responsible.

.

Although your intention was probably true, I think your post lost its meaning while travelling down the high horse from where it came..

Robby, wipe yourself off. You have some residue on your lips..

Busa: Spot on the money. Retards (Villagers) + License + Open roads = recipe for disaster.

/thread.

*reopens thread a sliver*

Dre, I think that's a win double.

*carefully closes thread and tiptoes away*

dresden wrote:
Robby, wipe yourself off. You have some residue on your lips..

I thought I silenced the drewling b@stard earlier on... ahh yess...

dresden wrote:DD, I look up to you for doing the right thing.


Choc's, your real character is showing clear... nice to know you would rather stand back than help someone who is in danger. real nice. (let me guess, you probably want a medal of honor as well for your 'wisdom')?

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with some of you people. The lady never said walk off and leave the person to die. She also wasn't saying that anyone did anything wrong. Why are you making her out to be some kind of coward? She was just giving her opinion on what she feels is the correct course of action in such circumstances. Coincidently, she is also right. Paramedicine and first aid are primarily evidence-based. When you get a general recommendation to do something in a certain way, it isn't because authorities feel like telling you what to do. It is because statistically, this practice decreases mortality risk. The recommendation is strictly NOT to move the person if you are unqualified. The recommendation is NOT there simply to protect you from legal issues. It is there to protect the VICTIM!

It's good to know the guy is alright and hope you are okay after your ordeal DD. Kudos to you for doing what you could to help.

Yes ofcourse thats the whole debate I'm very well aware of the basic rule of first aid that every polytrauma patient has a spine injury unless proved otherwise.

And in this case it was proved that he did not have any spine, head or neck injury before it was decided to move and try to stablise the person.

The other debate is that Mrs Holier than thou does not wastes a single oppurtunity and show everyone how " well informed and educated" she is on every subject from condoms to being a puesdo paramedic.

Like Dre and I have said there is a time and place for everything and a way to say it.