Boy, Do I Feel Dumb

[Reasonable Rascal]

Okay, here's the scenario. Went over the get the key from the landlord to a place he's selling and I wished to look at. On the return a perhaps 4 miles from his place I'm on the cell phone talking to my son when I see this semi traveling on the westbound shoulder. It *appeared* he might have a brake fire from all the gravel dust he was tossing up so I was watching him.

All of a sudden he pulls partially into the right hand lane, then executes an aburpt turn across *both* lanes of traffic making for a median crossover. Smack into his side comes a sporty sedan. Talk about deja vue, metal flying everywhere!

I believe I re-spoke those famous almost last words about something to do with things that should not be normally glorifed then hung up as I was pulling over.

Car = totaled. Truck = big bux to replace the driver side saddle tank and battery bank and more. Leaking fuel, exposed batteries. Yep, me with no bunker gear.

Driver of the car is a very lucky fellow. Airbags deployed and he was belted. Cervical strain though. Gee, wonder why. Lucky he side-skidded as he did rather than take it head on.

Any way, so I am first one the scene, have my aid bag with me. What was I missing of all things you ask? Gloves. Yep, no gloves, modest bleeding about the face and I have to hold cervical traction/alignment.

To add insult to injury I didn't have any handwash in the bag. Don't remember removing it but I had. And I have several $K worth of all these things, including adjustable C-collars, in the basement (another thing I didn't have, a C-collar).

So, I feel dumb. I have all this wonderful medical gear, enough to fill an empty van several times over, and I didn't have even one single glove in my aid bag.

I'll close for now and endure the well-deserved admonitions. :sad:

RR

[RESQDOC]

Whatever you want, you don't have.
Whatever you have, you don't need.
Whatever you need, you can't get.

[Jonas Parker]

Ah, the good old days! No gloves, no hand-cleaner, no AIDS...

[cayoung]

Dear Rascall,
Well, I've had that kind of situation, though mercifully I can't think of one off the top of my head. It seems that the big failing we all have (and me, too) is that I've either got the wrong stuff in the car, or no stuff. Whether that be a fire extinguisher, or a box of cotton balls.
I think the best thing going now is to pack some gear in your car, and share your story with others. Maybe if a couple of us get the picture, we will be better prepared next time.
At least you stopped to help. I don't even do that!

[NurseMan]

Well, I bet you have them next time! Hey, we can't all be perfect!

I got splached in the face with gut drainage the other day when I was in an isolation room. Did not have my glasses on and the drainage got in my eye. Yuck! One litre of saline eye irrigation later and some blood tests, and I was back on the floor. Wouldn't have been a problem if I had left my glasses on when I went into the room. Guess what? I'll never forget that lesson!