AIBU for continuing to work while a coworker was having a seizure?

[keepnonworkn]

Earlier today while I was at work a coworker collapsed and started having a seizure. Several other coworkers (who were closer to her than I was) rushed over to help. I being farther away looked up to see what was going on. There was a group of 7 or so people surrounding her by that point and moving things out of the way. Someone was already calling for an ambulance. To me it seems like everything was being handed and since we had some tight deadlines to meet for our clients I went back to working while this was going on. After she was taken away in the ambulance one of my other coworkers approached me. She said what I did was wrong and I should have stopped working and tried to help her since there was a crisis. I don't see how me crowding around with all the others would have been any help though. I don't have any medical training and wouldn't have known what else to do except call an ambulance, which someone else was already doing.

X@amispeakingintongues well said !!!

I don't understand why what you did is any more 'cold hearted' than your other colleagues rushing over to have a good gawk to fuel their little gossip fires for the next few weeks.

If I had a seizure at work, the last thing I would want is loads of my colleagues gathered round having a good look at my suffering whilst pretending to help. One or two people is all that was needed, your other colleagues used it as an excuse to get out of work for a bit.

I’d speak with the collegue who had the seizure explain your reasons and how you didn’t want to hover over her and next time what of your busy body other colleagues makes a comment you can say well I spoke to … and they agreed they wouldn’t have wanted me etc over her and her opinion is what counts (as I’m sure would be the case)

And we must NEVER be seen to “lack empathy”. That’s up there with murder in terms of Mumsnet crimes.

What does “made herself unavailable” mean?

No one is actually answering the question - if you stopped working, what exactly would you do?

It's telling that no one is answering the question. I'd really like to know the answer to this, as I'm imagining people just sitting at their desks with their heads bowed or staring at their hands or something. I fail to see how this is more respectful than just getting on with your work.

It's also telling that despite epileptics saying they would prefer people to just get on with their day, people are still insisting they would override their wishes, mostly in case their other colleagues judge them for a lack of empathy. Is the opinion of your colleagues more important than the wishes of the person themselves? That isn't very respectful, for fucks sake.

If she ever had one at school then teachers always encouraged everyone else to quietly get on with their work while first aiders/staff dealt with the situation. It doesn’t need an audience
That's what's happened at the schools I've worked at.
A member of staff might check in with those immediately dealing with it, just to see if they need anything (eg. Do they need someone to email to arrange cover if they have a class next lesson?) but there's no gawping.

This is just virtue signalling though.

We have many children with epilepsy where I work - if a child starts fitting the adult closest calls for whatever help they need (in most cases this is one additional person) and all other colleagues get the other children out of the way and carry on as normal with them.

Seven people crowding around and all the rest rubber-necking to be sure their concern is noted is the opposite of the right response.

Yes very cold to look up and then get back to work. You didn’t have to crowd around, but you could have stayed back, shown some concern, asked if you could help, move people away from the area etc.

You didn’t need to do anything in terms of the merge changes but I guess carrying on with important work just seems odd if anything I would of gone into another room made a drink for people or something for after things calmed

OP said 7 people were already crowding round. They will have already offered help. To approach just in case no one has offered help just pisses of the First Aider and adds nothing whatsoever.

Then I would have vacated the area. I can think of many things I would have done versus look up, shrug and get back to work.