posted on July 3, 2005 06:08:14 PM
Last week was a really hard week for my husband and I. On Monday, our 9 year old granddaugter was rushed to the hospital with what they thought was flesh eating disease. She has grazed her leg on the climbing bars at school the week before, and it had healed over. Now, she had a high fever and was vomiting. When she said her leg hurt, my son looked and it was red and very swollen over the scar. Thankfully it was not flesh eating disease, however, it was very infected and had got into her bloodstream. She has been very sick, and had to have the abscess drained. This could all have been avoided if they original wound had been cleaned and anitispetic, such as Hydogen Pyroxide, or one of the many sprays had been used. In this age of super bugs, it's a good lesson to learn that adults and children alike should clean cuts and wounds and apply anitiseptic.
Then on Thursday, our son was in a motor vehicle accident. He was driving to work, and a car came through a junction without stopping at a stop sign. He sped up and almost got out of the way, but it just caught the back wheel of his almost new full-size truck, and threw it into the air, and it rolled over several times. Every window in the truck was gone, and every panel flattened. Our son was cut by glass, and had a lot of cuts and bruises, but no broken bones. We are all sure that had he not been wearing his seat belt, he would probably have been thrown from the vehicle and crushed. He lives less than half a mile from work. I find especially when I am going to rummage sales I fail to put on my seat belts because it is just a short distance between stops, but in future, I will certainly be wearing one at all times.
I just wanted to give a friendly reminder to you all. This week could have been a disaster for our family, thankfully it was not worse. I don't want anyone else to suffer unneccessarily.
posted on July 3, 2005 06:56:52 PM
Amber, you have posted a very good example of how a simple bit caution could have prevented an almost life threatening condition.
A lesson here too...always wear your seat belt. I have no doubt your son is alive because he did.
I am so glad everything turned out well for both your son & granddaughter.
It also makes me wonder how many older people have an up to date Tetnus booster shot, millions don't. I do, & not because my doctor recommended it, but because I asked for one.
posted on July 3, 2005 06:59:53 PM
Wow, Amber, you really had a tough time! I'm glad everything is okay now. I always wear my seat belt - without exception. Even going up to the corner store it's on. It's a force of habit now. That's not even mentioning the heavy price you can pay if you're stopped. Ken got a nasty judge in a town here that tolerates nothing when he got stopped (he did a rolling stop at a stop sign) and had no seat belt on. He lost his license for 6 months and paid a $250 fine for both offenses. The risk to life and limb isn't worth it either.
Whenever I take my granddaughter anywhere, I have a small purse size first aid kit with bandages and antiseptic in it. Kids get themselves into all kinds of things. It's a good idea to be prepared always.
posted on July 3, 2005 07:26:47 PM
I've been guilty of not wearing the seat belt on my way to "downtown" - 2 miles, no traffic--but still, you never know. Maybe I'll start.
posted on July 3, 2005 07:44:05 PM
WOW! Amber, I'm sorry to hear of the "scares" that you've had, but fortunately, everything turned out ok all the way around.
I'm one of those that is a bit overprotective and too cautious. I use a strong antibiotic ointment (got it from my dad) everytime my little girl gets a cut. It's called "Bactriban" and is available only by prescription. (Dad needs it because he is so susceptible to infection.)
As for the seatbelts, well, mine is ALWAYS on and so is my daughter's. I'm so bad that I buckle her up just to go to the pool (which is in the apartment complex)!
posted on July 4, 2005 06:52:08 AM
Some huge percentage of accidents happen very close to home (not that it's more dangerous there, but you spend so much time there).
It might be silly, but I'm so in-the-habit that I buckle up to move one car out of the way of another in the driveway It's a reflex: turn engine on, put seatbelt on, check mirrors.
Some people think you can get trapped in a car if you have seatbelts on. I read something that examined the likelihood of that, and while I don't remember the numbers, it was something like seatbelts hamper escape 1 time out of 10,000 and seatbelts save your life 8,500 times out of 10,000.
