First ever ambulance ride and first air bag to the chest.

[gspren]

    Yesterday afternoon a car blew through a stop sign in front of me and I T-boned him at 30-35 mph, the crash was more violent than I would have thought for that speed. The airbag smacked my chest and in the first moments I thought my chest was crushed so I dug my phone out of my pocket and called 911, I probably sounded like I was dying but settled down in a couple minutes. Later on the way to the hospital the chest pain eased a bit but my right knee started to swell and got very painful. X-rays show nothing broke but I feel like I lost a fight, chest still hurts a little all the time and a lot if I yawn or take a deep breath. All emergency personnel, hospital docs and nurses were wonderful and even the cop was nice!

[thecfarm]

Too many firsts and good thing for the air bag!!

[Dan_Shade]

Yikes, glad to hear that you're on the mend. 

[doc henderson]

glad you are here to tell the tale.

[Roxie]

My experience has been that what pained me the most at the time of the incident, turned out to be the least of my problems 24 hours later. 

Glad you got help and thankful you're okay. 

[Old Greenhorn]

Glad you are OK. Air bags and seat belts do work. Stop signs...not so much. I stopped trusting the latter when I started driving emergency vehicles. Lights and sirens make people do weird things like stopping in the middle of the road right in front of you 'to let you go by' or speeding up to get through an intersection before you, or tailgating you to get through traffic faster and some really dangerous stuff beyond that. Never trusted a stop sign to stop cross traffic, or red lights either. Ever since those days I have always read the traffic as far ahead as I could see and always looked for, and created escape paths for the vehicle I was driving. Easy to say, not always easy to do.
 On the other side I cut and dug a lot of folks out of wrecked cars. Seat belts and air bags meant we had something we could work with. Lacking those it was often a different story. I'll leave it at that because writing this just brought up a bad one in my mind that took me 5 years to get processed through my head.
 I am just glad you are OK and on the mend. The pains will take time to subside. Get a follow up in about a week to make sure there were no residual effects. The shock trauma to your musculo-skeletal system is a protective reaction and when it subsides new things can pop up. Sometimes things get missed on the first go-round because of that.
 Heal up.

[dgdrls]

 gspren

Take it slow for a day or two 
and take care

D

[YellowHammer]

Glad to hear it wasn't worse.  

[moodnacreek]

Man, don't let that happen again, you have too much work to do and people waiting for you. There are sirens everyday here, mostly car wrecks caused by using phones and being distracted and inconsiderate people.  Glad you are ok, Doug

[mike_belben]

Plan on taking it easy for two weeks, adrenaline can thankfully mask an incredible amount of damage to help you survive.  Once upon a time i got jumped and pounded on for quite a while by a much bigger fellow without feeling a thing.  I bit the hell out of dudes thigh to get loose and landed one on his face and it was over.  I walked away just fine with no pain, just dark vision.

20 minutes later i can hardly breath and felt like i was truly being skewered with a pipe in the neck and out the opposite side rib cage.  Burning all over and can barely move.  I couldnt laugh or god forbid sneeze for about 2 weeks without intense pain from all those kicks that i never felt at all.  In the moment i could barely tell what was going on the first few seconds since i never saw it coming.   got punched in the face over and over and didnt feel any of them. I just saw flashes that didnt hurt. 

[Tom King]

Glad the airbag did its job!!!

[Corley5]

  Glad you're OK.  I hope the other vehicle's occupants are OK as well.  I've been in two similar but less violent incidents in the last year.  I had a car turn in front of me into a private drive.  I saw what was going to happen and got on the brakes but still hit her.  It's on a hill and I didn't dare swerve into the oncoming lane and the shoulder and ditches were iced and full of snow.  I firmly believe that the anti-lock brakes were a detriment in this incident.  I was on the brakes and the truck wasn't slowing as fast I feel it should have.  The asphalt was clean and dry.  $3,500 damage to a 2020 Ram was the result.  No air bags were deployed.  I got it slowed up that much.  The Honda SUV thing that turned in front of me wasn't as lucky but the driver was fine.  Back in July I had a similar incident.  A SXS was in front of me on a gravel side road.  She slowed down and moved over to the shoulder.  I pulled out to go around and she turned directly in front of me to take a two track across the road.  I hit her.  Once again I think the anti-lock brakes kept me from getting the truck stopped.  I wasn't going that fast and stood on the pedal...  No one was hurt, the SXS fled the scene, and the very same repairs had to be made to the truck...  Glad you're OK.

[Bruno of NH]

I'm glad you are ok .
Folks drive like heck these days

[Old saw fixer]

gspren-  Glad you are okay.

