Death by accident

Mobility Forum, May/Jun 2000 by Hathaway, Virgil

As a traditional guardsman, I serve as our unit's Safety NCO. I am also a professional fire-fighter, as well as the Safety Officer for the San Diego City Fire Department. In my 23 years in the Fire Service, I have responded to thousands of traffic accidents - some minor and some very deadly. Each accident had its own story some almost humorous and some very tragic.

Most people don't get to witness up close the destruction that results from a traffic accident. Flesh is torn, organs get exposed, limbs are bent and twisted into horrible configurations ... or worse, they are ripped from the body. Blood is everywhere. It's mixed with clothing, broken glass, and personal belongings. It runs onto the ground taking life and all of its hopes and dreams with it. Vehicles also become crematoriums; this is especially gruesome. Also, there is a stench at accidents that is not easily shaken. It is a mix of gasoline, oil, smoke, blood, and very often... alcohol.

Extraction equipment is loud, and the great efforts taken to protect the victim is never enough. As the metal and material is pulled from the victim, the agony is unbearable. The screams and the moans reverberate in your ears. The sadness is overwhelming as loved ones watch death approach and carry away the future.

Several excellent articles have been published that describe what individuals did that resulted in an accident or a near miss. The lessons to be learned are many. The disheartening fact is that for many people, until it happens to them, the safety lessons are seldom ever learned. My experience as a firefighter has taught me that as human beings, time diminishes tragedies in our memories; and we often forget our lessons learned.

In wildland firefighting, our list of "Situations that Shout Watch Out!" is an effective safety mechanism that alerts us to the dangers of this type of response. These situations identify common causes that resulted in firefighters dying in wildland fires. Over the years, I have likewise observed common elements that lead to traffic accidents. The following is my list.

Vehicle accidents are preventable. We take our vehicles for granted and fail to remember that they are deadly weapons. A good thing to remember is that the barrel gets pointed at us each time we enter a roadway. The key is to maintain a cautious respect for the capability of a vehicle to destroy the important things in our lives. When driving, always stay alert for the actions of others. Look ahead of the traffic, and be ready on a moment's notice to pick an escape route should something happen in front of you. Maintain proper separation from vehicles around you. Stay watchful, drive defensively, don't speed (i.e., slow down), and look, look, and look again.

Vehicle accidents rob us of our quality of life. They can result in a loss of income, loss of a career, loss of our homes, and our belongings. Moreover, while the pain associated with recovery from injury may pass, the pain associated with the loss of a loved one will not.

Keep in mind that the typical automobile accident scenes I described earlier in this article are not fantasy. I see them time and time again. These types of mishaps happen all too often and there are never any winners. For example, imagine yourself trapped in a vehicle where metal has to be pulled from your broken body to free you. Imagine the agony you would feel as your twisted legs are straightened so that you can be placed in the ambulance. Imagine your fear as you see your child's hair embedded in the windshield and his/her lifeless body lying on the seat. Imagine your guilt when you realize that you were traveling too fast, too close, and not being alert for the actions of other drivers. Imagine the fear and shock that will grip you when you sober up and realize that you were responsible for killing a family, a friend, or a child.

So what's my bottom line? Well, it's simply this: When it comes to driving, consider the risks ... but also consider the consequences. If you don't, you're bound to face "depth by accident."

Reprinted from The Combat Edge Aug 99

By SSgt Virgil Hathaway

147 CCS, CA ANG

San Diego, Calif.