Well that was interesting

[snousle]

Got up early this morning in G'ville and went for a slice of pumpkin bread at the Coffee Bazaar. No sooner had I sat down with my coffee than a disheveled looking guy at the counter next to me started banging on the wall and staggering around. In a few seconds he got tangled up in a stool and was headed earthwards. I'm totally useless at handling incapacitated people, but another customer helped keep him upright and he didn't get hurt. It was a little scary because I had to restrain him to keep him from smashing the window, and you never know if someone in that state is going to freak out and turn on you. Fortunately there's a fire station right across the street and paramedics came right away. My coffee spilled and my breakfast was soaked in the process, but I wasn't exactly hungry after that. What a way to start the morning!

Comments

[barbarian-rat.livejournal.com]

Guerneville does have it's share of ... too medicated folks.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

basically just stay out of their way unless they are clearly going to hurt you (at all) or themselves (a lot)

it's even trickier in the US because if you try to help at all, you open yourself up to legal liabilities

[(Anonymous)]

Just completed a CPR class as part of the requirements for a pharm tech certificate. Apparently you must ask permission to help someone conscious. A nod is considered acceptable in the case of choking. The nurses say don't worry, even if they refuse, they'll be unconscious soon, and then they're all yours.

[snousle.livejournal.com]

Hard to know in this case, his eyes were open but I don't think anyone was home. Communication of any kind was not possible.

[snousle.livejournal.com]

I think he would have hurt himself.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

I admit that against my better judgement, I would also have intervened.