Whatever happened to lending a helping hand?

Case in point: On Sunday evening I was sitting at a red light in East Lexington when suddenly an automobile and an older model pick-up truck collided fiercely in the middle of the intersection in front of me with a horrifying impact. Each vehicle was lifted slightly off of the ground and spun to a complete stop, littering auto parts and glass all over the intersection.

I immediately retrieved an emergency dash strobe light from my SUV's storage area, activated the flashing lights and pulled into the intersection to warn oncoming traffic of the situation.

I quickly checked with the passengers of each vehicle and determined that the occupants of the car were, understandably, shaken up, but apparently uninjured. The occupants of the pick-up truck did not fare so well. A female passenger in the pick-up truck, was apparently not wearing her seat belt and had struck her head violently on the windowshield, creating a significant scalp laceration that was bleeding profusely. I handed her a handkerchief to press against her wound and help stop the bleeding. I then directed traffic around the accident site until police and paramedics arrived.

During all of this time, only one other person stopped and got out of their vehicle to see if aid was needed. This is not a lightly traveled roadway mind you. What is the matter with people these days? Are we so cynical and uncaring now that we no longer care what happens to our neighbors? Or do we all just safely stay in our vehicles and, hopefully, at least dial 9-1-1 to at least report the situation?

I don't expect others to have emergency equipment or medical supplies at the ready or emergency training, but it would be a better world we live in if people at least stopped and asked if someone needed aid.

Some day that may be you or a member of your family sitting there injured, in need of care and compassion. And if that misfortune does occur, I hope someone passing by still cares enough to try and help you.