A 9-year-old waiting for her bus in Lodi stepped in when she saw her neighbor, Connie Seal, on the ground. Neel’s response later drew praise from Lodi police.
Seal told News 5 Cleveland that she usually walks around her neighborhood each morning. On October 19, she went farther than usual, tripped over her shoes and cracked her kneecap. Doctors hope the bone will knit back together while she keeps her leg immobile. Seal expects to use a walker for six to eight weeks.
A Bus Stop Bystander Who Didn't Hesitate
Neel was waiting near North Market Street and Wooster Street when she saw Seal. “I just stopped all the cars and ran over,” she told News 5 Cleveland.
Neel said the scene brought to mind a time her great-grandfather had fallen. Officer Calvin Young saw her beside Seal and went to check on Seal, bringing the incident to Lodi police’s attention, News 5 Cleveland reported.
Police Hold Her Up As An Example
Lodi police recognized Neel on the day of the fall. Young told News 5 Cleveland that her calm response stood out and that he hoped it would encourage others to help when they encounter someone in need.
Falls in Ohio
According to the Ohio Department of Health, older Ohioans made nearly 78,000 emergency department visits for unintentional falls in 2021. That statewide figure describes the burden of falls among older Ohioans and does not establish anything about Seal’s individual circumstances.
Preventing Falls and Helping Safely
For prevention, a 2016 Ohio Department of Health report describes the CDC’s STEADI program as using clinical guidelines to help primary care providers assess older patients’ fall risk and identify factors that can be changed. For bystanders who encounter someone who may be injured, the American Red Cross advises checking that the scene is safe before helping. It says to call 911 for an obvious life-threatening condition and to provide care that matches the helper’s training.
For Seal, the gesture from a child at a bus stop has stuck with her well beyond the morning it happened. “It really touched my heart,” she said.
