Friday, October 16, 2009

Crash!!!!

So. . . my little sister crashed her car, and bad too!! Luckily she ( and Tom) were not badly hurt. I can't say the same for the car though.

Here is how things happened. . .

All of my brothers and sister were gathering for my moms birthday party. Birthdays are a big deal in my family and we don't miss them ( unless you have a good reason). My sister and Tom had a wedding they needed to attend, so they were not expected for the festivities.

We were just putting candles into moms cheesecake birthday cake when the phone rang.

Mom answered.

After a few minute conversation, (where we heard key words like how badly hurt, what hospital, when, ok I'm on the way, ) mom told us Chelsey and Tom were in a crash leaving the wedding and were being transported to Hartford Hospital and that she needed to go. So keys in hand, mom left for the hospital.

My dad was at a boy scout camping trip, that he couldn't leave (he was the chaperon ) and he called to let us know what had happened and that he had been told not to worry too much, that Chelsey wasn't going to die that night.

After 4 hours of waiting, and thinking the worst, my mom got in contact with us from the hospital. Chelsey was alright. She broke her collarbone, hurt her foot, and bumped her head. But she was alive and would continue to be. Tom was alright too, he just had some bumps and bruises.

They had been driving on the highway- not speeding- when a downpour started, and Chel couldn't even see. She tapped the brakes to slow down, at which point she hydroplaned, spun out and crashed. For 10 minutes she was sitting on the side of the road before someone pulled over to offer assistance!! They had no medical training, but said to Chel "we don't know how to help you, but we know you are not supposed to move- so don't". Chelsey had already called 911 for herself. How she still had her phone, I can only guess. After being cut from her car with the jaws of life- she was transported to the hospital.



I guess the reason behind this post is this:

Always wear your seat belt!
Do not drink and drive! (neither of them were btw)
Keep your phone on you if possible (not it use- in CT you would be ticketed)
Obey speed limits

and if you see a crash:
Call 911- don't assume they did. Not everyone has a cell and they can get lost in a crash.
Put your hazard lights on.
Pull over and offer assistance. Even if you don't know what to do, tell them not to move and just
offer reassurances. The person in the car is freaking out. Just calm them down. It means so
much to them to not feel alone until help comes!

Put ICE into your phone!! It stands for In Case of Emergency!!
If you are in an accident and are unconscious, that is how we can find out quickly who we need
to contact, to let them know there was an accident with you in it!

Drive safely!!

No comments:

Post a Comment