From: c31002wb@jezebel.wustl.edu (William Burris)
Subject: Helping at accidents - LONG - (was Deer Claims Another)
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis Mo.
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 03:06:18 GMT



In both vehicles I carry a set of six, long style flares - though I'm now
thinking of switching to reflective triangles or, at least, adding them.
I also carry the longest, top of the line, jumper cables made by Sears.
Also in both cars is a 3 D-cell maglight with the optional traffic guiding
orange colored "tubes" that fit over the top (like the things they use to
guide planes while landing).  I also keep a square, self-standing blinking
light with a red cover in each vehicle.  But, perhaps the most important 
item in each vehicle is the first aid kit.  Being a physician, my wife 
insisted that I take a first aid course.  This first aid kit is roughly the
size of an IBM model 70 cpu (2'x 1.5'x 6") yep, it's big.  But with this
kit a properly trained person can do everything from bandage a small paper 
cut to a tracheotomy (sp) - yes, there is a package of sterile, disposable
scapels and tons of various size suture.  Yes, there is also local anesthetic.
On long trip, we also through in a tool bo with everything from screwdrivers
and sockets, to hack saws and hachets.  And we also carry in both vehicles 
300' of climbing rope I picked up at in the spelunking department of a
Pro-Bass shop in western Missouri.   We also have cellular phones and a CB
radio in each car.

I thought the rope might be a bit excessive untill I was returning from
NC about 18 months ago with my brother in my Dodge caravan (I had just 
picked him up from college).  We were driving through the Appalasion (sp?)
mountains on the way back to St. Louis near dusk when we came across a 
Semi-truck that had gone off the edge of the road.  We were the first ones
on the scene (oh boy).  The truck was in the revene on fire (small engine
fire) so I ended up tieing the rope to the trailer hitch and rappeling
down the edge with the first aid kit hooked on my belt and the fire extingisher
(I forgot to mention, one mounted in each vehicle) on my back.

The truck driver looked ok (minor cuts, stratches and a head injury) but I
wouldn't have moved him had I not been able to put out the fire.  I used
my extingisher and the one by the drivers seat and was still unable to put out
the fire - there was a lot of gas and oil leaking from the engine.  

I pulled the guy out and layed him in a gully about 50' from the truck
(it was the best I could do) and began administering first aid.  Meanwhile,
my younger brother was laying out flares and trying to reach someone by
phone/CB.  The CB ended up working on ch 9.  and there was a trooper there
in about 30 minutes.  While I waited, I talked with my brother via the hand-
held CB and the van, mounted CB.  By the time the ambulance got there, they
were well aware of all the visible injuries of the driver since we had 
relayed that info. using the troopers radio.  Btw, niether the trooper nor
anyone else (paramedics, etc) ever came down the side of the mountain.
They sent a bed down and had me strap the guy in.  They then pulled him up
and then me - brave guys eh?  

For those wondering, they did consider a helecopter but the trooper didn't
think there was enough level space to land so the ditched that idea.

Anyway, I did get some flares from the state trooper and a hand shake.  
Three hours later, we were on our way home again (at a much slower speed I
might add :-).


Just my story,
-william
 


                           ||   Every four seconds a woman has a baby.       || William E. Burris          ||   Our problem is to find this woman and        || c31002wb@jezebel.wustl.edu ||   stop her.                                    || 
                           ||                                                ||  		      	   ||   Drawing on my fine command of the language,  ||                            ||         I said nothing.                        ||  
Washington University - St. Louis, Missouri (USA)
Department of Life