There Were no Good Samaritans: Perform CPR in Strange Places

Actually, one of the things I learned in Psych that stood out to me was that the more people are around, the less likely anyone is to come forward to help. It seems that everyone seems to think that someone else will take care of the problem. I remember finishing my cpr /first aid class and I am always slightly afraid that someone will actually need my help (Pre nursing student here) and I won't remember what to do.

Very relevant to this topic, people don't have to have CPR certification to perform CPR or hands only CPR. It's very important. I work in a CICU and how long ppl did or didn't do CPR seems to me like one of the biggest indicators of survival.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5hP4DIBCEE

QUOTE "If we can all remember the story of the great Florence Nightingale as she worked relentlessly with the wounded soldiers from the Korean War." QUOTEFlorence Nightingale died in 1910.The Korean War 1950-1953.The Crimean War 1853-1856.

From my experience of anaphylaxis in public places, there never was a shortage of big and strong ones willing to push with all their mights indefinitely but hardly anyone willing to discharge EpiPen. Probability to run into someone who can access and fix airways ( at least support the jaw) is even less.Compressions are usually unnecessary in this situation and so quite a few of the former folks were, to say the least, shocked when the unfortunate object of their heroic efforts less than politely asked them to please stop break her ribs. (nevertheless, I made special effort to find these people and thank them).I personally do not think that in the situation OP described everyone got scared so much because of risk of being sued. Older person with oral/nasal secretions hanging all over ( many people are scared of bodily fluids exposure) and three people nearby, none of them behaving assertively and with enough confidence and directness) would discourage many laypeople from participation. If there were someone able to take a clear lead, clean the field and manage situation, the result might have been looking differently.

There scared of shooting the epi pen into their own finger!! Seen that before!

I grew up in the city (lower east side) and I doubt very much the lack of help came from fear of being sued. Not stepping in to help is a time honored tradition in NYC. Google Kitty Genovese.

It's unlikely that cpr would have saved this man. Field cpr has a very low success rate. Stopping the train and calling 911 may have given the man a chance as early defibrillation and EMS activation/early acls is more successful than cpr alone. I think the stiffness and visible secretions were more likely a deterrent than fear of lawsuits. Perhaps lack of knowledge of cpr depending on the year of this posted scenario, calling 911 even by the conductor could have gotten verbal cpr instructors from the dispatcher. A physician couldn't have made a difference without a code cart & defibrillator. Activating EMS rather than dangerously running through train cars seeking a physician may have made a difference. Risking your own life is not always necessary. Scene safety is primary. A dead Good Samaritan does no one any good. And you may wish to edit your post as Florence Nightingale was dead for several decades at the time of the Korean War.

I do know of a ridiculous lawsuit brought against a physician who helped someone in this state, although not in the City. But I agree that it was probably too late for CPR anyway in this case. Probably no AED on board? Or protocol for emergency stop?

It is a very tragic thing to be in a place where you could be sued for trying to help. Yes, I remembered an article in the news when I was in high school about a Samaritan who tried to provide CPR on a gentleman and in the process saved his life but ended up in the hospital for broken ribs. The patient sued and won and, I'm sure, forever caused the Samaritan to never help a single soul from then on. However, juts because of a couple of nuts in society, we shouldn't forget our nature of human compassion- to do whatever we can to help and, yes, accept the results. Anyone can be a Good Samaritan, not just nurses. One thing about that Good Samaritan story in the Bible- in the culture during that time, the Good Samaritan would have been beaten, stoned and even killed for what he did but he didn't care. He helped that Jew because he cared despite the risks. We should help, no matter what- because we care.

This was an an awesome story, and I have sent it to one of my Nursing Students, I remember her proudly and fondly ! I know she made it through school, and while as a student on her day off jumped to the aid of a neighbor and responded perfectly, and she did the almost impossible.... and saved a mans life in a dire situation such as this.... ! I have encouraged her to ad her story to this,.... I hope she does with great pride, that we will all share with her ! I remember, a situation on a quiet not to busy Sunday morning, an MVA, we came upon in a large intersection in Orlando ! On our way home from Church, my family loaded in our van.... it had JUST happened, cars steaming and smoking, horns blaring, glass and metal scattered in the middle of the road... everyone else... a standstill. I yelled to my husband, "Pull over" I had no idea what I would find, nor the condition of the folks in the vehicles... and what on earth was I going to do ??? (hadn't even entered my mind yet)... but I highballed it over to the vehicles... within minutes... seconds really, people all scrambling to the aid as well, and I realized I had others with me everyone was assisting, it was such an adrenalin rush, and things happened in split seconds, before I knew it we had everyone out, and everyone was ok.... minutes later police ambulance etc.... so much of it seems lost in a fog.... I barely remember ..... BUT I remember walking back to our van... my family just amazed, stunned... "WOW MOM !" .... but I didn't think twice.... ! I just "DID".... I am an LPN, worked in ORMC, and DISNEY NURSE.... but thankfully at that moment, that time, could do something... if there was something I needed to do, I was there to do it. It may not be the case another time, and thankfully everyone was ok.... but I am glad I did.

People who know CPR may become so fearful that they do not go into 'adrenalin drain,' instead it is the opposite reaction. "Fear may paralyze people's thought process and action. It was only on 2/16/15 my school district had CPR review for all district nurses and the nurse that I partner with told a story how a lady (parent) collapsed and when she did CPR no one came forward to help her. Instead, every one stool by and watched her did it. This individual did survive went for further medical care but died later. Now, sine last year with all the school shootings, we have an emergency response team and individuals have assigned roles to play. Hopefully, they will overcome their fears.

Interesting. I know that there are many similar stories out there.