Was driving into work tonight like I do every night, but unlike other nights tonight I was just moments behind a car accident. F150 size truck vs SUV, it was raining out and it's a two way, two lane road (et. 13 just outside of Ithaca NY, and is at a point where there is no room on either side of said road).
Now when I say moments behind, I mean there was the two vehicles and a few people in the road (from what I could see as I am slowing to a stop) and one car with their hazards on who was the first vehicle after the accident.
When I finally got behind the parked car I turn on my hazards and see a group of people standing between the two vehicles involved, they are focusing on the SUV and from where I was sitting it looked as if they were going to try and push the SUV onto the shoulder to clear a path.
I decide well maybe I can give them a hand to speed things up or if anyone might need some help
As I run up I hear one chick (turns out someone I knew from high school and haven't seen in12 years) saying I have a belt we can use. I get there and another woman is standing there and instantly I ask "is everyone ok? Is there anything I can help with"
She responded "no (to the is everyone ok) there is a man pinned in the back of the SUV the police and everyone have already been called"
I say ok how's he lookin?
She responds, not good his arm is dangling on and bleeding very bad (that's when I hear the first chick with the belt yelling, we need to put a tourniquet on now, I have a belt, she then recognizes me and during a quick exchange of info of the situation mentions she used to work as an EMT) this is when I realize with all the people running around and someone who is still up to date with emergency medical training (I haven't kept up as well as I should since getting out of the Navy) I would just be in the way and so I clear out.
While driving away the one thing that stuck with me the most is there was an individual bleeding and out of all the people there the best chance he had was a belt to try and stop it. A little while back I had started thinking man I should really start carrying a tourniquet even if I'm not the one putting it on I could have tossed it to girl I knew.
So as of now I have 2 SOFT-T wide tourniquets ordered, one will be given to my girlfriend to keep in her bag at all times and I will have the other on hand at all times, will be ordering another one to keep staged in my car as well here soon
Hopefully I will he able to get some update on the injured man tomorrow when I'm done with work
Now when I say moments behind, I mean there was the two vehicles and a few people in the road (from what I could see as I am slowing to a stop) and one car with their hazards on who was the first vehicle after the accident.
When I finally got behind the parked car I turn on my hazards and see a group of people standing between the two vehicles involved, they are focusing on the SUV and from where I was sitting it looked as if they were going to try and push the SUV onto the shoulder to clear a path.
I decide well maybe I can give them a hand to speed things up or if anyone might need some help
As I run up I hear one chick (turns out someone I knew from high school and haven't seen in12 years) saying I have a belt we can use. I get there and another woman is standing there and instantly I ask "is everyone ok? Is there anything I can help with"
She responded "no (to the is everyone ok) there is a man pinned in the back of the SUV the police and everyone have already been called"
I say ok how's he lookin?
She responds, not good his arm is dangling on and bleeding very bad (that's when I hear the first chick with the belt yelling, we need to put a tourniquet on now, I have a belt, she then recognizes me and during a quick exchange of info of the situation mentions she used to work as an EMT) this is when I realize with all the people running around and someone who is still up to date with emergency medical training (I haven't kept up as well as I should since getting out of the Navy) I would just be in the way and so I clear out.
While driving away the one thing that stuck with me the most is there was an individual bleeding and out of all the people there the best chance he had was a belt to try and stop it. A little while back I had started thinking man I should really start carrying a tourniquet even if I'm not the one putting it on I could have tossed it to girl I knew.
So as of now I have 2 SOFT-T wide tourniquets ordered, one will be given to my girlfriend to keep in her bag at all times and I will have the other on hand at all times, will be ordering another one to keep staged in my car as well here soon
Hopefully I will he able to get some update on the injured man tomorrow when I'm done with work
Be prepared know your surroundings 
