Wednesday, November 4, 2009

My Biggest Fear


I think we all have a fear of something. Whether or not we have ever experienced it makes no difference. Somewhere in my life, or lives if you believe in reincarnation, I was trapped in a submerged car. As far as I know it must have been a dream, but the fear itself, is very real. I have had it for my entire life. This, living in the desert for most of those years. But even deserts have lakes, rivers, ponds, irrigation ditches, etc.

We were living in Minneapolis when the bridge collapsed and the ensuing disaster held the news for many months. Recently three young college students lost their lives after going into a farmer's holding pond during a night of stargazing in North Dakota. It can happen anywhere, drainage ditches are in every state. My family goes over bridges daily in Portland, Oregon, and I have gifted "hammers of life" to all of them. So please take just a moment of your time and read this.

You might want to pass it on to all those that you love, as well.

35 comments:

Reya Mellicker said...

"Remain calm." ?? Are they kidding!!

Hey - you stay safe and dry, my dear. OK?? OK!!

Nancy said...

Reya - I know! Right?

Meeko Fabulous said...

I feel all short of breath and antsy after reading this. LOL.

Von said...

So understand Nancy.Strange thing about life,we all know we're going to die but not usually when,where or how.So normal to have those fears, it's how you deal with them that matters.

Jo said...

Wow, Nancy, that's incredible. I can't think of anything more horrible. Apparently those girls had a few moments to make phone calls. If only they had read this information first, they might have put their time to better use.

Nancy said...

Meeko - Sorry. I just want you to be safe! :-)

GooseBreeder - So true. I like the idea of not having it be this way. :-)

Nancy said...

Jo - My thoughs exactly!!

Lillian Robinson said...

The news of the girls was sad. Yes, it can happen anywhere.

Nancy said...

Lily - I agree. Even in flat land and farm country, as in this instance. I can only wonder if they could have survived if they had this information. It was only 12 feet of water, easily swimmable.

Anonymous said...

The best way to survive any emergency is to be prepared for it. Know what to do before it happens. You're much less likely to panic if you know exactly what you need to do - panic is never helpful.

Good advice in that article. I would add this to it: never drive over a flooded road. Six inches of fast moving water is enough to sweep a small car away. Rivers around here flood every spring when the snow melts, and I've lost track of how many times we've had to rescue people who tried to drive through flooded roads and ended up floating down the river in their car. Don't do that. You don't realize how deep the water is or how fast it's moving until it's too late.

Anonymous said...

I need to get one of those hammers of life thingees, where do I get one? Neither of my windows works, in or out of water!

Brian Miller said...

chills...drowning has got to be the worst way to go...

alaine@éclectique said...

Drats, the link wouldn't open for me, twice. What a horrible way to go; gives me the shivers!

TheChicGeek said...

Good advice, Nancy. Being prepared makes all the difference.
Thank you for this :)
Hugs!

Elizabeth Bradley said...

I have a terrible fear of driving over bridges, I've managed to MAKE myself do it and with time I have gotten better. But after reading that...I may have a relapse.

Nancy said...

Jeff - Yes. Great advice. Thank you!

Nancy - I ordered all of mine from amazon.com - they are not expensive.

Brian - I'm a pretty good swimmer, so if not trapped, I feel like I might have a chance. This information was good to know, I think.

Alaine - Hmmm wonder why? Here is the link:
http://www.wikihow.com/Escape-from-a-Sinking-Car

Chic - Just info to file away in the back of the mind, just in case you might need to know it one day.

Elizabeth - You too?? Ghaaaa I have to roll down all the windows, and usually yell at my husband to drive very carefully with his eyes firmly looking forward! Myself and a friend, (she has the same phobia), have been known to walk over a bridge while our husbands drive!

PeacefulWmn9 said...

Valuable information, Nancy. We've had two such incidents in our area recently, and yes, it's scary to contemplate!

Karen

~JarieLyn~ said...

This is really great information. I hope I remember it if I ever get submerged.

I have recurring dreams where I am driving across a bridge and it collapses into the water. I've had them for years. Every time I go across a bridge, my dreams pop into my head.

Unknown said...

Absolutely with you on this one...
I was a lifeguard as a teenager...and have always stressed on the idea of not being able to breathe....I do not swim in the ocean (wade a bit) or in the local rivers (alligators)....
Sad news...

Joanne said...

Thanks for taking your fear and turning it into beneficial information for us all. Lots of good info on the link, and knowledge is power.

