Another Day, Another Jumper

[BoneheadNW]

We have a bridge to the mainland on the north side of our island called the Agate Pass Bridge. Every so often, about a couple of times a year, someone threatens or tries to jump off the bridge into the cold water of Agate Pass, which is part of Puget Sound. Today we had a man, distraught with losing his job, climb up on to the steel girders above the bridge and threaten to jump. Members of my crew, along with a police negotiator, attempted to talk the guy down, and he obliged, jumping the 100+ feet into the water. Fortunately, we had our boat, along with boats from other agencies, standing by in the area. After getting the man on board our boat, he lost consciousness, and he was rushed to a nearby dock where we were waiting. Surprisingly, he had no apparent major trauma to his legs, but the extent of his injuries were not known when I left work. One of the cops on scene made the comment that his agency was told to expect more of this type of thing given the state of the economy.
The story in the local newspaper can be read here.
Bone

 

[Av8r3400]

... and it certainly won't get any better with president-elect Ding-Bat talking it down with such enthusiasm.

 

[fogtender]

... and it certainly won't get any better with president-elect Ding-Bat talking it down with such enthusiasm.

Was watching CNBC this morning and Barnie Franks was up there stating that the money they loaned out, was going to be redid on the contracts and "Back dated" (yeah, that is how you want the government to act, make a contract, then break it)

After they forced all the banks to go along with it, now they want to change the rules all the way back to the first day.

What really burned me is that since it wasn't working out as planned, he spent most of his time blaming Bush for the problems. Hate to put gas on his party, but it was the Democrats in Congress that drafted the whole thing and "THEN" Bush signed it. Remember that they added another 150 Billion on top of the 700 Billion and called it "Sweeteners" (we call it PORK) to get the rest of congress to sign on to it.

This guy is slime and all the people that signed this bill in the first place, and by the time they get done "Fixing" the economy, we should be at the Third world level faster than Russia fell apart.

Now Obama wants to spend another "Trillion" to fix what they broke.... I don't think so...

 

[Doc]

Sad. Things are tough all over. We have plenty of bridges but rarely a jumper. One every 5 years maybe. With tough times I guess all areas will see their averages go up.

 

[The Tourist]

It ain't the bridge, the job or BHO. Most of these guys are ill. I wish there was some way to get to them before their options narrow to this.

 

[BoneheadNW]

To be completely honest, when I started the thread, I never thought that the first reply would have been an attack on our President-elect:

... and it certainly won't get any better with president-elect Ding-Bat talking it down with such enthusiasm.

I understand that I left the door open with my comment about these economic times. The point I was trying to make was how desperate some people are and it looks like things will not get any better given the economy.
Bonehead

 

[Galvatron]

I get it Bone....

Just before Xmas we had a jumper from a local multi story- car- park....turns out it was my wifes co-worker's Brother.....early 30's and was trying for years to end it all.

This guy lost his Dad years before and just never coped with the loss....he tried but ended falling for drugs to try help shield him from the pain but it never worked and after many failed attempts succeeded.

The night before he was at a family gathering and seemed happy.....i guess he was in some way happy with the chance to say goodbye in his own way knowing he was going to end it all.

Don't know where im going with this as suicide leaves so many hurting loved ones behind to try and pick up the pieces.....in my honest opinion if you feel low try talking to someone...anyone.....and mostly keep an eye on people around you for odd behavior as we are in in times of need and some more than others.

Sad times ahead

 

[The Tourist]

in my honest opinion if you feel low try talking to someone

This was the concept of the book 'Catch 22.' You could be grounded as a bomber pilot if you were crazy. To show you were crazy you had to go see a psychiatrist. But going to a psychiatrist showed good judgement, the mark of a sane man. And sane men were assigned to bombers...

And this is the problem here. We are a nation of free men. And protected by HIPAA.

If I walked down the main street in my pajamas and held a very vocal debate with George Armstrong Custer, about the worse thing that would happen is 72 hours of observation.

