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So I’m driving on I-44 EB through Tulsa this morning and I happen upon an accident in the left lane/shoulder. My first thought was that people need to learn how to drive. My second was that there were no blue flashing lights. I speed up the shoulder and get as close as I can, then grab the backpack, hop out and run up. One truck involved that I can see. Not sure what caused it, but he went headlong into the concrete barrier and was perpendicular to the flow of traffic now.
Driver door wasn’t open and someone hollered at me that they couldn’t get it open, so I ran around to the passenger side where the driver was leaned over the seat and they were trying to get him to crawl out. Butted my way in and asked the guy if his legs were pinned, he wasn’t coherent. Told him several times to sit back up until he did. Yelled to the other people to see if they’d called EMS, and one was on the phone with them.
We got the driver door open and the first thing he said to me was “You see who the **** did this to me?” “Hey man, I’m just here to get you cleaned up a little.” Shaved head, blood all over his head and face from a cut above his eyebrow. Gloved up, told him to stay still, figured out where the cut was, folded up a 4×8 gauze pad, tossed a little iodine on it, placed it over the cut and wrapped it with self-adhering wrap. Checked to make sure his legs weren’t pinned, which they weren’t.
Asked if he could feel everything, he said he thought his wrist might be broken and it was pretty swollen. Had him sit it on his lap and not move it. Asked if he could feel his legs and feet and he could, wiggled his feet for me. I looked the rest of him over but other than the head and wrist injury – and confusion – he seemed OK.
He mumbled a little bit, looked at me and said “Man you know where I am?” “… I know where you are, do you?” “*mumble*” “You’re on I-44.” “*mumble* East or West?” “East. Why don’t you just sit back and relax, partner.”
About that time EMS showed up. They came up, looked at the bandage and medical supplies scattered about, looked at me and said “Who are you?” “Just a guy who knows some first aid.” Told them I hadn’t given him any meds, just the bandage with a little iodine, thought his wrist was injured and he had some serious issues with his noggin.
Backed off, cleaned up my supplies and let them do their thing. A lady who’d stopped before I did asked if I always kept medical supplies and I affirmed. Cope showed up, asked me if I was involved in the accident and I told him I was just there to clean the guy up and make sure he wasn’t going to bleed out before someone better arrived.
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I got real pissed at the people trying to make the guy crawl out the passenger door over the center console. Spinal injury anyone?
In retrospect I’m not sure about the iodine on the gauze. I could have just put the gauze on and let them worry about infection later. We’re talking 10 minutes.
No one had called 911 yet, everyone assumed someone else had.
I need more gauze. Lots more gauze.
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