Yet another kuantan-related post, but i think this would appeal to non-riders as well.. I mentioned about the accident, and i think it deserves abit more detailed telling of the story.

Was travelling from Kuantan to Segamat along this long single-lane dual carriageway (i hope i used the right term, it should mean 1 lane each direction) which is lined with trees all the way.. think winter sonata yea.. evening time..5plus to 8pm.. 180km..raining like fuck.. Traffic was pretty slow, i was like trapped behind a 60km/h truck for almost an hour… but it came to a virtual stop about 10km outside segamat..saw 2 bikes badly damaged, one on each side of the road..saw 1 rider sitting up on opp side, clutching his leg. Then on my left, saw the other rider down and not moving.

I didn’t noe wat prompted me into action, stopped my bike, and went over to him. His eyes were open but he wasnt moving @ all. Already some guys were there, and i went back to my bike to get my LED torch. He wanted to get up to check himself or wat, so i had to shout @ him to keep still..malay chap. Managed to do a quick check of his limbs, he was pretty lucky, right shin broken and bent in a unnatural angle, and some scraps on right hand..

Crossed the road to see the other guy, who was sitting up n holding his right foot, which was missing one large chunk of flesh…seriously grossed out..but i remembered that i got my phone with me..asked one of the malay guys wat’s the emergency number. Now that’s when the problems started, shame on me.. i took malay 2 and i remebered alot of the stuff, every key phrase was on the tip of my tongue but i just couldn’t articulate myself in malay, and resorted to very simple words

“nombor ambulans apa?” “Sembilan sembilan sembilan”

Couldnt communicate with the operator n passed my fone to a malay lady to speak. Checked on the guy again, who’s now trying to remove his helmet..shouted @ him to stop. Basically u dun want the victim to move unncessarily. Now i really regret not taking my 1st aid kit along for this trip, esp for the missing-chunk-0f-flesh guy.

My 1st aid course things oso went out of longkang, i forgot how to deal with broken limbs. I remembered it’s something to do with getting a splint for the leg, but wasn’t 100% sure.. and i’m not confident of positioning his leg. By now i’m reduced to a bystander and just stood about 2m away from him and his frens, used my LED torch to wave oncoming traffic away. btw it’s the same torch that i use for ushering.

Another 999 call to confirm ambulance coming.. n ifelt that it’s ok for me to leave liaoz.. wanted to tell his frens to not let him drink any fluids for now,

“jangan beri dia minuman”

Tongue-tied again. Disgusted with myself Self evaluation: Malay skills: all out of the window when i kancheong 1st aid: did basic assessment..didnt move him cos of injury.. didn’t bring 1st aid kit..not 100% confident to render more aid Emergency management skills course for leading YEP: Directed traffic away.. contacted emergency services.. made use of local help..

i realised now, how hard it is to apply the actual knowledge from such courses in the field. and no matter how well u do in ur course, u will never know how good u are until u actually get to use those skills. Take 1st aid, i had no problems during the course, conducted in the daytime in an air-con room, CPR on mannequins, bandaging on perfectly-uninjured friends who are simulating injuries.. Throw that all away, dark rainy night, real injuries..in a place that u’re unfamiliar with, with a language that u’re half-fuck in..

Good lessons learnt…