Gary Coleman's Wife's 911 Call
A friend posted a link to an article on the transcript of Gary Coleman's wife's 911 call and passed judgement that her (lack of) actions was selfish.
First, I say shame on them for releasing the tape. Use it as evidence in the investigation of his death, of course. Use it as a tool to set up training situations and to educate the public, sure. Release the tape to the press for entertainment? Shame on you. Heaven forfend someone chooses not to call 911 because they don't want the tabloids getting the story. Your out partying with Lindsey Lohan, you have a seizure, and she doesn't call 911 because she just got out of rehab (again) and doesn't want anyone getting a recording of her drunken 911 call. Is it an extreme example? Sure, but I don't ever want to be with anyone who might hesitate for a heartbeat before calling 911.
That said, I don't think she should be judged harshly. How can we sit here, calmly, and second guess the actions of someone in over their head?
She mentions having stress-induced seizures and that she was currently running a fever. No one makes great decisions when they're feverish. Add to that being completely squicked by the sight of blood and you have a recipe for disaster.
Seizures + Fever + panic = avoid traumatic situations
My mother was watching some telly program where they sited a statistic that the hero-complex in the US, the burning need to charge to the rescue no matter the situation, has left us with the highest disaster mortality rate in the first world.
For a more real example, if your house is on fire and you know someone is still trapped inside, the worst thing you can do is charge in to save them because you're putting yourself in danger with a very small success rate - and you're endangering the firemen who now have to try and rescue two people instead of just the one.
She did what you're supposed to do: call 911 and don't put yourself in a situation where you require saving as well.
First, I say shame on them for releasing the tape. Use it as evidence in the investigation of his death, of course. Use it as a tool to set up training situations and to educate the public, sure. Release the tape to the press for entertainment? Shame on you. Heaven forfend someone chooses not to call 911 because they don't want the tabloids getting the story. Your out partying with Lindsey Lohan, you have a seizure, and she doesn't call 911 because she just got out of rehab (again) and doesn't want anyone getting a recording of her drunken 911 call. Is it an extreme example? Sure, but I don't ever want to be with anyone who might hesitate for a heartbeat before calling 911.
That said, I don't think she should be judged harshly. How can we sit here, calmly, and second guess the actions of someone in over their head?
She mentions having stress-induced seizures and that she was currently running a fever. No one makes great decisions when they're feverish. Add to that being completely squicked by the sight of blood and you have a recipe for disaster.
Seizures + Fever + panic = avoid traumatic situations
My mother was watching some telly program where they sited a statistic that the hero-complex in the US, the burning need to charge to the rescue no matter the situation, has left us with the highest disaster mortality rate in the first world.
For a more real example, if your house is on fire and you know someone is still trapped inside, the worst thing you can do is charge in to save them because you're putting yourself in danger with a very small success rate - and you're endangering the firemen who now have to try and rescue two people instead of just the one.
She did what you're supposed to do: call 911 and don't put yourself in a situation where you require saving as well.