[firefighter ontheside]

I'm glad you're ok and that it wasn't worse.  A lot of people complain of chest pain from airbags, especially at relatively slow speeds.  That's why they're not supposed to deploy at slow speeds.  At slow speeds the bag will do more harm than good.  As with Tom, I've seen so many bad wrecks.  You can never tell when a wreck will produce bad injuries.  I've seen cars roll many times and have severe damage and the occupants walk away without a scratch and I've seen relatively minor damage lead to severe injuries.  I've ridden and driven ambulances hundreds of times, but never as a patient.  I hope I never do.

[Crusarius]

I can tell you being the patient is not as entertaining as sitting in one of the seats!

[gspren]

Thanks for the well wishes! At first the chest pain was both intense and scary when you think it may be serious, after the docs said it's bruising with no breaks and my heart seemed ok I felt much better, it's easier to deal with pain if it isn't scary. Something this crowd can relate to is I was wearing high top red wing hunting boots so when they had me in a "gown" to demonstrate I could walk I only had my boots to wear, a hairy old man in a hospital gown and boots.

[GAB]

 to demonstrate I could walk I only had my boots to wear, a hairy old man in a hospital gown and boots.

I hope that does not become a new fashion trend.  It does not conjure up a nice or positive picture in my mind.
Hope you get better quickly.
GAB

[Bradm]

Like the others, glad to hear you're doing well.  Any idea how things turned out for the other car?

@Corley5
I've never found ABS to be a good thing on anything slicker than a mildly damp road.  Also, if you're sliding on ice and all 4 wheels are locking up and you keep sliding, put it in neutral if you're vehicle is an automatic - it will remove all drive power from the wheels and allow you some steering control.

[Bradm]

to demonstrate I could walk I only had my boots to wear, a hairy old man in a hospital gown and boots.

I hope that does not become a new fashion trend.  It does not conjure up a nice or positive picture in my mind.
Hope you get better quickly.
GAB

Halloween is coming up.  Anyone need to instill terror into someone?

[Old Greenhorn]

Thanks for the well wishes! At first the chest pain was both intense and scary when you think it may be serious, after the docs said it's bruising with no breaks and my heart seemed ok I felt much better, it's easier to deal with pain if it isn't scary. Something this crowd can relate to is I was wearing high top red wing hunting boots so when they had me in a "gown" to demonstrate I could walk I only had my boots to wear, a hairy old man in a hospital gown and boots.

I gotta laugh at the visual. If you were like Magicman, you would have posted a photo. So I thank you for your choice. :D
 Seriously though, you didn't say how you are feeling the day after. I hope things are calming down for you and nothing new has popped up.

[Old Greenhorn]

I can tell you being the patient is not as entertaining as sitting in one of the seats!

Well for the most part that is true, but I have had a few patients in the rig that had nothing better to do, so they told jokes or worked their sarcasm on the crew tending them. Some were pretty funny. But, for sure, that was rare. 
 I'll never forget one frail elderly lady we were doing a transport for (nursing home to hospital). I had done everything I needed to do and my charts were updated. I asked if there was anything I could do to make her more comfortable. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes, because she was just scared of what was happening to her, she just said "If you wouldn't mind holding my hand, that would really make me feel better". Broke my heart more than any other patient I had, so of course, that's what I did.

[firefighter ontheside]

Tom, I've been a firefighter 29 years and an EMT about 27 of those.  Of all the things I've done and been involved in, it seems like the most impact I ever had was holding the hand of a patient who had been involved in a vehicle accident.  Her other hand and wrist were injured pretty badly.  We talked as I stood there holding her hand.  As it turned out she was a paramedic and dispatcher.  We are friends to this day and she talks as if I saved her life.  All I did for her was hold her hand until they transported her to the hospital.

[Texas Ranger]

Al I know is that my one journey by ambulance the gurney is 2 inches narrower than my derierre.

[Ianab]

Glad you are OK. 

It does say something about modern vehicle safety that you can walk (or at least limp) away from a 30+ mph crash. The vehicle will be a write off as the crumple zone folded up as designed, but the seat belts, airbags and survival zone worked as intended. 

I've had some close calls in my little Toyota, like some numpty turning across in front of me doing 30mph while doing the school run a couple of weeks back. ABS activated to stop, and pulled up a couple of feet from their rear corner panel as they crossed in front. Radar collision detection had activated, and automatically pre-tensioned the seat belts, so the computer was fully expecting a crash. If I'd been snoozing or adjusting the radio it would have been a 30 mph crash, with airbags and a written off car. 

So I do appreciate all the magic that goes into making cars safer. You have to be Really unlucky to be killed in a 30mph crash in a modern car. 

And yes airbags work via a small controlled explosion. They aren't a gentle fluffy cushion. They have to magically appear in front of you in a spit second, to give something slightly softer than the steering wheel or windscreen to impact with. But if you limp away with a black eye and bruised ribs, it's generally better than the other options. 

