- Posted in Ambulance Blog
It was during the season of good will to all men (women and children as well) so not to be shot down by political correctness.
Time and time again I ramble on about how human nature amazes me, how in the face of destruction the human race can forget about their differences and unite to ward of what ever danger faces them. It is in the news constantly when there are massive natural disasters the world unites to help those affected. So generally the human race is quite a decent lot, or so I thought until recently…..
As I write this I am fully aware that this is not going to be a normal post for me, something that I can not put into words easily. I have tried to write this in so many ways and deleted and edited it time and time again. I have come to realise that the best way is to write it as it comes to me, because this is how I feel. It may not make a huge amount of sense and may even seem to some as just another ambulance worker ranting on about how the world is wrong.
Yes there are things that are not nice, Death and destruction, disasters and wars raging around the world, there is poverty and corruption but these are things that have been happening for hundreds of years and will take time to rectify.
The reason for this post is to try to understand what went through the mind a passer-by  as we dealt with a tragic and traumatic situation.
OK admittedly probably not as bad as this
The day was rubbish every weather front you could think of was hitting us snow, sleet, wind and on the odd occasion 20 minutes of sun.
The location was vague in the wilds down a path and miles from any recognisable landmark, it was also a long trek from the vehicles. The Helicopter had also been tasked due to the difficulty of the location and the patients condition was not good this patient needed vital help and quickly.
We arrived at the patient and it was immediately apparent the outcome was not going to be good. Their was evidence of a fractured skull, plus many other injuries. Every skill that was available to us was used in this job to give the patient any chance of survival. Everyone was hands on, needles and tubes to suction and spinal boards, collars bandages and tape pretty much everything that we had we used.
Thats when it started Flash, click, click, Flash
“What was that my mate asked”
The answer “Joe Public” was just stood there in the background taking photos of the whole event. “Do You mind, Stop that immediately please” one person said
did “Joe” stop NO!
So this is for you “Joe”
Dear “Joe Public”
I am hoping that those photos you took have been destroyed, although when you were questioned by my mate about it being appropriate and stated” oooh I will not publish them”, that is not the question we asked.
Do you think it was appropriate to take pictures of a horribly freakish accident where a number of ambulance personnel were trying to save the life of a patient, during which time the weather was horrendous, family were about and the patient was dying?
Did you think you would be able to make a quick buck on the internet or pass this off to the local newspaper. No! because unlike the News of the World most newspapers have ethics and standards (these are words you probably don’t understand).
I hope on your demise that the whole world is on-line. That there are cameras around people taking videos and photos on mobile phones National News cameras are about and your dignity is not taken into account!
Be Safe……………….