Dilemma

[Lucy Thomas]

Imagine this scenario.

You are in bed one night, alone in the house, when you hear a noise downstairs. You go to investigate and are confronted with a burglar who threatens you with a knife and makes off with your property.

In his haste to get away, he runs out of the back door into the garden. Whilst attempting to climb over the fence, he slips and impales himself on the fence.

How long, if at all, would it be before you called an ambulance?

[4GS]

Immediately after I'd administered first aid,

[mrs_overall]

Are we talking about a potentially fatal impaling or something painful but not life threatening?

[Lucy Thomas]

Let's say that a spike has gone through his leg.

[Drisgirl]

I would phone right away -he may not have a conscience -but I do.I couldnt live with myself if I did nothing.

[unrulyjulie]

Oh, now there's a dilemma. I'm not sure how i'd feel after being threatened with a knife to be honest, i think I'd actually call the police first, then maybe an ambulance. I don't think i could leave them there to be honest but saying that, you don't really know what you'd do faced with that situation. I wouldnt be sorry they have been impaled though. Not one bit!

[4GS]

If a spike did go through his leg, (and missed the Femoral Artery) he would make more than enough noise to have someone phone an ambulance for him. If it hit his artery, he would need immediate first aid or he would quickly die.

[kate1976]

I think I may just go back to bed! I'm having a bad day though so I'm in 'evil' mode! Even in 'nice' mode though I'd probably just leave it a while, make myself a nice sweet tea to get over the shock of being threatened, maybe a biscuit or two?! Who knows!

I do know after being burgled last year that I wouldn't be in any kind of rush to get help for this hypothetical burglar!

[Ice.Maiden]

I'd call an ambulance, but The Husband'd probably give him a few slaps round the face for being there in the first place. Who's going to know how he sustained a few more bruises?!!!
Tbh, I'd feel like shooting him - especially if he'd already threatened me with a knife. There's too much of this sort of thing going on in real life, never mind in a hypothetical sense. I wouldn't leave the guy impaled on a fence, but I have little sympathy with any criminal - apart from those who manage to pull of a huge gems heist or something. It's still wrong - but you have to have a sneaking admiration......

[mrs_overall]

I'd like to say if it was not life threatening then I would leave him for a while to squeal like a pig.
However, in reality I know I'd be there doing my Florence Nightingale bit whilst waiting for the ambulance.

[Richie1976]

I'd phone the police and an ambulance and then go out side and pour TSP on the impaled leg, so it stung like f*ck until they arrive.

[Lucy Thomas]

No-one else would hear because I live out in the country.

[Lucy Thomas]

Also remember that he threatened you with a knife. Now if that happens you have to assume that he would use it. So a few minutes ago he was prepared to maim or even kill you and now he needs your help.

[mrs_overall]

What would YOU do Lucy???

[4GS]

In the countryside you could shoot the bu66er and get away with it
















that's what I heard anyway

[daffy654]

I'd probably call an ambulance and whilst waiting would administer first aid. I bet the sod would probably end up suing me for compensation though,they all try and pull that stunt these days.

[unrulyjulie]

maybe someone helping him in his hour of need might be enough to make him see the error of his ways and become a model citizen, helping out in soup kitchens at christmas and taking pensioners on day trips, but then again.....................

[Lucy Thomas]

I'd leave the piece of scum hanging there and go back to bed. I'd report it in the morning and plead complete ignorance. Hopefully he would have bled to death by that time. I am a very heavy sleeper after all.

[4GS]

Bearing in mind that I'm ex Army, if the guy had threatened me or my family with a knife, he'd be wearing it in his ribcage

[daffy654]

I once heard an American police officer say that if you injure a burglar caught on your property you should try and drag him as far away from your property as possible afterwards and then just deny all knowledge.

[funnygirl]

I would call an ambulance, right after I have called the police.

Maybe I would give him a kicking or two, after all he got the bruises falling over, didn't he??!!