Today I was sitting at my computer while JJ was at a party. This is the very first time I’ve left him at a party by himself. I was working away at my computer when I heard a big bang, then shortly afterwards I heard someone screaming.
Looking out my window I saw a car had backed into the fence across the road and thought I’d better see what was going on. When I got outside I saw a woman bending over someone lying on the road. My first thought was she’d run over a kid.
I went over the road towards her and it was obvious he’d been hit by the car. I asked if she’d called an ambulance but someone else who’d seen the accident was already on the phone.
I’ve done first aid and the things you’re supposed to do ran through my head – check for danger being the first thing. While first aid courses are great, they don’t really prepare you for a real life situation and they don’t prepare you for distressed wives trying to wake up their husband who is lying on the side of the road.
Meanwhile there were a couple of other witnesses who’d pulled up and got out and were helping too. They put a jacket over him to keep him warm and I ran inside to get my crochet rug for his legs and a low cushion to cushion his head from the road. I thought of attempting to put him in the recovery position, but he was coming round and obviously in pain so I thought I’d leave him alone.
His wife, realising we’d called an ambulance, asked if we could just drive him to the hospital because they couldn’t afford an ambulance. I said, no way, I understand you don’t want to pay for the ambulance but it could make it a lot worse if we move him as we don’t know what injuries he’s got. She was more worried about having to pay for an ambulance I think. She even asked the paramedics but because it was a car related accident, insurance covers it.
How the accident happened was a bit bizarre. Apparently the husband got out of or fell out of the car as it was reversing. The wife then went forward and then backwards in the car. She ran over his legs doing this – once or twice I’m not sure.
The ambulance was really quick in getting there and then two fire engines turned up. It was by no means a full-on road traffic accident but they must have to turn up anyway. About five police cars also turned up and then shortly afterwards, the media. I realised they were filming and got out of their way – didn’t fancy watching myself on the news. There were no reporters though, and as it wasn’t a fatality I presume that’s why I saw nothing on the news tonight.
If you’re ever in this situation, you’d better hope you’re not wearing good clothes because they cut them off you. As his shoulder and legs were injured they cut his tops and pants so he won’t be wearing these clothes again. The poor bugger though, it had started to drizzle, he was practically naked and it’s the tail end of winter, he was obviously in shock and obviously bloody freezing. He looked as if he were convulsing he was shivering so much.
By this time more neighbours had come out to have a look to see what was going on.
In the meantime it was time for me to go and pick JJ up but I couldn’t get out of my driveway to drive and get him. I was just about to ring up and explain when I got a phone call saying the party had finished early because of the drizzle. I explained the situation and was able to leave about ten minutes later after the ambulance left to go and get him.
I think next time I’ll just stay at the party.