I was just about to leave the mall. Scooting to a back entrance that not many seem to use. (Love that entrance because it is not very busy back there.) As I walked by the escalator I glanced up and saw a gray faced lady sitting on the steps as they descended. Huh? This isn’t normal. I hesitated for a moment, took a step back and yelled up. Are you okay? She shook her head adamantly. NO.
I dropped my bags and ran to the bottom of the escalator. Met her there just in time. Simultaneously, I began to politely request help from the people who were just walking by. Walking by? Screw polite! HELLO!!! WE NEED HELP. I began to yell. That got me some attention.
Two old birdies came rushing over to help us.
Between the three “rescuers’” we got the sweet gray faced lady sitting at the bottom of the stairs. Managed to have her placed so she was not getting sucked in or pushed off those incredibly steep stairs. This was thanks to some fancy manoeuvring and the quick thinking of someone who hit the emergency stop button. This someone was not me. *Note to self. In case of emergency, lift up glass at the end of the escalator, hit the STOP button.
Suddenly all those old First Aid skills kicked back in. I don’t know where they were hiding, but they were not forgotten. Can you breath? Can you speak. Someone needs to get emergency services. You in the brown sweater. Get emergency services. I was a freakin drill sergeant, but remained calm. Two of us stayed with our victim, rubbed her hands, kept her as calm as possible until help arrived. To the credit of the Mall, it did not take long. We were then unceremoniously dismissed. Gray faced lady perked up a bit, thanked us. I went on my way.
As I strode out to my car, that is when my hands started to shake. What if I hadn’t seen her slumped down on the escalator. What if that had been my Mom? What if that had been me? Why didn’t more people stop to lend a hand? There was no gory blood, no bad guy, just a sweet senior citizen in need of a little help.
I’m proud to be able to say I did the right thing. I’m mortified to admit I did it all in SassyModernMom style. Between tossing my purchases to the side and pulling the sweet little old late from the jaws of death squeaky steps of the escalator to the Mall floor I am pretty sure my low rise pants were flashing a bit of butt crack. Classy.
Today, I am shamed by the number of citizens in this world who walked by and did not offer a hand, and so thankful for the kindness of strangers. Today I am glad I could pay it forward.
Tell me. What do you think you would have done, and why aren’t more people willing to get involved?
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You did such a great job and I wish you or someone like you had been there the day my grandma was having a heart attack because like the lady you helped, my grandma was showing signs of distress but no one offered to help until she collapsed on the ground and by this time it was too late to save her.
We need more every day heroes or just helpers because some day it may be us that needs help !
Great post !
So proud of you girl,good job!
Sometimes when I get indignant that people aren’t helping more, I think – it only takes one guardian angel. You were it babe.
How people just are so blasse (however you spell THAT word) about the needs of those around them just goes to show what a huge bubble of narcissism we live in, huh?
Good for YOU for doing the right thing and being right where you needed to be. I certainly hope she’s okay. That’s definitely scary but… you were her angel on earth that day! Good for you!
Time for an open letter to the City in your local paper. Call them out on this! there is no excuse ever for ignoring someone that needs help. Make people aware that you don’t like the way your town is currently working and not caring for anyone. So unCanadian really.
Oh my gosh, how scary! It’s a good thing you were there!
Glad you stopped to help! Shame on those who just ‘walk on by’. There’s all kinds of fear out there, but fear to help others when hurt should not be one of them.
I am so proud of you. Way to go. I want to believe I would have done the same thing.
I know I would have helped, but I can’t say that I would have been calm in my approach. I fear I would have been in panic mode.
What a blessing you were there!
Well, of course you helped. You are a sweetheart like that.
I think people get too caught up in themselves and their own lives to stop and notice people around them who need help.
I don’t know why more people don’t seem to care… the apathy seems to increase as the population gets more dense, so maybe a rat pack survival thing? I dunno.
Everybody should have a heart of gold like yours, the world would be a better place!
And yes, pay it forwards.
Wow! I hate that more people were not willing to get involved. I love that you did the right thing, though. I would have done the same :). And the visual of your butt crack completely cracked me up (literally ;))!!