Death at Farmer's Market?

[kikicabell.livejournal.com]

I've heard that some poor man had a heart attack or something on Wednesday at the Farmer's Market - ambulance came. Apparently, he died. I was wondering if this is true and I also was appalled by the responses of people there - apparently people were just walking around him and I can't believe the market wouldn't shut down if something that horrific happened. Does anyone know anything about it?  Thanks.

Comments

[ron_newman]

I know nothing, but there was a similar item on the Somerville Journal's blog yesterday.

[cos]

I would hope that if someone were taken away by ambulance, the farmers' market would not shut down, regardless of whether they knew that person's condition after s/he arrived at the hospital, and what that condition was. But you seem to be saying that when this man had a heart attack people nearby didn't respond well. On the other hand you're also saying that you "heard" and implying that you weren't there and didn't actually see how people responded. So I'm curious, what do you know about how people responded, that was appalling? Did you see it happen?

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

This is, no doubt, going to show me off as a horrible person, but with all respect to the person who died (if, in fact, he did -- your report is clearly short on actual facts), I don't see why the market should shut down?

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Yeah, um, I'm with those who don't see why the market should shut down.

Also, people have heart attacks. People die when they are just going about their business, which may include when they are shopping or selling at the Farmer's Market. Maybe sad for the person who died and those close to them, but "horrific" seems a bit of an overreaction sort of word, to me.

I can think of (lack of) responses around someone clearly in a medical crisis that I might find appalling, but without more details I can't judge at all whether what you heard happened at the Farmer's Market seems appalling to me. Let's suppose that people were walking around a man having a heart attack but they were completely unaware that he was having a heart-attack or otherwise in serious medical trouble. Unfortunate, perhaps, but not appalling. Let's suppose they were just walking around him while he was receiving assistance or medical attention (someone apparently paid attention at some point if an ambulance came). Again, not appalling. So what did you hear that you found appalling.

[spatch]

Agreed.

Heart attacks aren't nearly as dramatic as you think. Sometimes it's instantaneous. People just slump over. They may complain of chest pain before, the warning signs may be there, but sometimes it just hits suddenly. But it definitely ain't one of those chest-clutching "I'm comin, Elizabeth" routines. Without the full knowledge of what happened, that's as much as I can say on that subject.

And if you notice that someone requires medical attention, it is best to call 911 or your local emergency number. I'd rather have trained and qualified paramedics provide care to the victim and transport them to the hospital, especially if the victim is unable to communicate their problem to others. Often the best one can do in a situation is to call for help, and as it sounds like someone did, I don't see the point of acting indignant about what happened unless there's more that the original poster "heard". (It's fun to be offended through hearsay!)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? WHAT IF THERE WAS A PLANE FLYING OVERHEAD AT THE TIME??? I WANT TO SEE SOME RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION HERE!!

[beowabbit]

FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? WHAT IF THERE WAS A PLANE FLYING OVERHEAD AT THE TIME??? I WANT TO SEE SOME RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION HERE!!

I must bear your children!

[aki.livejournal.com]

I hear undead girls are easy.

[c-m-i.livejournal.com]

THATS NO PLANE! THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE SEWERS!

[ron_newman]

Did the victim cry out "BOF FRI FLEU" before expiring?

[ifotismeni]

AHAHHAHHAH win win win win

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

X2

[jadelennox]

Let's suppose they were just walking around him while he was receiving assistance or medical attention (someone apparently paid attention at some point if an ambulance came). Again, not appalling.

Not only not appalling, but *appropriate*. The last thing emergency workers need is a crowd of gawking if well-meaning passersby surrounding them, getting in their way, and invading the poor man's privacy.

If, on the other hand, the guy clutched his chest and yelled "oh, the pain" and fell to the ground and nobody rendered assistance or called 911, that's appalling.

[entrope.livejournal.com]

I was at the farmers' market yesterday shortly before the ambulance arrived. I admit that I walked around the gentleman on the sidewalk. Not that I'm callous - I'm not - but because he was very well attended by several emergency personnel who needed space more than they needed my help.

I'm sure that others that walked around rather than toward him had similar thoughts.

[damsel-ophelia.livejournal.com]

You did the right thing by staying out of the way!

