I have a two year old and a 6 month old. I have seen pics from the bridge collapsing of mothers holding their infants and small children. It makes me actually break down in tears to think about being in that situation. It only takes 30 seconds for an infant to drown. So if you knew you were going to crash down in the water, would you get your little ones out of their carseats and hope that when you landed it you didn't get wedged in between something and could get out of the car immediately and swim to safety with your babies? This could risk injury during the fall. Or leave them in their seats for safety and hope when you land you can get them out of their seats and to the waters surface before they drown? I'm sad thinking about how many cars and people are still unaccounted for and how many children could have been in those cars. I pray I am never in this situation with my little ones. What would you do?
2007-08-02 07:30:09 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
mommy to 2: you ask why I am thinking this.
To be honest I am not sure. I just get so depressed when I hear of things happen that are tragic. This may sound heartless to adults, but I only am like this when things occur that could have children involved. I love kids so much and I always wonder in the back of my mind what would I do to save my girls. I guess I am asking so I can get opinions on how to better prepare yourself and your family for situations like this.
2007-08-02 07:41:37 · update #1
I don't think anybody can really say what they would do in a situation like that. People panic, some remain cool (as they can be at least!).
2007-08-02 07:33:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's easy for us to say how we'd do things when we aren't involved, but when we are involved, we have to think very quickly, like split second timing, so there's no time to really think and plan how we'd do it.
We drove over that bridge a few months ago, and it didn't look all that sturdy then. I'm not afraid of bridges collapsing, just those that look like they have been corroded some. Anyway, I just hoped that bridge wouldn't collapse with my husband pulling a UHaul we rented with our Jeep, and our toy poodle and I in our car following him. Our livlihood was either in both vehicles or the UHaul. We were moving from 1500 miles away.
As far as worrying about kids dying, there is nothing one can do to stop their kids from dying. That's not a choice parents have. It's all in the hands of God. While that sounds heartless, it's not intended that way. My parents suffered thru the death of my oldest brother, and they realized no matter what anyone did, their child could die in spite of all of that. So please, no worrying because it will help instill fear in your kids.
2007-08-02 08:34:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A friend's sister-in-law was on that bridge. She's now in the hospital with a back injury as well as other wounds.
After seeing it collapse, I'm sure that in a situation like that you wouldn't have time to react until it was over. Then you would have to do what you could.
However, living in fear of what might, maybe happen is not good. You can't control the future or anything that happens in it.
2007-08-02 07:57:36 · answer #3 · answered by pinkpiglet126 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is so scary. A bridge collapsing has been one of my biggest fears since I was a little kid.
This happened close to us. My husband had driven over that bridge not long before the collapse.
I don't think there would be time to react. People say they suddenly felt they were falling and then cars and cement were landing on top of them.
So scary.
2007-08-02 07:45:45 · answer #4 · answered by buterfly_2_lovely 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no way you would have time to do much about the situation in 3-4 seconds. Accept the fact that a tragedy like this is out of your hands.
2007-08-02 09:01:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your asking an impossible question...no one can answer that unless they actually are going thru it. Of course you would do everything humanly possible to save your kids. You have to understand that the bridge fell within seconds. I am sure everyone didn't have any time to react fast enough until after the cars stopped falling.
2007-08-02 07:34:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Things happen so quick in the moment hard to know if you would have time for anything except pray. I believe that you need to be the best you can today. Make that call to someone, tell your family you love them because you do not know your tomorrow. It is important to have a will. papers always in order and make your desires known in case you die. enjoy those kids of yours. Summer is a wonderful time
2007-08-02 07:37:05 · answer #7 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would actually wait until the car landed. It would be safer for them in the carseat instead of landing hard on the water. I carry a safety tool for cutting seatbelts (Anyone with kids in carseats with harnesses should carry one), and I keep it attached to my keys.
2007-08-02 07:34:52 · answer #8 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
First let me say, my heart goes out to the families in this tragedy. I am also saddened by these images.
I hope to never find myself in this type of situation either (God willing)..........but my answer is..........i would risk my life and limbs to save my children!
There was a man on the news recently who drowned saving his son from drowning.....like him, no matter what, i would do whatever it took to save my children.
2007-08-02 07:43:51 · answer #9 · answered by WHOISTHEPUPPETMASTER? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you would have time to get them out. Hypothetically, however, it would be better to stay buckled and leave the kids in car seats. It would be safer during impact and hopefully having your own belt buckled would leave you less injured and therefore able to help the kids.
2007-08-02 07:40:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