Chastised For Getting Help For Someone In Distress At A Music Event
Saw a woman face down in a dark corner. She was barely moving and obviously struggling.
A few people were maintaining a loose perimeter around her. Trying to look nonchalant.
I ask the closest person “Is she ok?”
“Oh yeah. No big deal…etc yadda yadda”
Me to that person: I am going to speak to her directly.
Me to woman: Are you ok?
Woman struggles-like, really struggles-to all fours, then her haunches, and finally shakes her head “no”.
Closest person gets in my ear: Its ok. She is ok. She has been my girlfriend for 7 years. Everything is ok etc yadda yadda
Woman literally flips around 180 degrees and flops headlong face down on the floor. Writhing and sluggish.
I alert the nearest staff member who is literally 15 feet away. They alert security. Security brings onsite EMT.
This woman’s “friends” are staring me down.
But worse than that, other experienced event staff told me that this can hurt the community, artist, venue.
All I could think to say was “I disagree and believe it is the opposite. If someone has a medical emergency at a sporting event, does a rapid response hurt the sport, team, venue? Are any of those more important than a life?”
That “boyfriend” trying to talk me out of doing for their partner of 7 years what they should have been doing is perhaps more than mildly infuriating.
End Rant.