Have you ever saved a life?

[Nolano]

I'm curious, how many people here have directly saved someones life? And how did it happen?

[Poe]

Well a guy pulled a knife on my brother and I yelled for help? But I was only three and it was in the jungles of Cameroon, Africa. Hope it still counts. . .

[Nolano]

Sorry, I was thinking really direct. Like, you knocked the knife out of his hand right before he stabbed your brother.

[JEC]

Yes, but I'm a doctor....

[Phantom5588]

Yes, but I'm an EMT...

[mrbiggs]

Yes, but I'm a liar.

[jjefferies]

Yeah, A few times. Nothing really worth writing home about though. Usually it comes down to, something happens, you're there, you reach out and do what is needed. No thinking involved, really. Last time I remember was I had tied up at an old dock behind Mission Bay? (I think that's what they called it) over in San Francisco. Really Ratty docks but it was a place to sail to and they had a restaurant that did a good burger. The dock was barely still connected together and even less so to the shore. But a couple of kids, boy and girl, under 10 closer to 6 were playing on their way back to their boat. Didn't see what caused the problem but the boy stepped off the dock (probably there was a gap) and feet first into the water. He went down came back up and was going down a second time when I noticed, bounced over and reached in to grab his shoulder/hand. He was pretty far down as I had to stretch down to where my shoulder was in the water to grab him. The tide was moving as it does along that shore and in that period he had been moved a bit. Sister or so I assume was standing there with the biggest eyes I believe I had ever seen. I pulled him up, swatted him on the butt and told him not to do that. The two of them raced back to their boat and I went along with my crew for a burger. Like I said it wasn't until later that I even thought about it and then only as geeze that could have been tragic.

Now if you are asking about "HEROS", no way Jack. To me heroes are people who have thought it through and still do what is necessary at risk to their own lives. Big DIfference.

That place, the docks and all of that have long since been razed and are now a part of the redevelopment of the area. Not sure if it was a loss or a gain. It was colorful area though.

[erooMynohtnA]

I don't know if I ever saved anyone's life, but I've done things that were certainly conducive to someone not being killed.

I fixed a lot of showers in Iraq, that may have saved a life, given how many people have been electrocuted. I've also fixed a lot of other non-shower hazardous situations which had a very good chance of a death or fire.

One time I was working on a generator out by a low wall, and we came under mortar attack. I was wearing my body armor and helmet and had my weapon. My squad leader didn't, though, so I had to run about a hundred feet through a field to go get his stuff while he crouched behind the wall. (He thought I was running for the building for cover, like he told me, rather than getting his stuff which was in that building. He was a little mad when I started running back.) In the end, I don't think he needed it.

Another time we were all working and we came under rocket attack (effectively the same as mortars, but they make a different noise). Some guy was listening to his iPod, so I had to run over to him to get him inside. I still don't know how he didn't hear it. No guarantees that he would have been killed, though.

There are a bunch of other stories like that, so basically, no, I've never saved anyone more than braking to not hit a kid in the street.

[Nolano]

Interesting stuff to read...

I asked because this last week, while swimming in the ocean with some friends, we started to get caught in a riptide... So we started swimming back to shore. I was just getting free of it when I looked back and saw two girls I didn't know, about 10 feet behind me, caught in it, looking terrified. I asked and they said they needed help, so I swam back, and pulled them out. There was a point or two where I wasn't sure I could get all of us out of it, and I think we all inhaled some seawater.
I finally got us out, and they proclaimed to my friends how I saved their lives.
A fairly fulfilling experience.

[Got_Fenced_In]

I've never done anything incredible, besides saving cats and turtles and dogs.


But once my mom pulled over at a car accident, in which two elderly citizens, a man and a woman, were involved. Their car was on its side, and the woman (who was driving) was literally stuck and being choked by her seatbelt. She was just too weak to pull herself out. My mom called 911, got the woman out, and then waited for help, because she couldn't reach the man and was afraid he might have some things seriously wrong.

I was around 9, 10, maybe 11 when this happened. I just remember her coming home with blood on her shirt and hearing this story.

[latenight]

Yes, but patients coding wasn't all that uncommon when I worked in hopitals.

[Slacker]

That's pretty gutsy, Nolano! Did your folks hug you or GROUND YOU?
As for saving a life, I can't say I've had such a dramatic experience-with humans. I work in a veterinary hospital, and last week we had a cat need a tracheostomy, and a service dog attacked by two naughty dogs. It is satisfying to be helpful, not just hopeful.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Should we start a sister thread Have you ever taken a life?

[App13]

Should we start a sister thread Have you ever taken a life?

I don't like to talk about it.

[AdamH]

There are some significantly inspirational real-life stories so far here, however, please consider the thousands of girls I have saved who swore that without my love they would surely take their lives.

[Fencergrl]

My husband successfully diverted a cougar who was stalking me. The nerve of her! While I regret not getting to see it, I didn't want it to be the last thing I ever saw.

He also shot a Griz that went after his buddy. They're nasty. They take death charges.

[Westley]

Gnarly thread. But I'm keeping my mouth shut. Sorry.

[Gav]

I'm curious, how many people here have directly saved someones life? And how did it happen?

Yes, 2 months ago. Not the first time either.

[Westley]

Atta boy Gav. No need to clarify. Or mention the 40 people he drained of blood and fed to 'ol Nessie.

[Fencergrl]

You didn't exactly pony-up either 'shroom-boy