I sometimes go with the trash bag to the collecting waste bin in the evening hours. Beware! - someone said to me, You might get attacked at this hour ,even though you carry no purse. I have news for you, was my reply, I might get attacked during the day hours as well, with nobody coming to my rescue. They are all seatted in front of TV and computer screens. No desperate cry for Help will make them go outside to see what it's all about.
A few years ago I stumbled and fell on the pavement, hurting my right shoulder. Unlike shown in the AI generated image below, there was No One around to help me get on my feet. All I wished for was to get quickly home (which was not far away) to start applying ice to reduce pain and prevent surgery . Finally, ignoring the agonizing pain, I gave a loud, long shout - and slowly tried to get up.
* picture created by AI image generator
I had the purse with me during the fall.; it could have easily been stolen, and there was nothing I could do to prevent that. ( By the way, in being attacked for any reason, reaction time is key. If taken by surprise, no time to try and defend yourself, regardless if it's day hours or evening hours).
Since that traumatic fall, I'm trying to be careful as to how, where, and when I walk.
Truly a scary moment. I don't even know if I could get into my phone fast enough to call anyone in a situation like this. Sure, they tell me, "There's an app for that." Recently, I couldn't reach a friend who lives in Pennsylvania for weeks. I kept hoping oh, she got a new phone number. Still, I kept thinking what if it's the worst? She did manage to call where I work last week since we used to work together. To my surprise, she got mugged and it was about four in the afternoon as she was walking home from work. She'd just put her wallet in her coat pocket, but the mugger got away with her purse. She told me when it happened she punched him in the face, but then he punched her in the eye. She said she'd never imagined she would punch anyone, but it was a gut reaction. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️Here it's the snow and ice to worry about falling into at the moment. Hopefully, we are in a thaw. All the best in staying safe. Thanks for this topic. Yes, many never look up from the phones anymore.
ReplyDeleteOne can depend only on God and on oneself. The fact that I was able to get up was God's work. We cannot trust anyone else, these days.
DeleteWe have to be prepared for all kinds of situations caused by: Climate, Weakening of authority, Bad infrastructure (pavement tiles, power outages, etc...).
It is sad we live in a time when people don’t help each other. Such a sad reflection of our time!
ReplyDeleteExactly, Mary! 'A sad reflection of our sad times'. It's not only that people don't help each others, the authorities fail to do their job of protecting us, and saving us from evil.
DeleteI think I am pretty lucky living in a country where there are majority of folks here ready to help when one is in a situation like that..
ReplyDeleteI might have perhaps, exaggerated a bit, but I firmly believe, Angie, that one has to trust God and oneself only.
DeleteIn theory, we are all good and kind; in real time, people and authorities profess evil, neglect, failure.
Sad times we live in.
ReplyDeleteI fell on ice last winter and was in an area where no one would see me. So I did like you did and somehow got up and home. It's a terrible feeling!
At a certain age, and I am at that certain age it's probably best not to go unaccompanied. Well, company is not always possible or available. Besides, I like it to be independant and walk alone.
DeleteI'm struggling with some balance issues, Duta, so the thought of falling outside with no one to help is particularly disturbing to me. I'm glad everything turned out okay for you. Blessings, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank God, I managed to get up and reach home, where I started sessions of ice application.
DeleteI can totally understand your concern, but your belief in God will help with the balance issues and prevent your falling.
Blessings to you, too, Martha!
Do be careful -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteBest advice one could give! Thanks Christine.
DeleteI can see why. Most of the time when I've fallen, someone is around, luckily. But it could just as easily go the other way. I'm pretty careful about not taking a purse or anything like that when I'm walking but I suppose one could also have a hidden pocket, like a money belt or similar, if walking alone felt unsafe. (Or you could beat them with your garbage, which might be a mess but somewhat satisfying under the circumstances!)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about gas spray as a means of defence. I've got one at home, never took it with me (it has probably expired).
DeleteI recently fell. My own clumsiness. Fortunately I could get myself up (which is not a given). It was early and there was no one about. People in my city do help though - which I have seen for myself. And offered to help too when I saw a woman take a tumble a month or so ago.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, it so happens that there's no one around for logical reasons (too early, too late...), so one cannot blame others for not coming to offer help. I just wasn't lucky when I fell on the pavement.
