17
September/October 2020
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THE DAVEY BULLETIN
BEING A CALMING PRESENCE
While traveling to a training session in Ocala, Florida,
on a back-country road, Wendy Austin, contract arborist,
Davey Resource Group, came upon a horrific accident
seconds after it occurred.
A passenger vehicle driven by a young woman collided with
an 18-wheeler and debris was strewn all over the roadway.
The first individual on the scene, Kenneth, was another
passerby who stopped to make sure everyone was alright.
While Kenneth checked on the truck driver, Austin ran over
to make sure the young woman was alright.
INTEGRITY
"When you're frightened your heartrate increases and
when it increases your blood moves faster," Austin said.
"So, I figured the only way she would survive is if I could
keep her very calm and slow her heart rate down. I was
just hoping to keep her alive long enough for the EMT's
to get there."
When EMT's arrived, they had to extract her from the car,
and she was airlifted to the nearest hospital. There is good
news in this story, as the young woman is recovering and
with therapy she will walk again.
''
I figured the only way she would survive
is if I could keep her very calm.
''
Wendy Austin
contract arborist, DRG
Austin recalls that there was limited access to the driver
because of the extensive damage to her car. All Austin could
do was get her attention and hold her hand. Kenneth ended
up joining Austin to help the young woman.
"I got her cognizant enough to remember a phone number
and it was her father's," Austin said. "I called her father and
explained the situation as gentle as I could. Had it been the
last time they spoke, I wanted him to have the opportunity
to say goodbye and I didn't want her to be alone. I'm glad
he didn't have to say goodbye."
Austin kept her calm and refused to leave her side until
help arrived.
Kenneth, with the help of Austin, started a GoFundMe
page for the young woman. They raised enough money
to buy her a motorized wheelchair and assist with some
medical bills. Austin even received a video of her using the
wheelchair to get around her neighborhood, which brought
her so much joy to see.
Austin's advice to anyone who may come across a similar
situation is to simply not exceed your training and just be
there for the person who is in trouble.
"You may not be able help them out of the situation, but
you can hold their hand while they're going through it,"
Austin said. "You may just have to sit there with them
and be their anchor and be their supporting hand."