[SwampDonkey]

Glad you're on the mend, probably not your idea of fun excitement.

Must be why they are putting in traffic circles around the city here, try going 70 through one of them. ;)

In a small town, during a power outtage, no traffic lights. I saw this punk in a junk car come down a long hill at probably 20 over and never stopped to look at all, made a left turn and squealed off like a fool. A little substance abuse and a girl friend that ended it will drive some guys foolish. :

[gspren]

 Two days later I'm pleased with my knee recovery but not so pleased with the chest pain. When I left the hospital it was slow going with crutches and now I'm just using a cane and could walk around the house without that, the swelling has gone down quite a bit. The chest pain is still bad if I cough, clear my throat, breath deep, or twist my torso in any manner. I've googled it and it says all that is normal after an airbag punch so I'm OK, like I said earlier pain that is understood and not scary is much easier to deal with. Now I'm waiting to hear about my car but like many say it will probably be totaled and that's sad, it will be hard to replace. It is a 2014 FJ Cruiser TTUE, a limited edition that Toyota made for the last year it was sold in the US, the only used vehicle that I ever had to go up in value over the years.

[olcowhand]

Tom, I've been a firefighter 29 years and an EMT about 27 of those.  Of all the things I've done and been involved in, it seems like the most impact I ever had was holding the hand of a patient who had been involved in a vehicle accident.  Her other hand and wrist were injured pretty badly.  We talked as I stood there holding her hand.  As it turned out she was a paramedic and dispatcher.  We are friends to this day and she talks as if I saved her life.  All I did for her was hold her hand until they transported her to the hospital.

John Mellencamp said it best:
"Everyone needs a hand to hold on to
Everyone needs a hand to hold on to
Don't need to be no strong hand
Don't need to be no rich hand
Everyone just needs a hand to hold on to"

[samandothers]

It is a 2014 FJ Cruiser TTUE, a limited edition that Toyota made for the last year it was sold in the US, the only used vehicle that I ever had to go up in value over the years.

Well maybe a Corvette next!  Just need to select the right one. ;D

[Raider Bill]

Two days later I'm pleased with my knee recovery but not so pleased with the chest pain. When I left the hospital it was slow going with crutches and now I'm just using a cane and could walk around the house without that, the swelling has gone down quite a bit. The chest pain is still bad if I cough, clear my throat, breath deep, or twist my torso in any manner. I've googled it and it says all that is normal after an airbag punch so I'm OK, like I said earlier pain that is understood and not scary is much easier to deal with. Now I'm waiting to hear about my car but like many say it will probably be totaled and that's sad, it will be hard to replace. It is a 2014 FJ Cruiser TTUE, a limited edition that Toyota made for the last year it was sold in the US, the only used vehicle that I ever had to go up in value over the years.

I know nothing about logging, sawmills, timberframing,  chainsaws or most of what you guys talk about but I know ACV for total loss.
They are going to make you an offer for your vehicle.
Do not accept it.
Get with me on pm so we can get you more $$$.

[SwampDonkey]

Bruised ribs will remind you they are there for some time. I've gone through it, just from falling down in blow downs with cut off fir stumps in the mix. ;)

[HemlockKing]

Glad you're on the mend, probably not your idea of fun excitement.

Must be why they are putting in traffic circles around the city here, try going 70 through one of them. ;)

In a small town, during a power outtage, no traffic lights. I saw this punk in a junk car come down a long hill at probably 20 over and never stopped to look at all, made a left turn and squealed off like a fool. A little substance abuse and a girl friend that ended it will drive some guys foolish. :

I know the type. The loud fart can mufflers, I call them rice rockets. Stickers everywhere, lowered, basically going against all engineering by tossing junk eBay China "race" parts on a civic. Sadly this is not just a high school kid problem around here, "men" well into their 30s, 40s around here do that stuff, burnouts, drinking beers while driving and littering the bottles. I can sense a goon from so far away it's not even funny 

[Raider Bill]

Give a motor head geek a civic, and a laptop and he'll get you 600hp without changing any hard parts.

Not going to be for long though lol 

There is a test and tune night with drag strip and dynos every Wednesday night. Amazing.

[gspren]

Hard to believe we have over 30 replys without a mention of food so I will add that a kind nursing assistant in the ER brought me a turkey sandwich and a diet ginger ale, after 6 or 7 hrs in the ER it wasn't bad.  

[mike_belben]

I did the cylinder head on 990hp 2.4L K series honda in 05 maybe.


Now the leader is running 7.61@199mph quarter mile with 1,850hp.  And its a dang 2.0liter.  Probably methanol and nitrous to spool the turbo. Id guess its 90psi or more.  Speedfactory's civic.  Im sure its ate a lot of big block wheelie barred tubbed muscle cars right up. 