DeleteWhat a sad thing that was - I am so sorry no one helped you then - and I don't know if they would now or not. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there was no one around, when I fell on the pavement. I wish to believe that if there were people nearby, someone would have helped me get up.
DeleteI am so sorry you had that experience but as you say it taiught you to be vigilant. I am glad you were able to get home and help yourself with ice packs.
ReplyDeleteYes, it appears that even a bad thing might have something good coming out of it. The fall made me more vigilant. Thank God, I managed to get home and save my shoulder using ice packs.
DeleteNow that must have hurt so much after falling, and yes, anyone could take a purse at that particular time when you can't defend yourself.
ReplyDeleteI see so many people at the supermarket with their purses/handbags open with it in the shopping trolley then they look away and anyone could steal their purse - doesn't make sense to me, it's as if they don't have a brain sometimes.
I also see that at the supermarket - people being careless about their purse and handbags. Sometimes, I even try to draw their attention and warn them.
DeleteHI Duta, I carry a rape alarm on a wrist fob it makes a very high pitched noise like a car alarm, it would also alert anyone if I was hurt. I am always falling over - I am very clumsy! I fell on my allotment only a few weeks back - it was ok though it's reassuring for me to have that alarm. Betty
ReplyDeleteGood idea, the alarm! I suppose there are all kinds of defence devices, but I never took any interest in them. Thanks, Betty.
DeleteThat's a bad experience. So sorry to hear
ReplyDeleteThe pain from the fall combined with the frustration of not being helped, is indeed a bad experience.
DeleteI think it's more worrying as you get older too. You never think about these things when you're younger but with more risk of balance issues and lack of mobility with age, it can become a real risk.
ReplyDeleteRight. As one gets older, falling is a real risk, both indoors and outdoors, and one must be very vigilant about his steps.
DeleteLong before Covid when my late parents moved into a retirement village, the nurse said to us the big issue was not disease. Rather it was falling over and damaging hips, knees, shoulders or skull.
ReplyDeleteYou would say not just amongst the elderly!
True. I'm afraid people don't get enough
Deletewarnings about the mechanism and outcome of falling.
It's so sad that people today are so involved with themselves that they don't have time to help others in need. I'm sorry about that bad fall you had earlier, but I totally agree...you can get attacked in broad daylight just as easily as at night time.
ReplyDeleteAs we get older, falling becomes more of an issue I think. I have fallen a few times and thankfully never something bad happened except a sprained ankle that would eventually heal. When I had a bicycle accident two years ago, a car pulled over and the driver got out to help me up. I was very thankful for that. Falls can be bad; I try to be aware of uneven terrain - our sidewalks here are terrible with lots of cracks and roots that lift the pavement etc. If no one is around, no one can help you, so it's good to rely on oneself. I never carry a purse, but either a small backpack or a fanny pack. When I go for a walk in my neighborhood I just have my phone and the key. Stay safe!
DeleteAwareness of the terrain is of utmost importance (sidewalks with cracks, uneven terrain,etc..). Next, luck to be seen by someone who could approach you and help you get up.
DeleteI hate that you took a fall and there was no one to help you. Yes, please be careful.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
I highly appreciate your words, Sandra.
DeleteMy movements have become slow (people say) but it is a deliberate attempt by me to ensure that I don't have a fall. Can't afford that at this juncture of life.
ReplyDeleteMine too. Also, mostly a deliberate attempt to avoid falling. At my age, falling might be very dangerous.
DeleteIt is scary as we get older to go out anymore. I know that when I go with my mom I am terrified because if someone were to attack us mom cannot run and I can't leave her behind to make my own getaway. I worry so much also about her taking a fall while we are out. Recently we were just arriving at a store when an older man in front of us fell. I think he just passed out because he didn't trip, he just fell. Thank God there were a lot of people there at that time. They helped the old man sit up against a pillar while his wife called their son. We went into the store and when we came back out, those same men were still there waiting for the son to arrive. There are still a lot of good people in this world...but we do need to be careful at the times that we go out. I'm so glad that someone was able to help you DUTA and that they did not hurt you. I hope you healed completely.
