Biker Boy to the RESCUE!

[ForbidInjustice]

I had a memorable evening. It was about 1920 hrs, as I was coming back from Wal-Mart on the newly-washed and lubed Gixxer1000. I turned on a street leading to my neighbourhood. This street has quadplex housing on each side, and always kids playing around in random places.. but since it leads onto a main road, there are usually cars on it, 30mph speed limit. On my way to the store, I had seen the set of kids playing basketball near the house door, unsupervised. Safe place, but still.. without supervision.

Anyway, on the way back, I was right behind a gray car, scanning the road as always.. and a dog was chasing a child. The child ran into the street without looking.. and my memory recalls it vividly every time. The car struck the 4-year old child.. I saw it hit him -- run over him, and he rolled after it hit him with the back tire. I immediately jerked my bike to the side of the road.. jumped off, put my helmet and gloves on the ground next to it.. and yelled to a man who came out of his house: "CALL 911, NOW."

I ran over to where the boy had been hit, and one of his friends [also as young] picked him up, almost in a bearhug position, and was carrying him to the side of the road. I yelled at the kid to STOP and hand him to me. With the fear of a neck injury, moving him was the last thing that should have been done! I lifted his jaw and opened his throat. He was in complete respiratory arrest and had no pulse.. so I blew two rescue breaths into him... nothing.. then began a cycle of 15 compressions. At that time, I felt like panicking because it seemed like I was doing CPR on a dead little kid. I heard the most beautiful thing.. as he came back to life and I heard him struggle to breathe. I turned his entire body a little to the side, because there was blood in his mouth. Nice stable pulse, but breaths only every 25-30 seconds or so. EMS arrived a few minutes later.

Broken left femur, huge head wound [closed.. probably bleeding inside of his head]. He lost consciousness again in the ambulance, and they gave him a few drugs to stop him from breathing, so they could breathe for him.. then they airlifted him in the helicopter. I have yet to get his status, but since I am friends with one of the responding firefighter/paramedics, I'm going to do everything I can to see how he is doing.

This was encouraged on another thread months earlier.. bikers, TAKE A CPR/First Aid/BCLS class. Being on the open road more than other motorists [and not trapped in a cage], you see a LOT more, and you will find yourself one day in a critical situation that calls for you to render your best aid. This was my first, and I still get chills every time I think about those images.. I never want to experience it again.


Ride on wind!

[inspiron]

Wow, Dre. Congratulations. You saved someone's life. That kid could grow up to be the next Shakespeare, Beethoven or Steven Hawking. Your quick reaction could have changed the future course of human history. Thanks for the reminder.

How are you dealing with the situation? Do you have someone to talk to? Even you could suffer some form of post-trauma stress from such a situation. Take care of yourself!

[ForbidInjustice]

I've been dealing with it okay.. but I would feel a little bit better to know that he was still alive and going to be fine. I've talked to quite a few people about it already.. but I think I'll be okay, because no one is in a worse situation right now than the little boy.. and the fact that I am confident I handled the situation completely properly. I don't think I would have changed a thing about my reaction. That's more than I can say for most situations. Usually I sit around for a day or two thinking of how things could have been different.. but not in this case, for some reason...

[GIXXER-Mike]

It's people like you who make this world worth living in & you should be commended for such a noble deed. I'm sure the parents of the injured are more than thankful!

I too believe that a course in CPR is necessary not just for bikers but for all. Sure hope he makes it.

[inspiron]

Dre, even if the boy doesn't pull through, you gave him the chance. If you weren't there, he would have died on the street. As soon as the EMTs arrived, it was out of your hands.

I know doctors who claim that they sometimes have the feeling that they are just there to write the bill - it is God who does the healing.

[Louis]

Hats off to you Dre.

[stp1971]

+1!!!!! Thanks!!!!

[Trapper]

Thank you.

[Nanuk]

YOU DA MAN.... Good job. It is always better to do something constuctive than be a bystander.

[tlwisner]

Good job!

[palanon]

OUTSTANDING... WAY TO GO !!!

You gave him a good chance.

I've had training but that definitely remind's me to get a refresher coarse.

Tou did two valuable services in 24 hours - SAVED a life and Increased public safety and awareness.

Thank YOU,
paul

[Clint]

That's awesome, bud. Just when I think you're the stupidest member of our forum you do something like that AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!

Just kidding, of course.

[The Teach]

That's great man. Please keep us up to date and the prayers will go out to the boy and his family.

[SVZuki]

Wow, just wow. you are awesome man. Words cannot describe it enough. Keep making the world a better place.

[blackie1491]

Outstanding.

[Colorado Cajun]

Good Job! You did an awesome thing.

[Kaikias]

My hats off to you man

[HAMMERPETE]

YOU da MAN!

[BlaznBlu]

Excellent job Dre! While we are all praying for the best of outcomes, your reactions and instincts were 100% correct, and without you, that boy would not have had any chance.
Another important lesson here is that someone needs to take the direct authority of the situation until the medical professionals arrive. Instructing not to move the boy, looking at someone directly and order them to call 911, and beginning appropriate rescue measures is imperative.
You should be proud of your training and subsequent response, and thank you for increasing the awareness of this forums' members.

[Rockhead]

Good job man!!!!