"You can survive this. Talk to others that have"

HFSSC posted 4/3/2013 10:38 AM

I left my house for work this morning at about 10 til 7. Normal day. Nice weather.

Turned a curve about 4 miles from home and encountered the worst accident I've ever seen. It had JUST happened. 2 people had stopped and were trying to attend to the victims and direct traffic. I rolled my window down, identified myself as a nurse and asked if everyone was okay. Nope. They were not okay.

I pulled off the road, went to the fist car. It was unrecognizable. The guy who had stopped before me said, "I can't find a pulse. Maybe you can." The person's brain was exposed. There was no pulse. I couldn't even tell if it was a man or woman. Their eyes were open, staring. It was the worst thing I have ever seen.

The other lady was pinned in her van. Her leg appeared to have been broken horribly. She was bleeding but it didn't seem uncontrolled and I think the entrapment may have helped that. I stayed with her and talked to her until EMS got there.

I've been a nurse for 25 years. I have never seen anything like what I saw this morning. God rest that poor soul, and comfort their family.

yewtree posted 4/3/2013 10:40 AM

(((HFSSC))) And thank goodness you happened upon the accident and could be there to comfort and provide assistance.

tesla posted 4/3/2013 10:42 AM

How absolutely horrible!

How are you doing?
((((HFSSC))))

Amazonia posted 4/3/2013 10:44 AM

(((HFSSC)))

HFSSC posted 4/3/2013 10:48 AM

How are you doing?

Not really good. I can't get the image out of my mind. And I feel really shitty for feeling so traumatized when I'm not the one who was killed, I didn't know them, their family is going to be hit with this.

Not sure if that made sense or not.

I am glad I could comfort the lady who was in the other car. But just overwhelmed with the whole thing. If I had left my house 5 minutes earlier, it could have been me.

deeplysad posted 4/3/2013 10:56 AM

And I feel really shitty for feeling so traumatized

Of course you feel traumatized...you are a compassionate person. How could anyone not be traumatized by witnessing what you did?

((((HFSSC)))

caregiver9000 posted 4/3/2013 10:57 AM

(((HFSSC)))

Of course it is traumatic! You are human and empathetic. There is no guilt in feeling shock and sadness for others and then FEELING it yourself.

SisterMilkshake posted 4/3/2013 10:57 AM

If I had left my house 5 minutes earlier, it could have been me.

That was the first thing I thought of after feeling so sad for you, HFSSC, for witnessing such disturbing carnage. Don't feel guilty, even professional EMT's have a hard time with seeing certain things and dealing with their feelings. Very normal.

(((((HFSSC)))))

SisterMilkshake posted 4/3/2013 10:59 AM

Were the first people at the scene witnesses? Did they see what happened?

Kajem posted 4/3/2013 11:02 AM

How awful for everyone. ((((HFSSc)))

I would be more worried if you weren't feeling anything.

Hugs,

HFSSC posted 4/3/2013 11:04 AM

I'm not sure if the first people witnessed or just came up on the wreck. It's a secondary road that doesn't see a lot of traffic until a little later in the morning.

The lady who was alive was saying the other car just came spinning into her lane with no warning. It was on a curve. I'm not sure if the driver lost control because of speed or maybe went off the road and overcorrected. But they had to have been going pretty fast because the car was absolutely demolished. The victim was half into the back seat.

SisterMilkshake posted 4/3/2013 11:10 AM

So very sad. I was thinking a high speed must have been involved because of the car being demolished. Ugh! My heart goes out to you and the victim(s) families. As having a sister die on the side of a rural road, I thank you for stopping. (((HFSSC)))

nowiknow23 posted 4/3/2013 11:15 AM

(((((HFSSC)))))

thebighurt posted 4/3/2013 11:17 AM

((((HFSSC))))

How horrible for everyone involved. The injured woman was lucky you were there to evaluate her situation, then comfort and help calm her. She and her family will be grateful she had that. I'm thinking also of the man who was there before you and tried to help. He must be having a very difficult time also. Hugs for everyone around this.

Jrazz posted 4/3/2013 11:17 AM

What a nightmare. Prayers for everyone involved.

(((HFSSC)))

KBeguile posted 4/3/2013 11:18 AM

((((HFSSC))))

It's truly remarkable when your instincts just kick in and you're able to use your training to help in those kinds of situation. Bravo.

jo2love posted 4/3/2013 11:20 AM

(((HFSSC)))

JanaGreen posted 4/3/2013 11:21 AM

Oh no ((HUGS)) I'm sorry, that is so terrible.

wildbananas posted 4/3/2013 11:22 AM

(((((HFSSC)))))

TrulyReconciled posted 4/3/2013 11:25 AM

I'm sorry HFSSC that this happened to you.