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'd jump.into a river to save someone but I'm a strong swimmer. I wouldn't risk my life I don't think but I would help if I could in any situation. I wouldn't need gratitude though.

I've never been in a situation yet so can't predict how I'll react but I'm usually calm in a crisis.

I once saved a child from drowning in the sea but I didn't really think about it. Was more of a oh fuck moment. I don't think I could have just watching the child drown, equally was already in the sea and am a strong swimmer so the danger to me was low.

I really don't know what I'd do in a truelly dangerous situation, like a fire or something. I like to think I'd do my best

No I wouldn’t put myself in harm’s way to save a stranger.
I don’t know if you remember that story where that poor kid jumped into the river to save a girl, who then survived with the other guy and the kid died, leaving his elderly parents on their own?

I took the opportunity to teach my children to call for help in a situation like that instead of risking their lives. I hope they listen, especially DS, who would give his last meal to a stranger. His life is precious too. There’s no need risking it for someone else’s.

Pre-children, I’d be straight in but not these days

I would save someone but not in water, I can't swim and would do more damage.

Yup, hard agree

By nature I'm a bit of a fixer, so although I have never been in a situation like this, I think I would probably just do it without thinking.

I would jump into a river to save a child, but I know im a strong swimmer and would probably be okay. I would want someone to do the same for my child too.

But you never really know until you are actually in the position what your response will be.

Depends.

I have had one situation in my past when a stranger ended up stabbed outside my home. I was inside and had no idea if the offender was still around and if the victim was off their face on drugs. Could see that they were bleeding from chest but was not willing to risk my safety to reassure him or give first aid seeing as I was already inside. I called emergency services of course who came within minutes .

If there was a car crash or something that happened while I was walking or already out and about it would be different.

Most people won't be affronted. They are likely to be in shock if it genuinely was a near death experience. They will be in survival mode not ready to say thank you.

I would, I’m fit and healthy so if I had to perform resuscitation until HCPs arrived I could, I have also intervened when a very drunk man was being abused by youths for the fun of it. My Dad talked someone down from committing suicide and he was 76 at the time, so I think social responsibility is something you learn from parents.

I hope I would, as under extreme conditions not sure how I would react to various situations. It depends if its something I could help with or just make it worse. I am very practical though, and not given to high drama.

Once I helped someone out of crashed car, the air being thick with petrol. They fell asleep at the wheel and crashed, rolling their car.

Lucky we were behind them. Boyfriend at time surprisingly to me, panicked like chicken licken and was yelling their car would explode and to stay away. I, with the confidence of youthful immortality, ignored him and carried on.

I would hope so