[Tacotodd]

I'd rather have the FJ. Just sayin.

[Crusarius]

It is insane what you can get out of a crappy little honda. they can be the ultimate sleeper.

[HemlockKing]

I guess I just believe in leaving commuter cars as... commuter cars lol 

We all mess with junk when kids, there are some "man children" around though 

[HemlockKing]

I did the cylinder head on 990hp 2.4L K series honda in 05 maybe.


Now the leader is running 7.61@199mph quarter mile with 1,850hp.  And its a dang 2.0liter.  Probably methanol and nitrous to spool the turbo. Id guess its 90psi or more.  Speedfactory's civic.  Im sure its ate a lot of big block wheelie barred tubbed muscle cars right up.

That is cool. No doubt some of these things could fly. I'm mostly talkin the mostly superficial ad ons like the classic cold air intake cone, couple of stickers, useless loud exhaust that rattles, and crazy camber on the wheels with massive rims

[Nebraska]

Been gone a while sorry to read this glad you are ok. I'd buy back the Toyota in a second if it was at all fixable.

[Ianab]

I guess I just believe in leaving commuter cars as... commuter cars  

The Japanese car makers don't think that way. :D

Production hatchbacks.
Toyota GR Yaris - Wikipedia

Honda Civic Type R - Wikipedia)

There is a bit more engineering going into those cars than a fart can exhaust and some stickers. ;)

This is my daily drive,



No stickers or loud exhaust, just a big V6 in a Corolla hatch. Japan only model. 

[mike_belben]

I'm mostly talkin the mostly superficial ad ons like the classic cold air intake cone, couple of stickers, useless loud exhaust that rattles, and crazy camber on the wheels with massive rims

theres a joe dirt side to every manufacturer following.  trust me the southeast has more ricky bobby than you can stomach.  i still will argue anyone to find a better manufacturer than honda.  but i hated dealing with honda ricers for the most part and got out of the business due to the type of people.


idiot owners aside, nothing else belts out more HP/per cubic inch or per dollar.  their combustion shapes, fuel and ignition systems and especially variable valve lift and variable cam phasing are second to none.  honda is a bunch of racer engineers pretending to be a commuter car company.  

[HemlockKing]

I bought myself a 3rd gen z28(swapped with a early mid 70s 350, stock mostly minus emissions, hooker headers, edelbrock carb)as my “Harley” and said there, that’s my fun car, Funny it only has like 250hp, 300torq, but it’s just so fun to cruise in, I will leave any thing else I have bone stock lol .

[HemlockKing]

I'm mostly talkin the mostly superficial ad ons like the classic cold air intake cone, couple of stickers, useless loud exhaust that rattles, and crazy camber on the wheels with massive rims

theres a joe dirt side to every manufacturer following.  trust me the southeast has more ricky bobby than you can stomach.  i still will argue anyone to find a better manufacturer than honda.  but i hated dealing with honda ricers for the most part and got out of the business due to the type of people.


idiot owners aside, nothing else belts out more HP/per cubic inch or per dollar.  their combustion shapes, fuel and ignition systems and especially variable valve lift and variable cam phasing are second to none.  honda is a bunch of racer engineers pretending to be a commuter car company.  

I haven't had a car of Honda's, but I've run their ATVS, and ATCS my whole life, I absolutely love them. I know their line of cars to reliable though through what I've been told, I wouldn't mind driving a stock civic as a commuter 

[Ianab]

I wouldn't mind driving a stock civic as a commuter 

You can buy a stock Civic now with over 300 hp AND 300 torque. The amazing thing is that the computer is able to keep it on the road in a FWD hatch. :D  My Toyota is stock at 275 hp and 250 torque. about twice what a Corolla (or Civic) should have. 

[HemlockKing]

I wouldn't mind driving a stock civic as a commuter

You can buy a stock Civic now with over 300 hp AND 300 torque. The amazing thing is that the computer is able to keep it on the road in a FWD hatch. :D  My Toyota is stock at 275 hp and 250 torque. about twice what a Corolla (or Civic) should have.

Automobiles have come a long way. I'm not into much of the newer vehicles as I don't like the way they look, but one that I DO, is the current corvette, this gen came out 2017? Anyway it looks like a super car, and has the power of one! I'm not sure you guys even see much of chev out there? Probably the odd import someone payed way too much for

[Ianab]

GM have pulled out of the Aus and NZ market completely. Before that they sold under the Holden brand, but never marketed the Corvette. The Commodore was a pretty good car though, especially the HSV models. American cars are available as private imports, but overpriced. Easier to get a used JDM Skyline or Supra etc.