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Show July!, 1992 (dldls IS Editor's note: The following editorial was written by a participant in a highway accident involving a busload of American service members in Korea, The bus, referred to as the Wolf Pack Wheels, was traveling from Kunsan AB to Osan AB. Hilltop Times 11 frsiyjirvhfi by 1st Lt. Mike Richmond Air Force News Service Three seconds. That's about how long it took to put on my seatbelt that day. Eight seconds. That's about how long it took for the Wolf Pack Wheels to lose control on a patch of highway ice, fishtail wildly, strike the curb with its front tires, bounce into the air, flip upside down, strike a small concrete post, whiplash violently to the ground, and tumble down an embankment before coming to rest in a cold, muddy field 15 feet below highway level. As a participant in the accident, I'd like to share the series of emotions that raced through my mind during the accident, at the scene, and the one emotion that stays with me today. The first was confusion, being flung violently upside down and from side to side, not knowing what was happening as thunderous crashes exploded with every violent jerk. Then fear, realizing what was happening and being powerless to do anything about it. Then reassurance, feeling myself being held firmly in place by my seatbelt, even as we tumbled down a hill. Then relief , realizing I was unhurt when we stopped rolling. Then horror, when I looked to my left to check on the passenger who had been sitting next to me, only to discover she "was no longer there. Then a deeper horror after I scanned the rest of the seats and noticed that the bus was missing about half its original occupants. A quick glance outside revealed a number of bodies strewn throughout the surrounding field. Unbuckling and climbing through what used to be a window, the next emotion was apprehension over what I might discover. With so many people flung from their seats and through windows, there was no telling. I expected the worst ... severed limbs, gushing wounds, protruding bones and death. Miraculously, everyone was in one piece, although one was either already dead or would be soon. Others were unconscious, suffering from broken bones, cut and bruised, going into shock, andor immobilized from probable spinal injuries. At that point, other emotions were shoved aside as those of us who were unhurt tended to the wounded as best we could. For about an hour, we slogged around in the cold muck, alministering whatever first aid and comfort possible and cautiously hauling the movable injured, up the steep, muddy slope on improvised litters. Eventually, all the injured were loaded onto available civilian cars, flatbeds, vans and a Korean am- - At the same time that I feel sympathy for the dead and injured, I'm genuinely angry that everyone on that bus didn't take three lousy seconds to fasten their seatbelts. They were right there. Available to all. Yet more of them were pushed aside or sat on than buckled. bulance, forming an ad hoc rescue caravan to the nearest hospital. . y.. to suffer would still have the injured, Though of it some and treatment rehabilitation, through me for and the physical was lengthy, quite painful already over. But later that day, another emotion emerged, and it remains with me. . -- .. Anger. At the same time that I feel sympathy for the dead and injured, I'm genuinely angry that everyone on that bus didn't take three lousy seconds to fasten their seatbelts. They were right there. Available to all. Yet more of them were pushed aside or sat on than buckled. Would they have been spared injury or death? The statistics from this accident indicate an emphatic "yes." The 33 passengers on the bus can be divided into two groups: 13 who were wearing seatbelts, and 20 who were not. None of the 13 who wore seatbelts suffered anything more than a scratch, a small cut or a bruise. All were treated and released on the spot. Yet all those inflicted with any injury more serious than that (fatal head injury, concussion, multiple trauma, COMMENTARY fractured scapula, broken jaw, broken ankle, eye laceration, fractured nose, broken pelvis, internal bleeding, broken ribs, skull fracture, broken clavicle, to name a few) were from the group not wearing seatbelts. Is there a better testament to the importance of buckling up than those statistics? I don't think so. I'm not saying that it's impossible to escape injury without a seatbelt. Even in this accident, a handful of passengers who were not buckled in escaped injury. Some of them were even ejected from the bus. Surely, these individuals should thank God or their lucky stars or their guardian angels that at 50 miles per hour they struck soft ground instead of a telephone pole. Or a tree. Or oncoming traffic. Or a concrete highway divider. Or a sharp stick at an unfortunate angle. So take your pick. Opt for the proven protection of a seatbelt, or take your chances with dumb luck. But, why am I angry? Because it all could have been avoided. We've all been beat over the head with the seatbelt message more times than we can count. It's in the base newspaper. It's in the bulletin. It's at commander's call. It's on the radio and TV. It's in the newcomers' orientation. It's in the regulations. It's in every available means of communication aimed at the military audience. Everyone on that bus had been told again and again to buckle up. So why did some do it while others chose not to? I have no idea. But I do know that if 33 people had taken three seconds apiece to buckle up, a horrific, fatal, painful nightmare may have been nothing tumble down a hill. more than a bumpy Richmond is Features. (AFNS assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing public affairs division at Kunsan AB.) eight-secon- d Recommended actions to take following a motor vehicle accident One in every eight drivers will be involved in a motor vehicle accident this year, according to the National Safety Council. That may mean you! Are you prepared? Would you know what to do and what questions to ask? Since most people are reasonably upset after an accident, the National Safety Council offers this list of 11 easy steps to remember. Stop your vehicle if it is clear, safe and legal. Move the vehicle out of the traveled roadway, if it is clear, safe and legal (In some states it is against the law to move the vehicle from the place where the accident occurred. Check the ordinance Mlii' in . your area.) involved. Turn off the ignitions of the cars Make a first aid check of all persons involved in the accident. Call the police and, if necessary, emergency medical services. Mark the scene of the accident with flares or retroreflective triangles. Gather the names of all people in the motor vehicles and those who witnessed the accident. Make a quick diagram of where the vehicle occupants were seated and indicate the vehicles' direction of travel and lane. Also note the date, time and weather conditions. P Ask to see the other driver's license and write down the number. Exchange insurance company information. Do not discuss "fault" or make statements about the accident to anyone but the police. B Get a copy of the police report of the accident from the local precinct. (AFNS Features. Courtesy National Safety Council.) |