Kelley Calvin Student's Choosing #1

The Shenandoah (Motorcyclist)

While in the Shenandoah Mountains to hike, my sister and I always marvel at the dare-devil motorcyclists who seem to magically swerve around every single turn with grace. While we are marveled, we simultaneously cannot stop thinking about how dangerous it is for the motorcyclists to be driving on the winding mountainous terrain with only helmets on. A common fear, at every bend, of ours would be to come across a crash. This fear became reality recently. While heading down the mountain from a rigorous morning of hiking, my sister and I were fairly drained in the car. While coming around one of the last bends of the mountain, we both saw what seemed to be a deer that had been recently hit by a car. This sight is quite common in the Shenandoah Mountains. From what we could see, a deer had been hit and the car that hit it was pulling over to the side. These thoughts that were going through our minds were happening within a two second period. After about two seconds, my sister and I realized that a motorcyclist had crashed into the side of the mountain, the heap on the group was not a deer, rather, a human. We immediately slowed down to stop but I jumped out of the car to help before the car had been completely stopped. My sister and I both are certified extensively in CPR and First Aide due to jobs we hold during the summer time. We both knew that we could rely on our strengths (being our knowledge in First Aide), competencies, and skills in this emergency situation. Once I arrived at the scene, what I believe to be the leader in me took over. I told the older couple, that had witnessed the cyclist lose control, to go down the mountain and call 9-1-1. I insured the cyclist that she was in good hands and that help was on the way while I examined her and helped her the best ways I knew possible; this is also where my first aide skills came in handy. After a short time, my sister came with water and blankets from the car. I kept the crash victim calm while also listening to my sisters and other people’s ideas of how to best aide this woman. Unfortunately, after a few minutes the victim was getting too shaken up with all the people who started to gather around, so once again I stood up to the challenge and asked the people who were not helping to leave. By the time the emergency vehicles arrived, I had helped the victim the best that I could.