As I drove home on the freeway at lunchtime, I was startled to find a little red car drifting uncomfortably close while passing me in the fast lane – I slackened speed so as to be ready for evasive action, and looked over to see why the driver was apparently losing control of his vehicle. Imagine my surprise to find the young driver cruising along in a reclined position with both hands behind his head, steering with his knees! What an idiot – in his efforts to look cool, he was endangering everyone on the road. As I fell back and watched his progress down the highway, he continued to weave in and out of traffic at high speeds, only once removing a hand from behind his head for just a moment to tweak his steering wheel, offsetting an imminent collision. Again, near-fatal consequences, this time from a moment of hubris … I’m only glad we all survived to tell the tale.
Close calls are part of the human condition, and as therapists we sadly get to see the after-effects of inattention and stupid decisions as certain patients roll into our acute care hospitals, rehab centers, and outpatient clinics. Sometimes, it’s hard to feel sympathetic toward someone who has become injured by their own hand, but if you think about it, most of us have had similarly close shaves growing up, and learned from them.
Anne Ahlman, MPT