(reposting some stuff from my facebook notes because I'd like to fill out my blog a bit more right away so here's some retro stuff)
"everyone's beautiful, see lot of ugly people on the street, with a little love they wouldn't be so ugly, wouldn't be so broken" ~long beach shortbus
Yours truly reporting long after the c-train riders was stuck with an awkward social situation that probably normal everyday life if arriving at the infamous 8th street station.
People milling off the train hesistating and then taking a different route, sighs of exasperation and pity, hedging around to exit down different stairs.
Decency to go around instead of stepping over the passed out guy draped over having tumbled up the stairs.
Surreal how people just didn't know what to do. So they didn't remain around and be bothered. After all, it was after lunch break so they probably had to get back to work, fair enough.
Having to do something, this citizen had to make contact and see if the guy was still alive, and just barely.
Tapping, and then smacking the curled up hand, yelling "are you okay" got no response, so searching and finding a fast pacing pulse, an odd sensation.
While phoning EMS, it was hard to figure out why people were giving a second glance at the odd gesture -- though it seemed a few of his friends came and checked that someone was calling 9-1-1.
A few moments later, the PA speakers came on asking someone to step forward to the emergency button and assist the transit authorities in dealing with an emergency.
The speaker had to ask four times.
Meanwhile, still on the phone with the 9-1-1 operator, this reporter had a guilty thought of not wanting to be late for a doctor's appointment.
Yet stuck around as asked to describe age, gender and location. checking breathing, chance of choking on vomit and if there was any visual response, which there was none.
Wasn't sure what to do if the operator had asked for CPR to be done. Learned lesson of why to carry a resusitation mask but there was no need.
The cop showed up and went about getting this guy's attention.
Not responding to prodding with foot or shaking, so lightly wacked in the solar plex, the guy groggly roll over and tell the cop where he could stick it.
The cop knew him by name.
As he roughly hauled him to his feet, the foul awakening cursing of the cop got him handcuffed and searched less gently.
By this time, paramedics had shown up for another false alarm.
The paramedics knew him by name too.
They reassured him they were taking him for a warm shower back at the shelter, which was what the guy lacked.
It seemed the show was finished and over a dozen people left shaking their heads and muttering about wasting tax-payer resources on the wasted.
At the same time, the rough act of force seemed to contradict as the cop stayed with the paramedics to make sure he was ok to walk while he scolded the guy to look after himself better.
It's frustrating to see a life almost completely gone down the tube, when the guy seemed about the same age as this reporter.
The phrase, "but for the good Grace of God, there am I" rung a little truer.
"everyone's beautiful, see lot of ugly people on the street, with a little love they wouldn't be so ugly, wouldn't be so broken" ~long beach shortbus
Yours truly reporting long after the c-train riders was stuck with an awkward social situation that probably normal everyday life if arriving at the infamous 8th street station.
People milling off the train hesistating and then taking a different route, sighs of exasperation and pity, hedging around to exit down different stairs.
Decency to go around instead of stepping over the passed out guy draped over having tumbled up the stairs.
Surreal how people just didn't know what to do. So they didn't remain around and be bothered. After all, it was after lunch break so they probably had to get back to work, fair enough.
Having to do something, this citizen had to make contact and see if the guy was still alive, and just barely.
Tapping, and then smacking the curled up hand, yelling "are you okay" got no response, so searching and finding a fast pacing pulse, an odd sensation.
While phoning EMS, it was hard to figure out why people were giving a second glance at the odd gesture -- though it seemed a few of his friends came and checked that someone was calling 9-1-1.
A few moments later, the PA speakers came on asking someone to step forward to the emergency button and assist the transit authorities in dealing with an emergency.
The speaker had to ask four times.
Meanwhile, still on the phone with the 9-1-1 operator, this reporter had a guilty thought of not wanting to be late for a doctor's appointment.
Yet stuck around as asked to describe age, gender and location. checking breathing, chance of choking on vomit and if there was any visual response, which there was none.
Wasn't sure what to do if the operator had asked for CPR to be done. Learned lesson of why to carry a resusitation mask but there was no need.
The cop showed up and went about getting this guy's attention.
Not responding to prodding with foot or shaking, so lightly wacked in the solar plex, the guy groggly roll over and tell the cop where he could stick it.
The cop knew him by name.
As he roughly hauled him to his feet, the foul awakening cursing of the cop got him handcuffed and searched less gently.
By this time, paramedics had shown up for another false alarm.
The paramedics knew him by name too.
They reassured him they were taking him for a warm shower back at the shelter, which was what the guy lacked.
It seemed the show was finished and over a dozen people left shaking their heads and muttering about wasting tax-payer resources on the wasted.
At the same time, the rough act of force seemed to contradict as the cop stayed with the paramedics to make sure he was ok to walk while he scolded the guy to look after himself better.
It's frustrating to see a life almost completely gone down the tube, when the guy seemed about the same age as this reporter.
The phrase, "but for the good Grace of God, there am I" rung a little truer.
