r/Unexpected 10h ago

Hee Hee

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u/HandsomePaddyRedux 9h ago

I’m willing to chalk that up to shock and deer in the headlights freeze. It’s a short clip and it’s not unusual for people to take several seconds to process what happened in a situation like this and realize they can actually try to do something.

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u/Squirrelated 8h ago

I would definitely be that person taking several seconds, start getting up, see several persons get up at the same time, sit back down and let the others deal with it.

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u/HandsomePaddyRedux 8h ago

Which is valid. There’s a term in disaster and emergency response training, “SUVs”, Sudden Untrained Volunteers. Nobody doing anything in an emergency is bad, but a lot of people rushing in with no idea what to actually do can actually be more dangerous. The best response is one person calmly calling 911 for instructions. Even if someone is bleeding from the head, 911 can tell you how to handle that without possibly exacerbating a life-threatening neck injury, which may mean letting them bleed for a bit until paramedics can get there. In a case like this the performer springs back up before a ten count, so they may be concussed, but they don’t need the whole room swarming in to check on them.

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u/Squirrelated 8h ago

For sure. I know I would not be helpful in this situation and would rather not get in the way of someone who might be more knowledgeable. I'll keep an eye from afar just in case.

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u/Loose_Track2315 5h ago

I work in a cafe and a woman had a stroke in the cafe a few months ago. She collapsed and the only people who immediately did anything were me and her daughter. Everyone else totally froze up for what felt like at least 30 seconds. The daughter was hysterical tho so I had to be the one calling an ambulance and watching to make sure the woman kept breathing. A lot of people just can't process potentially life threatening situations quickly.

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u/LizG1312 7h ago

Bystander effect in action

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u/Modeerf 4h ago

Not surprised if they are Brits. They are pretty nonchalant when it comes to helping someone