If you're in a car with an unrestrained passenger, they become a flying projectile in an accident, and can kill even those in the car with seatbelts ON. I marvel at how often I see kids properly strapped in, and then an adult without seat belts. Must be tough after an accident to think that your flying body killed a kid.
posted on July 4, 2005 08:09:11 AM
Keep in mind if you ever get in an accident,and you were not wearing your seat belt that your insurance company won't pay a dime on your PIP. Thats the first thing they look for in the police report. Probably the second is if your were talking on a cell phone. You would be surprised at the number of claims they get out of paying by just claiming you broke the law.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on July 4, 2005 09:45:47 AM
Diane: I don't think you can be too careful with children, they are too precious. The thing that concerned us about our granddaughter is that it was just a burn from the climbing bars that broke the skin, but was no big deal. Maddy didn't even tell her parents. Now, they have made it clear to all 4 daughters that if they get any cuts or scrapes, no matter how small, they need to tell them so that they can get it disinfected. You can't be too careful these days with all the bad infections out there. I am an RN, and I have told my children about taking precautions, but little cuts and scrapes didn't seem to be a big issue until now.
I know this is going to sound hokey, but I firmly believe that all the disinfecting we've done around our homes and such has done us more harm than good. Children need to be exposed to things in order to build their immune systems. Measels and Chicken Pox are coming back bigger and badder. Would that had happened if we had allowed our children to get them instead of trying to eradicate them? I had both and survived it. All the antibiotics and disinfecting sprays do nothing, but create bigger and more resistant bacteria. Since bacteria is a living organism, it's their survival instinct. JMO.
To a large extent I agree with you. I think the anti-bacterial soaps, dish liquids etc to cause resistant organisms. However, things like Hydrogen Peroxide, Iondine work well, and do not cause resistant strains. If cuts and wounds are not treated, the results can be deadly. Our daughter-in-laws best friend a couple of years ago was making them an apple pie, and she cut her finger. I few days later she got 'flu-like symtoms which kept getting worse. The doctor said it was 'flu. By the Saturday she was much worse and her husband took her to the ER, again they diagnosed 'flu. Next day, she was so sick, her husband took her back to the ER where they admitted her, and operated immediatly, removing her arm, and most of the musles in her neck and chest. She died by lunchtime. She was 28. They said that the infection had entered where she had cut her finger, then it had healed over. Cleaning with peroxide would have killed the bacteria. She left 3 little girls.
posted on July 4, 2005 11:37:42 AM
Several years ago, I was antiquing, started for home AFTER fastening my seat belt. I was on US101 just out of Arroyo Grande when the car in front of me slammed on its brakes to make a left hand turn across the median. Now this is in the left hand lane & I was doing 65MPH. I slammed into the rear end & nearly totaled my new T-Bird. Luckily I had my seat belt on & the air bags deployed. I had a sore shoulder for a few days, but no other injuries. No one rides in my car w/o wearing their seat belt. It may have saved my life & surely savbed me from serious injury.
posted on July 4, 2005 11:48:40 AM
One of the best & cheapest disinfectants around the house is plain old Bleach. One ounce of Bleach in a gallon of water will kill any bacteria or virus. The active ingredient is Sodium Hypochlorite. This is a Chlorine based chemical much like the chemical used in swimming pools.
Life Is Too Short To Drink Bad Wine
[ edited by sanmar on Jul 4, 2005 01:27 PM ]
after an experience a couple of years ago, no one rides in my car either without their seatbelt on. i won't start the engine until everyone's buckled up.
i was less than 2 miles from my house, on the outskirts of town, when an elderly man suddenly tried to make a left-hand turn into the oncoming traffic - me. about 5 feet in front of me. no time to stop.
the other driver hit his head on his windshield and is still in a nursing home with a permanent brain injury...i had miscellaneous broken bones and my passenger's back was broken.
we were told numerous times by both the emts and emergency room staff that had we not had seatbelts on and airbags to deploy, we would have both died.
so folks, EVEN IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO A GROCERY STORE A MILE AWAY, put the seatbelt on.
posted on July 7, 2005 09:46:50 AM
amber: Unfortunately, there are no statistics on how many people are killed because they wear seat belts. I personally believe it is a personal choice, and that the government has no right to force me to do something I believe is dangerous.
Everyone can site accidents where a “safety belt” saved someone’s life – since statistics are not kept on the other, I would imagine most folks would be amazed at how many folks are killed because they did have a seat belt on.
In our family, our first experience was when our sons were coming home from work when they were teens, and they were hit broadside. My younger son saw the car coming, and because he was NOT restrained by a seat belt, he moved over on top of the center console. PTL he had the speed and sense to do this. It was his side of the car that was impacted, and our car was totaled. If he had been wearing a seat belt he would not have been able to move out of the way that quickly. My elder son, who was driving, and was also not wearing a seat belt, only sustained a split lip – lots letter than a dead younger son.
