We have been treated to plenty of news this week about how "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey pulled a teenager from a wrecked car in front of his house in Malibu.
The 17 year old driver was airlifted to a hospital where he is recovering from a concussion and a bruised optic nerve.
Was this action heroic or was it poor judgment?
An important rule of first aid is not to move the victim unless absolutely necessary.
I was not at the scene but from photos I have some good ideas about the situation. The car was not on fire. There did not seem to be leaking gasoline. With the vehicle upside down the engine may well have been off. The victim was not in the middle of the highway in the fog. From anywhere in Malibu it does not take long for an ambulance to arrive. THe best action may have been to make certain that 911 had been called and to support the victim's head and neck until help arrived.
It is ironic that Dempsey plays the part of a doctor yet did not know this simple principle.
Fortunately the driver did not sustain further injury by being moved.
David Sneed
The 17 year old driver was airlifted to a hospital where he is recovering from a concussion and a bruised optic nerve.
Was this action heroic or was it poor judgment?
An important rule of first aid is not to move the victim unless absolutely necessary.
I was not at the scene but from photos I have some good ideas about the situation. The car was not on fire. There did not seem to be leaking gasoline. With the vehicle upside down the engine may well have been off. The victim was not in the middle of the highway in the fog. From anywhere in Malibu it does not take long for an ambulance to arrive. THe best action may have been to make certain that 911 had been called and to support the victim's head and neck until help arrived.
It is ironic that Dempsey plays the part of a doctor yet did not know this simple principle.
Fortunately the driver did not sustain further injury by being moved.
David Sneed
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