Would you help?

United States
February 17, 2010 4:24pm CST
Say you were walking down the street and looked down a small side street and noticed a homeless person. You noticed that they were lying on the ground in a strange position, and started to try and yell for help. When you ran over to the homeless person he/she was now unconscious. Would you give the homeless person CPR if you knew how? Would you just walk away and go back to your own business and just forget that you even saw the homeless person? What would you do in this situation? Myself, I would say that I would try to do what I could for the person, at the same time I would call for help in case I didn't do any good trying to revive the homeless person.
3 people like this
20 responses
@mslena75 (561)
• United States
17 Feb 10
Yes, I would try CPR (my job requires me to maintain a current certification at all times). I do not think that I could, in good conscience, walk away and act as though I never saw that person. Homeless people are just that...PEOPLE. Any of us are just a step away...one life disaster and any of us could be living on the street! You never know how people get to where they are in life...sometimes it could be their own fault, or absolutely no fault of their own. I always have my cell phone on me, I would probably request emergency services as well. I would try my best to keep up the CPR until the medics arrived.
• United States
17 Feb 10
See I have asked some of my friends this same question and they were grossed out that they would have to touch a homeless person. I was in shock by what they said. I agree with what you said on any of us could be that at some point in our life and at anytime. It's good to know that there are some caring people who don't care who it is, as long as they can help they will. I guess my friends just need to grow up some more!
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
18 Feb 10
I would try whatever possible to help the homeless person. Whether he is homeless or not he still has the dignity of being a human being and deserves to be treated as such. I would not discriminate if he is young or old, rich or poor. If he needs my help I will try to give it if I am able to do it.
18 Feb 10
I would like to think that I am the type of person who would help out anyone in that situation. I would try to put them into the recovery position and use my mobile phone to call for emergency help. I would stay with them until help arrived. To be honest I don't know CPR and would not attempt it as I believe it could do more harm than good.
@karubod (603)
• India
18 Feb 10
Well this is really a pathetic situation to see on the street . Indeed i do get moved by seeing such situations , but i wouldn't get the first impulse to give CPR to that home less person ,...... first thing is I dont't know to give it , but i will definitely try to get for some help to save the person .This is better than just ignoring and going on our own ....
@benny128 (3615)
18 Feb 10
well not sure why u mentioned a homeless person as wouldnt matter to me whether they were a begger or anybody else I would always try and help as I would expect somebody to help me if I was in serious trouble.
@teamrose (1492)
• United States
18 Feb 10
I have my cell phone with me at all times. I would phone for help. I am not trained in CPR and even if I were, I would not know what was appropriate. I would try to flag down any passerbys to get more help.
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
18 Feb 10
I would immediately call for help on my cell, and do what I could to help the person, if it were possible to do CPR I would, but some situations its best to leave it to the professionals, you could hurt them, or yourself. But no matter what the case I would not leave a person there to die.
• Philippines
18 Feb 10
if i know how to CPR i would do so to make that homeless person get revive or i may say alive but if nothing i can do at all to my very best i will call some help in order to save that homeless person. its a great a opportunity to save a person for us to know how important the life is and that way we care for someone and that testifies that we obey the Lords commandment that we love our neighbor.
@kaylachan (57687)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Feb 10
I would probably call 911 and keep my distance. If it was obvious to me they were in real mortal danger I'd atempt rescue breathing and or CPr until the propery athorities could arrive. But, should they be faking I'd be sure I'd be in a position to run in case the worst happened.
@assadi (91)
• India
18 Feb 10
I will call doctor for medical treatment immediately.And will try to help him in any way.
@meldred (94)
18 Feb 10
maybe i'll just call for help with other people around because honestly i'm afraid with that kind of people because i don't know who they are...what if they are just pretending to...& if you will help them he will snatched your things...but in short i will help if needed.
• Philippines
18 Feb 10
IF i knew CPR and good at it, by all means i'll do my best to save the homeless person. however, i don't know how to perform cpr so i'd rather call for help to someone who's knowledgeable on reviving an unconscious person. sometimes it's better to stay away than to try reviving the person without the right knowledge on giving first aid. That's the reason why some victims don't make it to the hospital because they were given improper first aid. So if you really don't know what to do in a situation like that, call for help. You'll be doing a favor for the homeless person too if you did that instead.
@verptc (246)
• Philippines
18 Feb 10
Sure anybody will response in that situation but for me I have to analyze first the situation if it is not a drama for a crime scene. Then I have to be sure that they need a real help. If it is true that is the time to give my hand and do whatever necessary action. I will call anybody nearby for help or any assistance action center for emergency response and or look for any police assistance if there is around. Look also for any concern citizen with car to move him right away in a nearby hospital for treatment.Saving life of other people is mostly our concern.
@kyvin147 (78)
18 Feb 10
For me i will also try to help that person coz he needs my help and try to call some medic just encase i can't revive him....
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
18 Feb 10
I was going home,on my motorcycle, after work, on a dark summer night.When rounding a bend in Northumberland forest, I perceived a motionless figure lying along the edge of the pavement ahead. I knew instantly it was human, but traveling at speed, I could only slow slightly as I passed. Thoughts were crossing my mind; was this a traffic injury,a trap,or a murder victim? My bike was slowing, and although I didn't want to, I knew I had to return. I swung round on the deserted road and idled slowly back, all the while keeping my headlight fixed on the solitary figure. Upon reaching the shape, it suddenly came to life and stood upright. A man said, "Hello! I need a ride home! My name is Beaver, and I live on the Indian Reserve in Roseneath." I asked," Why were you lying on the road?" " I was tired of walking," he replied. He told me he was used to riding a bike so I let him on behind, and five miles later he got off at his house in Roseneath.
@jugsjugs (12967)
17 Feb 10
I would go over and help aswell as do cpr and i was ring an ambulance aswell as always see how the person was doing.I think that there are alot of people that would just not bother as i have noticed this about a lady who passed out outside a shop every one seemed to just walk past her looking i was the only person that stopped and stayed with her,until the shop assistant came outside when an ambulance arrived.
• United States
18 Feb 10
I would try to do CPR. I am CPR certified and was taught to help others out. I would have someone call 911 and hope that paramedics would be on their way. It is important to always try to help your fellow man. If a homeless man needs a meal I would buy them a hamburger at McDonalds. I know McDonalds is not healthy, but at least it is something for them to eat.
• United States
18 Feb 10
I spent a little time as an EMT. I don't get grossed out. I would do whatever it takes to get them to the hospital, if possible. I don't blame people for not wanting to get involved. The risk of hepatitis, etc. At the very least I would hope that any reasonable person would recognize that person as a human being, and call for help.
• Philippines
18 Feb 10
At first i would see to it that the area is safe for me to help. Then i'll ask someone to call for help while im assessing the person. Yes i would give CPR if the person needs it. I know my conscience would not allow me to sleep if i have done nothing to a person who is struggling to live.
• United States
18 Feb 10
Wow this is actually a hard question. first off i think its not very easy to give cpr to someone who might have been infected with some sort of disease. i think i would just throw some pennies and run.. jk i'll use a cup or some sort of mouth cover thing and give cpr that way? i dont know.. i dont really know cpr in the first place..