Next, I was on a trip by myself, it was raining, and my car started hydroplaning, I realized it was totally out of control. I was driving on a 4 lane with a ditch in-between. The car flew out of my south bound lane, over the ditch, across the 2 north bound lanes, and ended up in a bunch of trees about 200 yards from where it began hydroplaning. I was not wearing a seat belt, but the moment I realized I had no control; I threw myself to the floor, over the console, and only sustained some bruses.
Next, my God Daughter was wearing a seat belt, and driving with her young son, who was also wearing a seat belt. She was hit broad side by one of those huge jacked up pick-up trucks, and although she saw it coming, the seat belt kept her from moving out of the way. We know she saw it, because her young son, said that his Mom yelled, “son of a b----.” Right before the truck hit and killed her.
Last but not least, my husband, who had heard all of these stories, was driving locally on a four lane, and saw in his peripheral vision another truck crossing the 4 line without stopping, heading right at him. My husband dove to the far said of our truck on the floor, and only sustained a broken toe – had he been restrained by a seat belt he would be dead and the steering wheel was pushed through our truck all the way to the driver’s seat.
Bottom line, I think small children, in addition, young to make fast, rational decisions should use seat belts. As far as adults are concerned, I believe that is a personal choice, and to this day, we do not wear seat belts, but do have air bags.
We have never been fined (yet) for not wearing seat belts, but I'd rather pay a fine than be dead.
Something few people think about is the safety of their pets in an accident. When we have to travel any considerable distance, we crate our dogs, then use heavy rubber bungee cords to tie down the crates to the floor, to keep the “fur babies,” safe in case of an accident. If you ever have gone, or have the opportunity to go to a top notch dog show, check out how the breeders carry their valuable pets. You will find 99/9% of these dogs are crated, and secured to the vehicle.
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
[ edited by jwpc on Jul 7, 2005 09:49 AM ]
posted on July 7, 2005 02:30:19 PM
I live in Maryland where using a seat belt is not a choice but the law - and now we have a new "click it or ticket" program where you will get pulled over if you are not belted (how they can tell I haven't figured out yet!). This is a great reminder, Amber - I drove home from the vet today with no seatbelt, my pregnant boxer next to me unrestrained as well. It was only a short distance, but I should have been belted and should have had her crated.
posted on July 7, 2005 03:06:07 PM
Add my daughter and her six friends to the list of people SAVED by seat belts. Three years ago, not long after getting her driver's license, my daughter was driving the group home from one of the gang's cabin "up north" when a lady on the side of the road suddenly decided to make a "u" turn, plowing right into the side of our mini-van. The van rolled over three times - the driver's side was completely crunched and all the windows were broken but all of the girls were wearing seat belts and survived. The tallest girl (6'2') sustained a major head injury and was helicoptered in to the Twin Cities where, through excellent care and a whole lot of prayers, she recovered without permanent brain damage. I know that seat belts (and guardian angels) saved all of those girls' lives. No one could believe, when they saw the car afterwards, that anyone survived.
Even if it were not the law, I think it would be irresponsible parenting not to require that young drivers, and all passengers in a car driven by young drivers, wear seat belts. Both my 19 year and 21 year old daughters have to abide by these rules or they lose their cars. I might not be very strict about curfews but I won't budge on this rule.
The pictures are too gigundo to post so I'll put the url's here. These are shots of the car in the junk yard where they towed it. That's the windshield draped over the steering wheel:
http://tinyurl.com/9ms5c http://tinyurl.com/dhjm5
hmm - I tinyurl'd them and the images got smaller?? LOL..
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posted on July 7, 2005 09:31:22 PM
great post, neglus! i loved how you put it that you won't budge on the seatbelt rule - at all. people in my car occasionally roll their eyes at me when i refuse to put the key in the ignition to even start the engine unless everyone's belted but hey! the choice is still theirs - they can walk if they so desire (seeing as how there's no public transportation here, it would be quite a challenge to walk most places
try telling cops, firefighters and emts that seat belts don't save lives...they see the results every day!!!
posted on July 7, 2005 09:41:46 PM
We also have the "click it or ticket" in Wisconsin and I haven't figured out how they know but I am not going to find out. If get picked up more than once the fine gets pretty steep.
