Monday, December 5, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
The Four Seasons of Kansas Book Signing with Daniel D. Dancer
Car accident precautions
The Law In Brief
Knowing what to do at the scene could save lives
By Jay A. Cohen Kansan staff writer
The first thing to do when stopping on a road to help someone who has been in a car accident is to get off the road. Office for Douglas County
Jim Murray, training officer for Douglas County Ambulance Service, 225 Maine St., said that one should send someone back along the road to warn approaching cars, especially if the accident occurred on a hill or curve that hides the scene from approachable driver.
curve that misses the accident. That accomplished, Murray said, there are five basic concerns one should have when assisting the victim(s).
victim(s).
First, get help. The best aid one can give is to quickly notify medical professionals of the location and severity of the accident, he said.
severe mind, do not move an injured person unless his life is in immediate danger.
is in mittitude danger, is "only if the car is about to fall off the edge of a cliff or catch on fire," Murray said. "But it isn't like on TV. Actually, less than 1 percent of cars involved in accidents catch on fire, and a lot of people mistake steam for smoke. If there's a lot of fuel around the vehicle, a person would have to make a judgment. But you should be very cautious about moving someone because there is chance of aggravating an injury, and possibly paralyzing or even killing the victim."
Third, one should make sure that the victim can breathe.
"The most important thing is that everyone should take a CPR course." Murray said. "But if it is an emergency, the person is not breathing, then the basic procedure is to clear the mouth of any substance which might block the air passage. Then jut the jaw forward and give two slow breaths, then another
breath every five seconds, until the person starts breathing or help arrives."
Betty Bennett, administrative assistant in the Lawrence Red Cross office, said CPR and first aid courses were given according to demand, usually three or four times a year. The course costs $16 and comprises two four-hour classes. People who pass the course receive a certificate valid for three years.
case rule.
This certificate qualifies the holder for protection under the Kansas Good Samaritan law. A person who attempts to aid an injured person may be sued if the victim believes that their help in fact aggravated their injury. However, the Good Samaritan law exempts medical professionals and holders of certain first aid certificates from such suits, according to Kansas statute.
statue Murray's fourth concern was the control of serious bleeding.
bleeding.
One should apply direct pressure to the wound, either with the palm of the hand, or holding clean rags one on one of clothing. If the victim has been moving, then one could carefully raise bleeding limbs above the level of the heart, but only if they are not fractured, Murray said.
Murray said.
In the case of amputation, a bulky cloth dressing should be applied to the stump and pressed with both hands; a covered body part should be wrapped in clean cloth and kept with the victim. It should not be packed in ice because the freezing might damage important tissues, he said.
Fifth, the victim's body temperature should be maintained. This can be done by covering the victim in a blanket or coats. This can also provide a measure of psychological reassurance, Murray said. But one should be careful not to overheat the victim.
KU grad's solitary bike trip fulfilled dreams, led to book
By Cindy Harger Kansan staff writer
experiences on the road.
Patrick Clark, a recent KU graduate, packed about 50 pounds of camping clothes, clothing and food and began bicycling away from Washington D.C. in early 1987.
He was heading south into Virginia and North Carolina, and he wasn't sure how long his solitary bicycle trip would be, but he didn't care.
"Writing has always been a compulsion for me," he said. "I just like to express myself."
would be. "It was kind of like a vision quest." Clark said. "It was something I have always wanted to do."
Clark, who graduated from KU in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in outdoor recreation, said he also had a goal of writing a book. He combined his two dreams by writing "You Can Go Home Again," a book based on his
His five-week, 500-mile journey took him through the Shenandoah Mountains, over Mount Airy in Virginia and finally to Asheville, N.C. He camped along the way and lived as cheaply as possible, spending a total of about $200.
Clark said he never ran into serious problems on his trip, but he was scared a few times.
scared a few times.
While he was camping in the woods near Roanoke, Va., he heard gun-shots.
shots.
"That spooked me a little. I had heard of people getting shot just a couple weeks earlier," he said. "
just guessed that it was a couple of guys out shooting around, or a farmer shooting a coon on his own land. But it was definitely not hunting season."
Although Clark enjoyed making the trip alone, he said that next time he would go with other people.
Clark wrote about all of his thoughts and experiences in his book, which he self-published and is marketing. He said he would try to sell it to Lawrence bookstores and has sent copies to bicycling and outdoor magazines.
Clark said he hoped to take many more trips in the future, including a bike trip around the world. And he said he wanted to write many more books.
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ATTENTION
All Graduate Students Graduate Student Council GRADUATE ASSEMBLY
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Monday, December 5
Place: Alderson Auditorium,
Kansas Union
Guest Speaker Frances Degen Horowitz Dean, Graduate School
All Graduate Students Welcome!
Refreshments Served
Ad paid in part by Student Senate.