Crazy Night Out

[PaperDolls]

Hubby and I went out this weekend for the first time in a long time. It was really our first night out together for probably a year.

We went to a club. Several other sober people around.

We had a great time. Actually got to spend some real, quality time together laughing and dancing and talking.

Then, late into the night the owner got on the mic in the DJ booth. Asking if anyone is a nurse or doctor. Then I see a man laying on the floor, shirt open, someone on top doing compressions. I didn't even think, I just ran over to help. It's been a LONG time since I was certified in CPR but I dove right in without thinking really. Not breathing, no pulse. The owner was standing there looking a bit shocked. I asked if 911 was called. He fumbled his words a bit and I said "Call 911 now. Now!".

I jumped down and began giving him mouth to mouth. After about 5 breaths he vomited .... it was horrible and messy. As I turned his head to the left it ran out on the floor. Checked again. Not breathing. And then I froze. I could not bring myself to give him more mouth to mouth. I had asked for a towel or napkins to clean him up but I couldn't do it. I said "I can't, I can't do it. I'm sorry." Someone else jumped in. I didn't get any vomit in my mouth but it was on my face and felt like it got into my nose. I moved out of the way. Someone was checking for a pulse on his neck and couldn't tell so I moved in and checked on his wrist. May be something. Very faint. Compressions still going, mouth to mouth sill going.

Emergency personal arrived. May be 5 minutes had gone by. I'm not sure. I ran to the bathroom to clean up. I started freaking out the second I got into the bathroom. My hands were trembling as I tried to wash up. Hubby came to help me and calmed me down. I felt horrible for having to stop. He said I did everything I could do. He told me I amazed him.


Later, I comforted his girlfriend ... she was trying to get to him while paramedics worked on him and I had to hold her back. She collapsed in a heap onto the floor.

About an hour before he went down, I heard her complaining to a friend. "He's an f*ing alcoholic. He always does this. Screw him. I'm done." I didn't realize while I was working on him that this was the guy.

Yesterday afternoon I heard he is alive and in ICU. I was surprised actually. I didn't think he would make it and I suppose that's still possible. He was becoming quite blue while we were working on him.

I don't know how much I helped but I'm glad I was sober to even be able to offer help.

What a night.

[Music]

Thanks PD. I hope you're around if I ever need CPR and I promise I won't puke on you....LOL. I agree that you did what you could. Sometimes with us drunks, we do what we can and then continue to do what we can't. That's when it gets messy. You were helpful in possibly saving this guys life and maybe you'll see him at a meeting in the future.

[RobbyRobot]

Awesomely done, PD. Very heroic and immediate. You helped save the guys life.

[bbthumper]

Thank God he's alright. Way to jump in and help.
Hopefully you won't ever have to use cpr again, but if you do the american Heart Association actually took mout to mouth out of the procedure. They say it is just as effective to use only chest compressions. Might save you some trouble next time!

No mouth-to-mouth required in new CPR rules - Health - Heart health | NBC News
God bless!

[freshstart57]

Wow. PaperDolls, you are amazing. I hear the shock you felt at hearing this guy's life dismissed by 'He always does this'. He was dead or dying, fer heavens' sake.

We hope someday to make a difference in the world, and you certainly did that this weekend. Very nice work.

[PaperDolls]

Originally Posted by freshstart57

I hear the shock you felt at hearing this guy's life dismissed by 'He always does this'. He was dead or dying, fer heavens' sake.
.

That comment was made an hour before he went down. I assume at that point he was drunk and stupid and the girlfriend was complaining about it.

My shock was that I didn't know the man I was working on was the man she had been talking about an hour earlier until I saw her there. Crying. And went to comfort her.


Thanks for that info thumper!! As were were headed home I was thinking I really need to get certified again.



I don't know if I actually helped save his life but again, I'm glad I was able to even offer help. Back in the day, I was the one who needed help while I was at a bar. I could have been that guy.

[tomsteve]

awesomely blessed to hear the hand of AA was there and no one even knew it!
sure would be a great time to do some 12th step work on the dude.

[PaperDolls]

Should I be worried that I may have had vomit in my nose?

[RobbyRobot]

Originally Posted by PaperDolls

Should I be worried that I may have had vomit in my nose?

I think you have not much to worry about unless there is direct blood to blood transfer, or his saliva to your blood transfer, by a cut you have, you know?

In any case, you'd still have to have a battery of tests to make sure. I also think, because you did help the man, and there was contact, you could talk to his doctor, via the hospital. In any case, they would of course assist you, because they understand the need for safety concerns themselves, which is why they wear gloves and what else no less, as a precaution.

Myself, unless I had a medical reason, advised by a doctor, I wouldn't worry about it.

[PaperDolls]

Well, I don't know the guy whatsoever. I may ask my doctor about it. I'm not super concerned but I wondered if I should be more concerned than I am.

[Boleo]

Originally Posted by PaperDolls

I don't know how much I helped but I'm glad I was sober to even be able to offer help.

One of the Joys of Recovery is being capable, competent & sober to help others when the opportunity presents itself.

[Boleo]

Originally Posted by PaperDolls

Should I be worried that I may have had vomit in my nose?

I am a caregiver for handy-capped and elderly people. I get to work with large quantities of pee, blood, vomit, drool and excrement. Some of which ends up on me, walls and ceilings. I don't always have time to get the rubber gloves on.

I used to worry about it but now I realize I probably had worse experiences during my blackouts.

[PaperDolls]

I just got word that the man passed away. I'm not even sure what to think ..... I guess this was how it was supposed to be.

[aeo1313]

Originally Posted by PaperDolls

I just got word that the man passed away. I'm not even sure what to think ..... I guess this was how it was supposed to be.

Wow. You did all the right things. Really makes you stop and think.

As for the vomit, I wouldn't worry too much- at my job I have been bit, get pee and poop on me etc. You could always check with your doctor, but I am sure you are fine.

A past co-worker of mine had her brother pass away 2 days ago of an overdose. It's so hard not to think "that could have been me". Why do some of us overcome this and some can't/won't. It's hard to think about.

[BackToSquareOne]

Originally Posted by PaperDolls

I just got word that the man passed away. I'm not even sure what to think ..... I guess this was how it was supposed to be.

It's beyond awesome that you tried to help Paper Dolls, many wouldn't have done that. Sad tho that he didn't make it.

[Someguy23]

I have the dubious honor of having probably given myself alcohol poisoning on one occasion. I say probably because I didn't receive any proper medical care, but I had all the symptoms from what I was told.

I hope I don't come off as a bit cold when I say this, but the guy in question was lucky that he was given both CPR and medical assistance. It's too bad he didn't make it, but he really dug his own grave. I say this even though it really could have been me. How old was he, by the way?

As for you PaperDolls,,seriously

[PaperDolls]

This man was a complete stranger to me. I don't even know his name. I don't know how old he was. I would guess in his 40s but it's a total guess.

In all fairness, I don't know this mans history. I only know what his friend/girlfriend was saying. It's possible it wasn't true. May be she was just angry with him. Who knows?

Bottom line ... he died in a bar, whether it was due to his drinking or he simply had a heart attack ..... it makes me think of how my life could have ended up. Or ended. I'm grateful I was there to offer any assistance at all, however it turned out.

[onlythetruth]

Wow, PaperDolls. You are certainly to be commended for doing what you did.

I am also certified in CPR and remember very well what they say in all certification classes: you CANNOT hurt someone whose heart and breathing have stopped. They are basically already dead. All you can do is help. And you did, you gave the man a chance he would not otherwise have had. Even though he did not make it, that doesn't change what you did. It's awesome to be able to help, isn't it?