Responding to a Man Stumbling in Head On Traffic

Having recently learned of my TBI diagnosis, I opted out of driving and was cruising along shotgun listening to some loud tunes as my boyfriend drove through Long Beach, California. We made a left onto Pacific Coast Highway at a busy light leading us onto the five lane road. As usual my senses were on high alert, as my fight or flight responses always seem to be triggered around busy areas. Call it coincidence or what you will, but for whatever reason my heightened sense of awareness has led me to notice more things than most and in turn respond to a lot of emergencies. Back in my short time in the 101st Airborne Division I was trained as my unit's Combat Lifesaver, and because I always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, a few of the skills I learned there and out in the field, were put to use.

I immediately noticed a car crash in the Signal Hill area, on the opposite side of the road and yelled to my boyfriend, Chris to pull over. Chris, was used to this as it was the second time this month I witnessed and responded to an accident, and he has heard quite a few stories of my running up to help others at car crash sites. Chris pulled into the used auto sale site next to the crash, and my door flew open before he could even put it in park. Yes once again, here I go.

The car crash was a simple rear end collision with a sedan hitting the back of a SUV. I immediately ran out into traffic to check on the driver of the sedan, not even glancing at oncoming traffic or the first SUV. Confused the over six foot tall black man opened his driver's side door and fell out of his car. As his shoulders hit the pavement I was already there stopping his head from falling further. I yelled to the couple in the front car to stay put and turn off their engine, and asked the victim if he could walk okay. As confused as he was, and stumbling, I was able to lead him out of traffic on to the sidewalk, where he would be less likely to get hit by traffic. The lane the gentleman fell into was actually in oncoming traffic, and it was rush hour.

As per my usual instincts I began pointing to others telling them to call 911. No one ever seems fast enough during these seconds following an emergency so I began to call myself as well. I started to evaluate the gentleman for shock, and noticed he was shaking badly so I ripped off my way over sized sweat shirt and wrapped it around him, noticing It was a man's extra large and tall, which was just his size. Continuing to treat him for shock, I began to ask him personal questions. The gentleman was not bleeding or bruised, but panicking badly. A salesman from the auto business came out to the side walk and recognized the gentleman, which helped calm his nerves a little more. EMS was able to respond in under fifteen or twenty minutes and transport the gentleman, and the other passengers in the first car were able to walk away from the scene entirely.

Wow, this guy was the luckiest victim I've responded to yet. Thank God this wasn't like the previous motorcycle accident I just witnessed and responded to just last month further south on PCH. It took me a few minutes to gather my thoughts and assess how dangerous this road is with its multiple lanes of traffic, break down lanes, middle turning lane, and traffic lights. My boyfriend, though very sympathetic to all involved, had urged me to take back my new and expensive favorite sweatshirt once the EMT's were taking the man away. Though I was happy to see it go to someone in need, I realized Chris was also trying to look out for my needs since one of the TBI and Fibro symptoms I have is dealing with the constant feeling of freezing. Wow, I guess I didn't think of running into traffic either, or anything else relating to my safety, whoops again. That nifty internal response system I have, does seem to always see these accidents when dozens of others are around. Feeling blessed I could be of service to this man during his time of need, I'm glad that even for those short twenty minutes I got to be his little earth angel holding his hand to get him through to the next Guardian Angel responder to arrive.

Things happen in three's, I've heard. Knowing I was two accidents down this month, I sensed another accident would occur soon. The coincidences were a bit freaky for those I told, however I take it as it comes and really am no longer surprised.