Perspective of an ER Worker

In my 21 years of life, I have fortunately lost a loved one to a serious motor vehicle crash. Likewise, I have luckily never been a victim of a serious accident. However, I am more than familiar with the consequences of poor driving habits. I have worked in an emergency room to gain more experience in the field of nursing. With the nature of the emergency department, it is not a shock that I have seen many patients involved in motor vehicle crashes. The nature of these crashes has completely changed my perspective on safe driving practices. While these safe driving habits seem tedious and can be ignored “every now and then”, noncompliance with these practices can quite literally become fatal very quickly. In a little over a year, I have seen loss and families ripped apart as a direct result of careless driving. I have helped with very tragic cases, which I do not think I will ever be able to forget. I have seen several people’s lives be turned upside down in minutes. The accounts of the gore, despite how “simple” the cause may seem will never leave me. I will never be able to forget seeing patients younger than myself suffer from very serious injuries. These young individuals will be left with both physical and emotional scars that will last a lifetime. These individuals had their entire lives ahead of them, but their futures have now been altered or even cut short due to poor diving. I will never be able to forget seeing the look on the parent’s face as the emergency medicine physician tells them that their son or daughter would likely never wake up again. I have seen a couple that has been married for over half of a century be torn apart by a drunken hit and run. I will never forget seeing them hold the hand of their soulmate as they say goodbye. I have seen a successful businessman buy himself a trip to the intensive care unit, with an incredible long road to recovery ahead of him, simply because he did not wait to answer his phone. I will never forget seeing the amount of pain a patient was in because he was not wearing the appropriate attire for a motorcycle ride. Believe it or not, I have heard stories of my own coworkers ending up in car accidents because they were driving in poor weather conditions after a long shift. Therefore, there are many reasons as to why poor driving practices can be costly. First and foremost, the behaviors could cost you your life or the life of an innocent person. Also, there is the potential for extensive medical bills, car repairment, legal fees, and much more. The emotional cost of losing a loved one and/or watching a loved one lose their sense of self is unfathomable. Not to mention, each tough case and tough loss leaves a lasting impact on each member of the healthcare team. It is no doubt that carrying the weight of all of the grief and loss adds up. While I have made conscientious efforts to drive safely in the last half decade of being licensed. Since I started my work in the ER, I have been extra cautious that safe driving practices continue to be a part of my daily routine. I always wear a seatbelt, regardless of if my role is driver or passenger. I will put my phone down before I ever shift my vehicle into drive and it will remain in the same spot until I shift my vehicle back into park when I have arrived at my destination. If I plan on drinking at all, I always opt to walk or find a responsible driver to ride with. Likewise, I would never let any intoxicated person around me get into the driver’s seat. In addition, it is very important to “share the road” with other drivers, meaning to be considerate to other drivers and gage their movements. All in all, if you are reading this, let this be your reminder: seatbelts and helmets are not just a fashion statement, you drive lousy when you are drowsy, speeding does not make you look cool, speed traps are not just for police officers to make more revenue, always find a designated driver before you drink, you are not a “buzzkill” for reminding others to drive safely, and that phone call, text, snapchat, or anything on your phone screen can wait. Your life matters and there are countless people that care about your wellbeing—drive like it.