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When I posted that post about the female quadriplegic found dead in Florida because she apparently got stuck in the sand and in a park in the middle of the day in summer ... I thought that was total insanity to head out by herself like that for so many reasons. Primarily the god-awful heat! Since there was absolutely no one around in the park or nearby for a long time [long enough for her to end up dead] ... it was obviously too hot for even able-bodied folks to be out in such miserable heat in the middle of the day!
Anyway, like I said back then in my post ... I am so fortunate to have dozens and dozens and dozens of streets here in North Tucson whereby it is very quiet and serene yet I am always near houses and streets that will have only a few cars passing by ... usually not more than five or 10 minutes go by before I see someone.
However, Greg, I had a similar experience like you described as your second problem. It happened 4 1/2 years ago in my own subdivision! I was strolling along at a pretty good clip and I have found since then that might share does not like that very much and will automatically stop!
I was also thrown forward because of the momentum but I was able to sit back up. My problem was that I was unable to push the on/off button to turn my chair back on. Any other time, a car would be entry or leaving our subdivision of about 40 houses back then. But over 15 minutes went by and not a single car or person was in sight! I couldn't believe it.
Fortunately, it was not warm or too cold but I just sat there wondering what to do. I was actually sitting next to someone's house and, finally, the woman inside that house happened to be by her kitchen window and saw me sitting out there. She opened the window and asked if I was okay. I told her my problem and she came and pushed the button for me.
So see? Sometimes the worst can happen under almost the best of circumstances!
The only slightly scary thing that has happened to me during one of my strolls in my area here [in a bigger subdivision and neighborhood area than where we lived for years ago] ... was when I went down the street to a very quaint park .7 miles from my home. As always, I had my dog with me and we were walking around the paved walkways inside the park as well as the grassy area. The park was deserted except for only one mother and her two little children that were playing on the play equipment.
On my way out of the park I heard the mother tell her little boy "oh look--there is a baby havalena!" For those of you who do not know what that is ... they are wild pigs found in the desert. They are nocturnal animals so they are rarely seen during the day. I had never seen one so I turned around to look. The little dark brown pig was sniffing a cactus shrub area that my dog had just been sniffing at only moments before!!!
Havalenas can take apart a dog in a matter of minutes. Unlike the mother and her children ... I obviously could not climb up the ladder on the playground equipment like they could if necessary. For the baby pig to be alone ... is very rare. I took a quick look and then began to zoom out of there ASAP.
As always, I told my husband where I was headed and he was probably going to drive my van over to pick me up at the park. He was just driving the van down the entrance road to the park as I was headed out. He stopped the van and I got in. We then drove the short distance to the parking lot to see if we could see the baby pig.
My husband is very familiar with the southwest because that is where he grew up. I told him what happened and he said that it was a good thing that I began leaving the park because baby pigs are never or rarely alone and that meant that the mama and/or papa was not far behind. The park is surrounded by desert so that is obviously where they were. Again, they are hardly ever seen during the daytime but I was very lucky not to still be in the middle of the park OR out in the grass where my dog and I were only minutes before!
Even if I took a cell phone with me ... I would still tell someone the approximate area where I was going to be because there are so many things that can happen even with a cell phone. Like being in an area where there is no signal. Or dropping the phone, etc. etc. Etc..
The female quadriplegic's fate in Florida has been closed by the medical examiner's decision but I still do not agree with what her final findings were so there is nothing like double or triple safety measures to take!
Lori
-------Original Message-------
Date: 7/11/2006 2:06:10 PM
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Stuck
I fell once in Detroit in the winter and got stuck in snow once. Fell over backwards here in Phoenix one July. Thank goodness for good Samaritans. I prefer staying in public places - and no dirt paths.
Dave
In a message dated 7/11/2006 11:53:55 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I got stuck..!
I was always scared to go far from my house, incase my chair broke or something. But now that I got my cell phone and Bluetooth, Im exploring my whole neighborhood. I found an unknown path that wound its way around these new housing developments. Beautifully landscaped, next to a golf course, about ¾ of mile long. But then it just ended. There was a dirt/gravel path that went left. Heading towards a main street. It had about an inch lip and went down hill. I knew going down would be fine, but if the trail did not go through, could I get back over it. I didnt try. Next day I tried finding the path from the other side. I did. After going about 75 feet down, the dirt path gave way and I slide sideways into a mud hole. I didnt move far, just enough to sink about 6 inches. No way of driving out. I waited a bit, called out a bit. Knowing I was too stuck to call for my attendant to get me out, I broke down and called 911 (Im going to add just the non emergency police number now). Just as I was giving directions, a truck with landscapers shows up and gets me out.
I guess going down a soft dirt paths with mud on the edges, isnt a real smart thing to do. I keep thinking, What if no phone, what if no landscapers
Thats the 2nd time I had to call for help. First was when I was driving down a sidewalk, hit a piece of gravel, that made my hand come off the control and my chair stopped immediately. My momentum made me fall forward
No chest strap. I was to far forward to reach the control or recline switch. I had to call home for help.
Thanks for cell phones
Greg
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