_________________
posted on July 7, 2005 10:01:15 PM
Libra...We have a click it or ticket law here in California also. When it first went into effect, the fine was $16.00 for a first offense. Now it's over a hundred. You don't want to know what the judge will hit you with for a second offense. I suspect soon, license suspensions will enter the picture. Surprisingly, there are two exemptions to the seatbelt law. Passengers in buses, including school buses do not have to wear seat belts. Also, prisoners in police patrol cars are not required to wear seat belts.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on July 7, 2005 10:53:29 PM
amber: been off-line for some days. Just wanted to offer my sympathies for your scares, and am glad that things did not turn out worse.
We often get reminders (most thankfully are smaller) to not become complacent in our lives. They afford us a fresh opportunity to make steps, small ones if need be, toward renewing our goals and dreams. Through these reminders, we can sometimes find the clarity of courage to take those steps.
posted on July 8, 2005 04:00:59 AM
Thanks bcpostcards for your kind words. Yes, we are truly thankful that things were not worse. I know that sometimes there are exceptions, there are always are, but I am sure that it has been proven that on the whole wearing seatbelts does save lives. Here in Ontario in is mandatory with an immediate fine for no doing so.
posted on July 11, 2005 08:13:02 AM
I think the law requiring adults to wear a seat belt, which might kill them, is giving the government too much control over a person’s private life. As a sane, mature adult, I believe such a choice should be mine, not the governments. I too live in a “click it or ticket,” but it is weakly enforced. I have never been stopped, nor has my husband, and if we ever are, I will be happy to go to court to explain my reasoning for not wearing a seat belt. I may be given a ticket, but better to pay a ticket than pay for a funeral.
Regarding disallowing anyone in your car to ride with you if they will not wear a seat belt, reminds me of a friend who had a hip replacement operation, and asked my husband and I to drive 200 miles and to stay with him while he recuperated, which we did. This was in the middle of the winter. When we arrived, he told us that he no longer allowed smoking in his house (although he use to be a smoker himself, and he knew very well that my husband and I both smoked). He said we would have to go outside to smoke. Personally, I thought that was the ultimate in gall, to ask us to come to care for him, and then forbid us to smoke in his house. We followed his rules, because we care for him very much, BUT the next time he asked us to come up for a holiday, we did not even discuss the smoking issue. I told him he invited us, if he did not want smokers in his house, he should not have invited us, so we did smoke. In essence do not ask me to go somewhere with you, and then dictate the rules about how I ride in your car. I do not see it is anyone’s right but mine, to decide whether or not I will wear a seat belt. (If I decide to ride in a person’s car who is a non-smoker, I don’t smoke, as that is a very limited space, and normally one isn’t going to far, so I understand that “rule.” However, my safety is my business, and whether or not I wear a seat belt in your car, is in no way going to harm you.
[b]The more power you give the government, the less rights you have.
"Each year, obesity claims the lives of 300,000 Americans and adds over $100 billion to health care costs. Should government enforce a 2,000-calorie intake limit per day? There's absolutely no dietary reason to add salt to our meals. Salt can lead to hypertension-induced heart attacks that kill thousands. Should government outlaw salt consumption? Sedentary lifestyles have been shown to lead to shorter and less healthy lives. Should there be government-mandated exercise programs?"[/b]
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
posted on July 11, 2005 08:57:12 AM
jwpc -- I guess if you'd ride in my car, you'd have to sign a document and have it notarized that said you are risking additional harm to yourself if you were involved in an accident. Who knows what your estate would do if someone got the idea to sue over your death. I'd surely want someone to know that you did it voluntarily, that's for sure.
I do feel the same way about helmet laws for motorcycles. They just changed that in PA last year. However, I think I'd want something that said if you choose to risk additional harm by not wearing one, then you give up the right to government assistance if you are seriously injured and in a persistent vegetative state. Afterall, why should I have to pay for your choice to risk additional injury. Your choice - your risk, right?
posted on July 11, 2005 09:15:53 AM
jwpc: Your attitude is really strange and it seems on the surface of it as though you have a death wish.
1. No motorcycle helmet? Okay, then, let's have a mandatory permission on the issuance of a motorcycle license that you will be an organ donor.
2. You're still smoking?!! And you smoke inside a home when asked not to?
3. No seatbelt? I agree with TheFamilyBiz here. Frightening to think what your heirs (or you) would do upon your getting a serious injury.
I assume you stop at stop signs? That's a law to protect you and others. There are probably many similar laws you've taken to heart. Why stop at seatbelt laws? Or helmet laws?
WE, THE PUBLIC, will be stuck with your hospital bill if you can't pay it all. Medical costs go up as a result of attitudes like yours. I urge you to rethink this.
It's a reflex: turn engine on, put seatbelt on, check mirrors.
