Would you ever go out of your way to save the life of a stranger in this day and age/if it risked your own safety??!

[NellesVilla]

Was having a think about this the other day and really wondered to myself: would I do this now in this day and age???!

I was a lot braver in my youth and would have tackled men shouting at women in the street, adults smacking their kids in public etc etc. I also contributed towards helping people in peril quite a few times: I grabbed a child out of a river; performed first air on someone (no rescue breaths but every other step); jumped in front of a bus to alert the driver he was about to run over an old man who had basically fallen under the back wheel of his vehicle etc etc.

These days, I think to myself; is it worth it? I’ve never received any thanks for it; indeed some people seemed a bit put out by me ‘interfering’ (all instances on my list above felt like this).

Also, is it worth risking your own safety? I would never give rescue breaths to anyone (apart from my dog- half joking) because I’d be worried about causing more harm.

Anyone here who’d jump into a deep river to save a kid whilst the parents looked on gormlessly or just hope that someone else would come to the rescue??

I wouldn’t jump into water to save someone because I’m not a strong swimmer but I would do my best to save someone in any other circumstances.

Watch The Rescue on Disney Plus. It's about the rescue of the Thai boys trapped in the cave. Life affirming

I would never give rescue breaths to anyone (apart from my dog- half joking) because I’d be worried about causing more harm.

If someone needs rescue breaths, I'm struggling to see how you could actually cause MORE harm.

Anyway, people claim they'd never risk their life for a stranger ... and then they die trying to help one.

People claim they'd run into a burning building to save their worst enemy ... and then stand outside and do nothing.

In those kinds of high stress situations, I don't think anyone can ever really predict what they'd actually do. People are always surprising themselves, for better and for worse.

If it was a situation where I know I could help, of course I would.

Last year, I stopped a man thumping a woman (his partner!) in the street with pure shame... it did help that many moons ago I was his midday supervisor at school... and he knew it.

Yes, I would always help to the limits of my ability. E.g. I am a poor swimmer so wouldn’t be able to help someone drowning.

However, I have jumped in to save a loved one from drowning in a deep pool because it was instinctive. Love overrides our sense of risk. Thankfully someone was then able to throw us a life ring.

I’ve done it a few times - never really thought about it, but thinking about it now it’s probably because I couldn’t comprehend the alternative on my conscience.

I saved someone’s life once, in a bit of a tricky situation as far as my personal safety was concerned. Seeing him alive and well and watching his kids grow up is a reminder that I did the right thing, and gives me a lift whenever I’m having an imposter syndrome moment.

Genuinely life endangering? Probably not tbh, but I think that is because I have three young children who I wouldn't want to leave motherless.

If I didn't have people depending on me - maybe. I think it is difficult to know until you are put in the position.

I've got between a man thumping up a woman, or threatening and intimidating a woman, a time or two. I've called kids out on bullying other kids on their way home from school (to the point of shoving the victim in the road in front of oncoming traffic). It's just hardwired.

Probably not if I was alone with DC as my priority would have to be keeping them safe. Like someone else said though, I don’t think anyone knows what they’re capable in situations like this until they’re faced with it. Decisions have to be made in a split second with very little time for proper thought.

It's instinctual isn't it? My DH would, his flight/fight response is fight (metaphorically speaking) and he's a police officer. My reaction is to flee or freeze, I'm a complete panicker!

I probably would instinctively, but wouldn't choose to do it as I have two young children and a DH I'd rather not leave without a mother and wife.

Perhaps it is the sort of instinctive reaction that you do without even stopping to think about it.

I would, and have. I've saved two lives, one a work colleague, one a stranger. I'm calm in emergencies, and if I thought the reward outweighed the risk, I absolutely would go into water to save someone.

I'm not sure you can predict how you might react in an emergency situation

I would jump into a river, yes, to save someone.
I'd probably risk a lot for a child.
But I am too scared nowadays to stand up to an angry man.

@Wickywickyyow I'm the same as your DH. I'm an ex copper and highly likely to jump in where I can help or at least defuse or protect. Especially if it's domestic abuse.

Training helps you overcome your fight/flight response.

These days, I think to myself; is it worth it? I’ve never received any thanks for it

Were you helping people because you wanted to be thanked?

If I could help of course i would.
To me it's human nature to want too and to help if you can, it's instinct I believe, especially where children are concerned.

I wouldn’t risk my life if I thought about it - I would perhaps have done pre children but my first responsibility is now to them and I couldn’t deliberately risk leaving them motherless.

But I’ve also been in unexpected emergency situations and reacted very differently to how I thought I would (turns out I just freeze/dither) so who knows…

No @Octomore , I wasn’t expecting thanks and doing it on a condition of receiving it, but my point was that so many people seem affronted that I got involved, I suppose.

I mean you get people who put their lives at risks for their pets or even other people's animals. Don't know if I'm one of them. I jumped in a canal to help my dog as the water was low and she couldn't climb up the vertical sides and there were no wildlife ramps at all. The only risk was disgusting canal water. Had she fallen into a swirling river....I just don't know. I have DCs at home who need me alive.

I don’t know how I’d react. But I’m all the DC have since DH died and I wouldn’t want them orphaned

Pre children - definitely braver - I have stepped in a few times to stop fights / DV etc. I would still step in to help if someone was in need of first aid etc but I would think twice about stepping in now with fights etc.

When I was pregnant I realised I saw my risk taking massively change. I have a baby to look after, I can't risk myself, the only person I would ever risk my safety for now is DS.

Well it depends on a) how much danger there is to me, b) how in need the person is, and c) how much I can actually do to help.

Would I perform CPR on a stranger? Of course. There's minimal risk to me, dire need in the other person, and the potential at least they I could really help. Would I try to tackle someone on an active shooting spree when I'm currently not in the firing line? No. Sure the need might be great but chances are I'd be shot dead before I did any good.

As for people being ungrateful, ah well. It's irritating but I'd hope OP that the satisfaction of having helped out would be greater.