You can only be involuntarily restrained if you are a danger to yourself and others.

You demonstrate that by attempting suicide, and sometimes you make a successful attempt. Catch 22.

 

[BoneheadNW]

This was the concept of the book 'Catch 22.' You could be grounded as a bomber pilot if you were crazy. To show you were crazy you had to go see a psychiatrist. But going to a psychiatrist showed good judgement, the mark of a sane man. And sane men were assigned to bombers...

And this is the problem here. We are a nation of free men. And protected by HIPAA.

If I walked down the main street in my pajamas and held a very vocal debate with George Armstrong Custer, about the worse thing that would happen is 72 hours of observation.

You can only be involuntarily restrained if you are a danger to yourself and others.

You demonstrate that by attempting suicide, and sometimes you make a successful attempt. Catch 22.

Ah, but there lies the rub! Take your example. If you did walk down the street in your pj's to debate Custer, depending on where you live, you might be met with either an understanding or violent response. How ironic that one who is viewed as a danger to him/herself will be met with actions that can carry out that very deed!
I'm sure you can appreciate this view, as a rider and man of the blade. But I digress, who is to determine whether one is a danger to oneself or not? Are you? Am I? My job and yours possess some danger- should we be locked up? Should I be allowed to walk down the street in my pj's and NOT be harassed? What sort of place are we living in anyway?
Bonehead

 

[The Tourist]

who is to determine whether one is a danger to oneself or not?

I believe the standards are something like "a clear and present danger."

For example, one of deceased riding buddies had a daughter who was a 'cutter.' She was in and out of the hospital.

Was she asking for help, seeking an endorphin rush or trying to commit suicide?

We'll never know for sure. At the age of 21 she died at her own hand by drinking drain cleaner.

When I still lived in an apartment, she could see me washing my bike from her dad's house, where she lived during these bouts. She would always come over and talk to me, even about things like food and her anorexia.

If pressed, I'd say she was 'strange.' I spent quite a bit of one summer with her on that driveway, just talking. And even if "it takes one to know one," I never got alarm bells that danger was eminent.

 

[BoneheadNW]

I have to say that the majority of suicide attempt calls that I have been on have been lame attempts at best. A couple of half-hearted slices to the wrists (which were clotted by the time we arrived) and some pills/alcohol. I have been told that these people really did not want to kill themselves but were just seeking attention. Which gets me back to the jumper- one has to admire the guy in a strange way for actually jumping. One of my guys who saw him jump says that there was no hesitation- he just went for it. So who needs the help more, this guy or the poor slob (usually women) who makes the half-hearted attempt to gain attention?
Bone

 

[waybomb]

I used to live on Kent Island in Maryland. About every 6 months or so, there woul be a jumper from the Bay Bridge on Rte 50.
Seriously used to piss me off because all the lanes would be blocked off. Have no idea why; the jumper had jumped. Nothng they could do from the bridge.

The story goes ther was once a jumper from the Key Bridge in Baltimore. They finally snagged the body and pulled him out. The body was full of blue crabs. So, they gathered the crabs and threw him back for more!

 

[Deadly Sushi]

We have a bridge to the mainland on the north side of our island called the Agate Pass Bridge. Every so often, about a couple of times a year, someone threatens or tries to jump off the bridge into the cold water of Agate Pass, which is part of Puget Sound. Today we had a man, distraught with losing his job, climb up on to the steel girders above the bridge and threaten to jump.

Im guessing the man didnt have much if any good friends.

 

[darroll]

We headed west and got stuck in a huge traffic jam.
I got out of my truck and walked toward the bridge.
There was a man up on the bridge threatening to jump.
The crowd was yelling Jump… I just chuckled. Where is their liberal compassion? This area is 99.9% liberal.
He didn’t jump. It was all about his X not letting him see his kids. I’m sure this stunt helped in his cause.