Sunday, August 30, 2009

Getting Involved

There is a woman at church that I visit who is 90 years old. She is really active, despite having serious heart problems. I have known her for many years, but have only been her visiting teacher for the past year.

Today at church I noticed the woman next to her, and the man behind her get alarmed. Pretty soon another man got up and came over. I strained to look over and see if I could see if she was breathing. I was too far away to tell. But then I noticed that a man in our Ward who is a CPR instructor, was sitting on the stand, and was watching. I trusted him that if there were an emergency, he would get up and help. Since he didn't get up, I stayed in my seat. But it was all I could do not to get up and see for myself. Turns out that she had passed out, but still had a pulse and was breathing. The Bishop got up and went and got a wheel chair, and the men took her out to the foyer where paramedics showed up to check her out. I heard that they did end up taking her to the hospital. I need to call and see if everything is okay.

It's hard for me because I'm not a professional, but I would hate for someone to die just because no one tried to help. My kids always get upset that I jump and get involved when something like that happens. But if it was serious, and I didn't try to help, I know I would have to live with guilt.

3 comments:

Nene said...

I'm the same way. I'm not a paramedic, but if no one else is jumping in to help, I do. One day I was at a place where I was going to order captain's chairs for our van. When I got inside, they had just had an accident where a woman worker got her hand stuck in a machine (they made the captain's chairs here). The boss came in and told the secretary to call the local hospital and alert them that they were coming. This secretary literally fell apart and could only just sit and cry and moan. I tried to ask her if she was going to call the hospital, but she couldnt' even respond to me. I just walked over to her desk (where she was sitting) and reached over and got her telephone and phone book and called the hospital myself and told them what had happened and that they would be there shortly. She asked me for the workman's comp number, but I told her that the secretary was not capable of answering and that I was a customer there and I would have her call them as soon as she was able. Then I hung up and tried to calm down the secretary. When she was calm enough, she called them back and I just left without ordering my chairs. My 2 kids (Gilbert Girl and Amber) had sat there like perfect angels while I did all this. My husband doesn't like me to jump in all the time, however. :0)

Amber said...

I hope she's okay!

Dee Ice Hole said...

I'm not sure that junping in to help a 90 nyear old is much help - I wonder if she would even want you to.