Unfortunately, Polish roads often see people who, instead of helping those injured in accidents or at least calling the emergency services, take photographs and record the entire incident. This is scandalous behavior that society must not tolerate. We must be aware that in such situations, minutes or even seconds can determine whether someone lives or dies.
Last Friday, November 22 this year, the duty officer of the Bolesławiec County Police Headquarters was driving to work in the morning. That day, difficult weather conditions prevailed on the roads in Bolesławiec County. Local snowfall and strong winds made driving considerably more difficult.
At one point, the police officer saw a woman driving a passenger car lose control on a bend in the road, causing the vehicle to enter a roadside ditch. To make matters worse, the vehicle rolled over.
In an instant, the police officer stopped his vehicle and switched on the hazard lights. In doing so, he wanted to draw the attention of all drivers to the fact that a road incident had occurred at that location.
Drawing on his police training and professional experience, he immediately ran to the vehicle that had rolled over moments earlier. The police officer determined that the driver was still inside the vehicle and, fortunately, was conscious and able to communicate. However, it quickly turned out that the doors had locked automatically as a result of the incident, making it difficult for the driver to leave the vehicle on her own.
However, the quick reaction and efficient actions at the scene led to the woman eventually leaving the vehicle with the police officer’s help and support. At around the same time, one of the witnesses to the incident had already informed the emergency services, which were dispatched to the scene.
During this time, the police officer also switched off the engine of the vehicle damaged in the incident and, more importantly, looked after the driver until the medical team arrived. Fortunately, the woman did not suffer any serious injuries, but the situation had looked very dangerous.
This time, the police officer happened to be in the right place at the right time. By helping the woman, he used the experience and skills he had gained in the service. Through his actions, he set an example of how to behave in the face of sudden danger threatening others. However, we should remember that any one of us could have witnessed such an incident. We, too, must not remain indifferent when someone’s life or health is at risk. Perhaps in the future, our own lives will depend on how effectively and quickly help is provided to us.