“Debbie Joy Porterfield pleaded with Bryan Peltier to save her life.”

“Debbie Joy Porterfield pleaded with Bryan Peltier to save her life.”

Quotes like this haunt me. In the last decade, I have collected far too many of them. As more and more people die screaming, crying, pleading for help and 911 operators record their calls or as failed rescuers share their guilt and grief as they recount a victims last words. Here is the entire story written by Mary Devine http://www.twincities.com/ci_14871111?nclick_check=1

The government tracks about 300 vehicle immersion deaths a year just like the one covered in MS. Devine’s Story. A little known fact is that nearly everyone that is able to get out of a sinking car survives (over 10,000 vehicles a year go into the water). This is a VERY, VERY survivable accident. Water decelerates the vehicle in a way that protects occupants extremely well. Most, like Debbie from the news story have little or no other injury. The only problem then is that some have is the inability to get out. Only these people, the ones trapped by glass and doors in a vehicle that sinks completely under water become fatalities in most cases. If they get out they live. It is that simple.

“Debbie Joy Porterfield pleaded with Bryan Peltier to save her life.”

Tragically for Debbie and the thousands of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters that have passed before, help can seldom if ever get there in time. People swimming out to help almost never have tools and professional rescuers are usually too far away to respond in time.

BUT, if every vehicle had a small addition to the latchplate of their seatbelts, then all people would have the tool they need to save themselves. This is the KEY. After years of research, I know it to be true. Training can only go so far. It will reach some people but in the end, there will still be far too many fatalities. In this way, it is kind of like CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It is better than nothing, but not much better. To save the most lives in cardiac arrest situations away from medical care, you need an AED (automated external defibrillator) People wishing CPR was more effective will not make it so. In these cases, like vehicle immersion cases the situation requires the right tool to maximize the chance for success.

Here are some video links. I have university studies, expert witnesses, victim advocates and Gigs of data. What I need is for someone to tell the story.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/?q=Lonny+MacDougall&vid=7EC79317BB8D56BBA8D57EC79317BB8D56BBA8D5

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/?q=Escape+Tip&vid=15150E9F0DF88513704C15150E9F0DF88513704C