A month or so ago Danny and Cathy Caldwell, Oregon State GWTA Directors were heading back from a GWTA meeting held in Bend, Oregon. While they were heading back to Portland the roads were extremely icy over the mountain pass. There were two approximately 20-year-old females driving a few hundred yards behind them in a small car. When they drove through a shaded area of the road, they slid out of control on the ice and hit another car head on.
Danny watching this in his rear view mirror immediately turned the truck he was driving around and headed back to the accident. He found the young driver without a pulse and it appeared she was killed instantly. He then moved on to the young passenger. She was still alive and appeared to be in a lot of pain. The people in the other vehicle had air bags deployed and appeared to be ok, just shook up with lumps, bumps and bruises.
He called 911 on his cell phone and got through. The dispatcher told Danny he was lucky because the cell phones usually don’t work in that area. They were able to notify Oregon State Police, fire and ambulance.
They were able to keep the female passenger warm and to treat for shock while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive approximately 30 minutes later. They were then able to fly the young patient by helicopter to a trauma hospital. The patient had a few fractures but she did survive.
As a First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor and a Paramedic for nearly 30 years, I can attest many people will not step into this roll and take this responsibility to help save a life. I would like to believe this is due to the lack of proper training and not anything else. At our last state meeting, Danny discussed this situation and urged the others at the meeting to get properly trained in First Aid/CPR because, “You never know when you will be called upon to help another human being in times of crisis.”
I believe GWTA echoes this spirit about helping one another and it is my great pleasure to announce the start of the Oregon State GWTA Good Samaritan Award. Each year we are going to recognize and honor Oregon State GWTA members who step up and become Good Samaritans in times of an emergency.
At our 2003 Rally, Oregon State GWTA Assistant Directors, Dick and Joyce Armstead and myself will be announcing the names Danny and Cathy Caldwell the first “Good Samaritans Of The Year Award For Oregon State.
Best Regards,
Scott Peabody,
Oregon State GWTA Assistant Director