Would you risk your life for someone else.

[Sportsman]

Among other things I teach and write about First Aid in the workplace and one of the things that we always teach first aiders is to be aware of their own safety and don't get drawn into dangerous situations in the heat of the moment.

This question has come up on a first aid forum but I would appreciate the views of normal bloke (and blokesses )

 

Your walking by a river and your 2 year old toddler falls in. Would you jump in to save them?

 

Same river but someone elses 2 year old falls in. Would you do the same and if not, why not. The risk is the same.

 

Same scenario but an adult falls in and screams that they can't swim. What would you do?

 

is it justified to risk your life to save a stranger?

[corydoras]

Among other things I teach and write about First Aid in the workplace and one of the things that we always teach first aiders is to be aware of their own safety and don't get drawn into dangerous situations in the heat of the moment.

This question has come up on a first aid forum but I would appreciate the views of normal bloke (and blokesses )

 

Your walking by a river and your 2 year old toddler falls in. Would you jump in to save them?

 

Same river but someone elses 2 year old falls in. Would you do the same and if not, why not. The risk is the same.

 

Same scenario but an adult falls in and screams that they can't swim. What would you do?

 

is it justified to risk your life to save a stranger?

My first reaction would be not to 'jump in the water' to save anyone, but then I'm a trained life saver. You should always try some method of reaching them before entering the water yourself.

[Sportsman]

My first reaction would be not to 'jump in the water' to save anyone, but then I'm a trained life saver. You should always try some method of reaching them before entering the water yourself.

Agreed, but the essence of the question is in what circumstances would you jump in, assuming no other options.

[Ken L]

Your walking by a river and your 2 year old toddler falls in. Would you jump in to save them? Yes.

 

Same river but someone elses 2 year old falls in. Would you do the same and if not, why not. The risk is the same. It depends on the risk. The nominal risk to me might be the same but at the end of the day, it isn't my child.

 

Same scenario but an adult falls in and screams that they can't swim. What would you do? Exactly the same as if it's someone elses child.

 

is it justified to risk your life to save a stranger? Yes of course but I would always weigh up the risk to myself first.

 

 

No doubt some people will look at those answers as harsh but they are honest and if the recent "Confronting the PC Brigade" programe (I didn't watch it but I have read reviews) is anything to go by, their fairly typical.

[The Flying Tench]

I agree with Ken L, but in the case of a river I can't think of that many where I'd think the risk of my drowning was that great so I'd probably go in.

[corydoras]

I agree with Ken L, but in the case of a river I can't think of that many where I'd think the risk of my drowning was that great so I'd probably go in.

The first image that comes into my head when I hear the word 'river' is the one that I grew up on the banks of, the River Leven. Since this is the second fastest flowing river in Scotland and in some stretches its 18' deep 18" from the bank the idea of jumping in to save someone's life would be suicidal. Some of the little streams that pass as rivers down here might be different, but on the whole jumping in is how you end up with two corpses.

[Emma two]

An air crash into the Potomac river US in 1982 became the basis for an examination of altruism.

 

http://dossthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/11/w...other-hero.html

 

Some critics argue that true altruism does not exist. Rather the event is viewed, such as a drowing and some part of the unconcious mind says, 'if you DON'T do something now, then you will suffer guilt for the rest od your life', and this prompts action.

 

That type of altrusim can be considered as selfish too and if the action results in ones own death, then that impacts upon ones own family (genes, cue Darwin and a whole lot of research conducted upon ants!). Perhaps that is why the initial question was framed as 'your toddler' in the first instance?

[DavyR]

River Leven. Since this is the second fastest flowing river in Scotland and in some stretches its 18' deep 18" from the bank the idea of jumping in to save someone's life would be suicidal.

 

Fast water is not always the most dangerous. D'ye ken this traditional rhyme, Cory?:

 

Tweed says tae Till, "Wha gars ye rin sae still?"

Says Till tae Tweed, "Though ye rin wi' speed and I rin slaw,

For ae mon that ye droon, I droon twa..."

 

[Cranfield]

I would risk my life to save my wife, or my children, without any second thought.

 

I would do everything I could (apart from risking my life) to save someone else.

 

However, who can say what impulses we would react to in circumstances where, for instance, someone else's toddler fell into a river.

I can't swim by the way.

[chesters1]

i havn't a clue luckily my two year old toddlers were that 30 odd years ago

as for someone elses? i dont know until the circumstance occurs

Edited October 25, 2008 by chesters1