So we were standing in line for voting, chit chatting about nothing when I heard a thud behind me. A few feet away, a girl had collapsed, and everyone in line freaked. Only about 2-3 people came forward to help and everyone else stood their place in line, just looking at the scene.
Like me.
My mind said "Go to her! You're trained and certified! They're giving her water! They shouldn't be giving her water when she's laying on the floor. She could choke! Is she conscious?"
As I stood there, the white robed figure on my shoulder said, "You know what you're doing better than they do. Go help her. You know how. Don't just stand there."
On my other shoulder, Mr. Pitchfork whispered, "It's no big deal. She's fine. There are already plenty of people helping her. She's not even that bad." But as I continued to stand there looking at the scene security came out with the AED. I know how to work defibrillators. Did she need a defib? She's still on the floor. Was she "fine" as my conscience tried to convince me?
I left the scene. Went outside. Felt like I failed as a student aspiring to enter the medical field. Failed as human for another human. I didn't even take a step to get help if I wasn't going to help her. Victim to the bystander effect. I choked. It was pathetic.
How will I continue to believe that I want to help people when I stood around making excuses for not doing so, in what might have been the most threatening situation?
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