DJan said...

I also wonder how long our power windows would work if needed in a case like this. I know the driver has a special auto feature that opens or closes all the windows at once. Would it help to open the door if you see you're going into the water?? Or is that a bad idea? I also would have difficulty remaining calm...

Marguerite said...

I had a similar recurring dream, as a child. Except in the dream, my family and I were in the car, at the draw bridge, in our hometown. The middle span of the bridge was raised up to allow a tugboat to pass. Then my Dad drives right through the barricade and we go over the edge, and down towards the water! But thank God, I would always wake up before we hit the water! It was a terrifying dream! So, I understand and thanks for the great info.

Hit 40 said...

A friend also lost her son to water. It was after a heavy rain fall that swelled some creeks. He probably did not even see the water when he drove in it.

L'Adelaide said...

this is horrifying to think about and you have just given me a new thing to be terrified of, after reading that...can you imagine how you are going to have to keep your wits about you with water rushing in, telling kids in seatbelts AND carseats [OMG] to keep calm til the water is up to their chests! i cannot even begin to fathom it...sorry for that pun that just slipped in....but we do know what we are all buying children and significant others for christmas now , don't we....thank you for this wonderful and frightening piece of very important info!!

blessings you have no bridges in your near future...and portland terrifies me because of all those very high bridges...we went over one in an RV once, years and years ago with three kids bouncing around and I didn't think I would make it out alive to the other end...but i lived to tell the tale...terrifying is right, i know exactly what you mean.

blessings again...

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

Well, living in ND...I know exactly what you mean. The most recent accident was so surreal and not one that you think would ever happen in such shallow water (to me 12' is pretty shallow). But there is water everywhere. Remaining calm is so hard as we frantically reach for a solution with the clock ticking away. Good advice!

Land of shimp said...

Oh my, evidence of the collective consciousness? I was just posting about fears and phobias elsewhere.

As to your fear, and where it might have started, who knows? I don't completely discount the possibility of genetic memory (or reincarnation, for that matter, a lot of things seem possible to me).

Thank you for the link, it's certainly information that is good to know. Those poor girls.

Anonymous said...

This reminded me of the mother who drowned her two babies... Don't mean to be a downer. I just saw a similar video and it made me remember.

That was very valuable information, Nancy. Josh and I both watched and listened very carefully.

Nancy said...

Peaceful - So sorry about the incidences in your area.

Jarie - Me too! And Nevada is mostly desert. But we do have bridges.

Emom - Wow - alligators. Thank goodness I don't have to worry about those. Geeze That would definitely be a worry!

Joanne - Just store it away.

DJan - Keeping calm would definitely be a problem for me. But I think the video said to lower the windows as soon as possible (or break the glass), and when the air pressure is equalized between the water and the car - then open the doors. Or swim out the windows. (The water would be about chest or chin high.) Geeeze!

Marguerite - Wow - Nightline did a show last night on Toyota's that have been accelerating out of the blue - your dream reminded me of that. Scary!

Hit 40 - How incredibly sad! We had some major flooding in Minnesota when we lived there. The same thing happened. Night time.

Linda - Sorry to scare you! Just store this stuff in the back of your mind, chances are excellent that you will never need the info. But I'll bet I know exactly which bridge in Portland that you are talking about! That big double decker?

Alica - So sorry about it happening in your state! An incident in Minnesota was similar, except the people went into the river, and I've wondered if they had this information if the outcome would have been the same. Twelve feet is definitely swimmable.

Shimp - I know! Bless them.

Phoebe - I know exactly who you are referring to. I hope she never gets out of prison. Glad you both watched it. It's just info everyone should acquaint themselves with, I think.

ds said...

This is so important, but sooo frightening.Thank you for sharing.

Nancy said...

ds - Be safe.

Unknown said...

Good advice. I, too, have a fear of drowning. Shudder.

Nishant said...

Strange thing about life,we all know we're going to die but not usually when,where or how.
Work from home India

Hilary said...

I think I held my breath through that full linked post. I never knew I had this fear.. now I do! ;) Good advice, really. :)

GYPSYWOMAN said...

timely post and it was wonderful of you to do the helpful attachment! such a sad story of those beautiful young girls - out to behold the night sky!!! a tragedy!!! thanks for sharing the emergency info -

Pat said...

This is good to know, but since I'm TERRIFIED of water, all that knowledge will go right out of the window. I'd probably have a heart attack and die right off the bat anyway. But thanks for the heads up!