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WHAT ARE PEOPLE THINKING??

Posted: Mar 28, 2011

I went to lunch today for a change in scenery. I had a cold bay shrimp salad with a butter herb vinegrette dressing and a passion fruit tea. It was nice on the patio today, warm with a slight breeze and I was happily munching away when all of the sudden I started to CHOKE! I mean for real, gagging, retching choking!

As if that wasn't bad (and embarrassing) enough, NO ONE WOULD HELP ME! It seemed as if a whole 2 minutes went by until I ran from the patio into the restaurant and to one of the staff, who BACKED UP from me and yelled for help. I finally gagged a big gag and the shrimp dislodged along with the rest of my lunch... It was horrifying! I went outside and gathered up my purse and wiped my nose and my tears, drank sips of tea to wash away the vomit and became furious! The manager came running out and asked if I was okay. I told him NO and told him what happened while looking at the other people who were outside, now looking away from me like they didn't see what happened.

He apologized for his staff and offered me lunch on the house. I declined and kind of half heartedly thanked him. I threw the people on the patio the bird as I left and told them I hoped they didn't choke. (there were about 8 people on the patio)

I can't believe that NO ONE got up to help me! I am just furious!!! What has happened?? Did I miss the memo that says we shouldn't help people anymore?

My throat and neck HURT! My heart is sad.

;

So sorry that this happened to you... - Kendra

[ In Reply To ..]
I think that sometimes people don't really know what to do and they just assume someone else will help. I would like to think that I would help, but I might just panic. If my husband is about to hit something with the car or truck, I usually point and say, "um um um," but can't seem to manage to get anything else out! I am glad that it all turned out well!

I'm so sorry... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Believe it or not, I've pictured myself being in that situation and wondered what people would do. I happen to have a fear of choking so I try to imagine how things would go down, so to speak.

I'm amazed at your story, and that not one person offered help, let alone the restaurant staff! That is very sad, indeed. I would like to think that a person's natural instinct would be to help someone and/or save a life. Sorry for you, and I don't blame you for having a sad heart after that experience.

re: posey - Riikka

[ In Reply To ..]
What a shame. It's like at traffic accidents, everyone stops to stare, no one helps.

I would have jumped over the table and pushed people to the floor to help you darling. Don't lose faith. You just happened to run into the lot of slackers today. I doubt it will ever happen again. All of those people should be ashamed of themselves. It could haev just as easily been one of their loved ones, a child. Then I bett they would have yelled and screamed for help.

Calm your fury. I am glad you are okay. Your throat and neck will heal soon enough. Drink warm tea with milk and honey.

They are thinking of themselves - Nell

[ In Reply To ..]
Thoughtless people who don't want to get involved. I can't imagine standing around watching someone choke. Luckily you survived. Maybe they never heard of the good samaritan law. See below...

A good samaritan in legal terms refers to someone who renders aid in an emergency to an injured person on a voluntary basis. Usually, if a volunteer comes to the aid of an injured or ill person who is a stranger, the person giving the aid owes the stranger a duty of being reasonably careful. A person is not obligated by law to do first aid in most states, not unless it's part of a job description. However, some states will consider it an act of negligence though, if a person doesn't at least call for help. Generally, where an unconscious victim cannot respond, a good samaritan can help them on the grounds of implied consent. However, if the victim is conscious and can respond, a person should ask their permission to help them first.

Some states offer immunity to good samaritans, but sometimes negligence could result in a claim of negligent care if the injuries or illness were made worse by the volunteer's negligence. Statutes typically don't exempt a good samaritan who acts in a willful and wanton or reckless manner in providing the care, advice, or assistance. Good samaritan laws often don't apply to a person rendering emergency care, advice, or assistance during the course or regular employment, such as services rendered by a health care provider to a patient in a health care facility.

Under the good samaritan laws which grant immunity, if the good samaritan makes an error while rendering emergency medical care, he or she cannot be held legally liable for damages in court. However, two conditions usually must be met; 1) the aid must be given at the scene of the emergency, and. 2) if the "volunteer" has other motives, such as the hope of being paid a fee or reward, then the law will not apply.

Glad you're okay now.

Performing Heimlich maneuver on yourself (sm) - Yochana

[ In Reply To ..]
http://www.ehow.com/how_2056135_perform-heimlich-maneuver-yourself.html

Here's how to perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself. I surely know how you felt!! I got choked at home...and oh, that desperate-cannot- breathe-feeling!! Fortunately, the chicken went down by itself and I could breathe again.

So glad you recovered!!

I would have helped you - I'm glad you're OK/nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

I don't understand how anyone can NOT help in a situation like that! - cindy

[ In Reply To ..]
I would have jumped right up to help you. I have an AA degree in medical assisting and was taught when we see someone in need we are required to help due to our medical training, of course that was in the mid 80s (showing my age) and do not know if that is stil true, but I feel a moral obligation to help any person I see in need. I honestly believe that all teenagers should have to be trained in CPR and first aid as a required class in high school, so more people in this world would have the knowledge of what to do, which is sometimes why people hold back. I am glad you are okay and the soreness should go in a day or two.

I actually did the Heimlich on someone once. - similar experience

[ In Reply To ..]
I think the situation is frightening for everyone involved, and I think there's a certain type of person that rushes in when there's trouble. Most people, though, wait to see if anyone else will step up. It's sad, but I think it's human nature.

In my case, I was camping in a family campground. There were about 10 or so people in the area, and it was about dinnertime. We could all see into each other's campsites. Suddenly, a woman started screaming that her husband was choking. He was walking toward the road at the front of his campsite with his hands to his throat in the signal we are taught to give if we are choking. His eyes were moving all around. I could tell he was looking for help, and it was obvious that his hysterical wife didn't know what to do. But, at least she had called attention to the situation. He was making no sound. I had been a boy scout leader for many years and had learned and taught the Heimlich many times, but I never used it. I knew what needed to be done, but for a split second I looked all around hoping someone else would run over and help. It felt like a long time, but I know it was just a moment of hesitation. I then jumped up from my seat and ran to the man and, thank God, was able to successfully perform the Heimlich. (He was choking on a piece of hot dog.) Incidentally, I was half his size, so it's possible to help people who are bigger than you are.

Afterward, other people gathered around and we were talking. It turns out that pretty much everyone knew about the Heimlich maneuver, had seen it demonstrated, and several had actually been trained to do it. But, like me, they all hesitated before rushing in hoping that someone else would do it first. I don't know why that is, but I know I also hesitated.

It's sad that no one jumped in to help you, even to just shout for help. Sometimes, just calling attention to an emergency situation will spur someone to jump up. Thank goodness that you are okay.

Sounds pretty melodramatic to me. - Too many details to be true.

[ In Reply To ..]
And from the way you acted later, sounds like they should have let you choke. You can\'t help a person while they\'re choking, you\'re supposed to wait until they stop coughing, which usually takes care of things just like yours did.

re: Melodramatic - tal

[ In Reply To ..]
Should have let you choke? Wow! You have a great day sunshine!

You're not choking if you're still coughing - little miss sunshine

[ In Reply To ..]
If you're still coughing it may come up by itself. If you stop coughing, then you are choking and are in need of some assistance. Education is a wonderful thing.

re: education - zamantha

[ In Reply To ..]
Education is a wonderful thing. So is compassion. Go get yourself some of each.

How callous you are. Coughing/choking, whatever was going on she must have been feeling very helpless at that moment and the POINT of the post was that (regardless of what your opinion in the matter is) she needed help and no one would help her.

you must be pure joy to be around! Bet you\'re the first person your family calls up when they need help! (NOT!) nuff said, byebye.

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