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Why would they shut the market down?

what the f?

[kikicabell.livejournal.com]

Has no one any compassion? Has no one any decorum? If someone f-ing DIES at the Farmer's Market it's a horrific thing. It would have been Kind to say the least to acknowledge the fact. I can't believe how callous these comments are. I hope I'm never in need around any of you people.

Re: what the f?

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

What the hell is the matter with you? You realize that death is part of life, right? That everyone here (save Duncan McLeod and possibly Takezo Kensei) is going to die at some point?

More to the point, did you actually READ entrope's comment? About how he was well attended by emergency personel?

Re: what the f?

[dearsweetbriar.livejournal.com]

Seriously. Guy gets the information he wants, then responds by being a troll.

Sheesh. Some people.

Re: what the f?

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I believe we all agree! Please stay away from us.

Re: what the f?

[ron_newman]

What exactly did you see happen?

Re: what the f?

[ah42.livejournal.com]

Why does it matter if they died at the Farmer's Market? Shouldn't you be saying "If someone f-ing DIES, it's a horrific thing."

Death is a part of life. You seem to have yet to deal with that...

As for shutting down the market... I can't possibly imagine a reason to, except to the extent for getting emergency personnel in and out. The people selling wares at the market need to make a living, and the food will go bad if it's not sold. Some may say a little personal prayer, for the anonymous man, but I've never been a fan of enforced mourning (assuming he's even dead).

But then again, new account created just for this post, it would appear. You must be a troll.

Re: what the f?

[dearsweetbriar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it would be more horrific if the honest people selling their wares at the market were robbed of their money simply because the circle of life was being completed nearby.

It's not like babies got shot or anything. That would be horrific.

Re: what the f?

[teko.livejournal.com]

I was at the Farmer's Market. If a man collapsed in front of me, of course I'd help out. Yes, it's not a very happy thing to happen when you're out buying your tomatoes and lettuce. I acknowledge that fact, and then I get out of the way of the rescue workers doing their job. If you collapsed in front of me, I'd help you too. I'm not sure what more than that you're looking for. A Livejournal memorial service? A collection for flowers? Good lord, if you want deep, touching compassion, don't look for it in quick responses to a blog post. Sorry.

Re: what the f?

[hominidj.livejournal.com]

in general i agree with most of the people here that it was not necessary to close the market. i also agree that once the paramedics arrive, it's best to get out of their way. personally, i would have hung around until they did and lent moral support, if not actual help.

on the other hand, i feel some of your indignation kikicabell. i don't like this whole "death is a part of life" line. when my parents died, it was a part of life. that didn't mean that it wasn't tragic and horrible. i don't think i'd say "horrific," but definitely tragic and horrible. i guess i'd like to see a little more sensitivity to that.

Re: what the f?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone here isn't affected by someone dying nearby, even if they don't know them. We* weren't responding to the tragedy, but rather to the OP's attitude that there is somehow something wrong with the entire area that the market didn't shut down and people did not form a circle and wail in agony or something.

If the post had simply talked about the fact that a man had died and how tragic that was, the responses would have been very different.

(Or at least me, but I think I can safely extrapolate here, since I know many of the commenters personally.)

[damsel-ophelia.livejournal.com]

If it was a case of public safety - like if the guy had been shot, or if some out of control dog had attacked him - then I'm sure the market would have been cleared out. The reactions you've gotten may sound callous to you, but I highly doubt that anyone would have just not done anything. I'm sure if the paramedics thought it would have made the guy's chances of survival better, they would have asked that the market be cleared of shoppers. For some folks, whipping out a cell phone to call 911 or just staying out of the paramedic's way is the only - and best - thing they can do. If someone who knew CPR passed by the guy before the ambulance showed up and did *not* offer assistance, to me this that would be horrific. But folks who don't know CPR and can't provide valuable info to rescue personnel (like medical history or even positive identification) - all they can do is call 911 and stay the hell out of their way. (Personally, I'd much rather just slump over at a farmer's market in my quest for the perfect apple than writhing in pain in a hospital bed.)

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

A few hours later, there was a candle and a vase of flowers on the pavement where the guy had been surrounded by EMTs, which supports the notion that he died, but I don't have any more direct knowlege than that.