DO TELL: When did you have a safety close call?

My wife and I were on the highway when I saw a humungous bird with a snake in its mouth flying just ahead of our car. As the bird got closer to us, it released the snake. We feared the snake would land on our windshield, so we kept a close eye on it as it fell, luckily, into the shoulder. The scene was incredibly distracting and caused me to take my eyes off the road, which led me to drift out of my lane. I quickly refocused and brought the car back into our lane. We were lucky not to have been hurt, but it was a reminder that distractions are everywhere and can have an impact in seconds.

James Bilbrey

Shipping Assistant

Recently, I was working from home and took a large vitamin, which got stuck in my throat. I could not swallow it or cough it up, it was stuck. I quickly realized I could not take a breath and that this was very serious. I ran out of my office, towards my husband and daughter. My daughter immediately called 9-1-1. My husband asked if I was choking (I was so happy he asked me that), and started administering the Heimlich maneuver. With two strong thrusts, the vitamin popped out. He saved my life!

Betty Kuhl

Export Manager

Before I worked for BASF, I wasn't really much of a handrail holder on stairs.Thanks to some of my colleagues and the constant reminders at work, I've become a convert. This came in handy recently. One morning, I was walking down the stairs, half-asleep, and suddenly my feet slipped out from underneath me. Thankfully I was holding the handrail, or I'd be in pieces today.

Dana Charles Autenrieth

Management Consulting

Recently, one of my loved ones experienced a mental health crisis while staying with friends, thousands of miles from family. They contacted us to figure out an appropriate course of action. No one really knew what to do. Together, we were able to get him help, but I consider it a close call because we weren’t prepared to handle such an emergency. If someone is in immediate danger or unable to care for themselves, dial 9-1-1 right away or contact a relevant hotline with trained counselors (like the National Suicide Prevention Hotline). If not, contact a helpline like the National Alliance on Mental Illness to connect with local resources in your area.

Laura Leonard

North America Leadership Development Program

One day last summer, I stopped home between errands and saw flames coming from under my deck. I quickly got the garden hose, began spraying the fire with water and called 9-1-1. I also opened the door to the house to confirm whether there was an indication of fire inside the house. Luckily, there wasn’t. After firefighters arrived and began investigating the cause, I was told that the mulch under my deck caught fire during the very hot, very dry day. I now make sure to frequently water the flowerbed around the deck and house.

Ana Maria Conde

Treasury Manager, Cash Management

A few years ago, my husband was driving on the Garden State Parkway when he saw police lights flashing up ahead. Suddenly, the car in front of him changed lanes and a drunk driver heading the wrong way on the parkway hit my husband’s car head-on. Luckily, no other cars were involved in the accident. Miraculously, his only injuries were a cracked sternum and some bruising from the impact and the seat belts. Emergency response personnel were amazed he was not killed or more seriously injured. This very close call, just days after our 30th wedding anniversary, showed us the importance of wearing seat belts and the many safety features like airbags and on-board computers in cars today that can save lives. It was also a clear example of the dangers of driving while intoxicated.

Debra C. Harry

Administrative Assistant

This month’s Do Tell question was inspired by Terry Inlow, the ERP facilitator in Attapulgus, Georgia. Terry and his family traveled to Bozeman, Montana for a skiing and snowmobiling vacation in December 2016. During that trip, Terry’s daughter Brooke Freudenhammer was injured when her snowmobile hit a tree. The incident resulted in Brooke fracturing both her cheek bone and femur, in addition to suffering from a severe concussion. Her injuries could have been much worse. Earlier in the day, Terry and his family asked the snowmobile rental company if helmets came with the vehicles. Terry was surprised to learn that helmets were optional and would cost an additional $15. His decision to rent the helmets may have saved Brooke’s life. “The plastic surgeon said the blow to her head would have killed her if she had not had the helmet,” he said. After a lengthy recovery period and physical therapy, Brooke completely recovered from her injuries. Happily, she welcomed her first child in August.

DO TELL:

When did you have a safety close call?

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