ReplyDeleteNo, Alicia there was no one to help me get up (the picture is misleading). Anyway, I managed to get home and did a good job with the ice. Two weeks later, I went to the orthoped and he found a tiny fisure only for which he prescribed PT. Hurting a shoulder is great pain and incovenience if you wear a bra and had to turn hands to back, to close it.
DeleteI too was sorry to read not only about your fall, Duta, but the lack of aid. Hopefully, that would not be the case here, but one just never knows especially if walking outside in a park when there are fewer people nearby. I read you reply about the shoulder injury and how wearing a bra could be inconvenient, which is why i dislike wearing them when in the privacy or home and sometimes even when not.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't care about a bra, then everything is easier. It takes less time to get free of pain and function normally.
DeleteAnyway, falling is not recommended at any time, at any age.
I find your pictures so well done. AI is amazing, isn't it? Last week, my husband felt when cycling through the snow. He squeezed the wrong hand-brake. Luckily, just a bruise.
ReplyDeleteYou can be attacked anywhere. I often carry something to defend myself, but you don't expect it, so you're often not quick enough.
I've just discovered AI image generation. Hope to improve knowledge about it.
DeleteLuckily your husband got only a bruise.
I have to give more thought to personal defence.
A friend fell earlier this month in her neighborhood. She lay there, stunned, for some 15 minutes. No one came by. No one saw. She's thinking/hoping someone would have helped if they had seen. I hope so. She was finally able to get up and seek medical attention. We are all so vulnerable. All it takes is a crack in the sidewalk or some ice or snow (in my climate).
ReplyDeleteYour friend was twice unlucky: 1. falling, 2. having no one to get her get up.
DeleteYes, we are vulnerable, and we should be extremely careful with our walking.
I was also sorry to hear about your fall. It's so painful even if you don't break anything, and if you live alone it's even worse. I know too many people who have lost family members from falls and it isn't necessarily due to old age. I so wish this was something science could find an answer to.
ReplyDeleteIt was, indeed , very painful. It took several weeks to get free of pain and normal function. Luckily, nothing was broken; there was only a tiny fisure in the shoulder and it healed with PT.
DeleteI'm so sorry there was no one helping you. How helpless you must have felt. I'm glad you were able to get yourself home again. We must all look out for each other in these troubled days.
ReplyDeleteI felt helpless for a few minutes. I was thinking hard how to get up unaided, so as to reach home quickly , and start the ice sessions to reduce pain and prevent swelling.
DeleteI am sorry for your injury. Please take more care to walk on a frozen street now. Some people are unable to react to an unimaginable accident. They would be astonished at that and just walk away even though they are very worried about it.
ReplyDeleteThat's correct. Some people are unable to react to incidents and accidents and just walk away. In my case,there was no one around even to witness my fall.
DeleteThanks for the comment.
i had a shivering feeling brrrr. I hate injuries
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't, Kathy dear?
DeleteOuch, sorry that happened. You're right day or night, here there or wherever. Sadly it's a daily occurrence. I do walk alone, through the neighborhood. Used to like to walk through cemeteries, but after my car was broken into, I stopped doing that. As we age, we worry more about falls/accidents. I won't go out to walk if it's slippery or snowy for that very reason.
ReplyDeleteNaturally, with age come a lot of worries, especially if we do things alone. Whenever possible one should go accompanied by partner or friend/neghbor.
DeleteThat would be scary indeed. I almost tripped on the ice the other day in the dark at my work paring lot. Glad no one stole your purse then, but something to think about. Janice
ReplyDeleteWe don't have ice here, but pavements are sometimes tricky. I was probably in a bit of a hurry, so, that's why I stumbled.
ReplyDeleteI was so sorry to read that you fell and there was no one to help you.
ReplyDeleteI think the older we get the more we need to take care when out and about as it can be easy to trip on an uneven pavement or path.
Do take care.
All the best Jan
You're right, of course. As we age, we need to be more careful about our walking. Praying to God to watch over us, helps too.
ReplyDelete