I imagine most people probably think their way through hypothetical scenarios once in a while, but I think it’s probably much more frequent and more in-depth for most introverts. While I don’t really like having conversations on hypothetical topics, I find myself thinking through these types of scenarios in my mind almost daily. 

One of my most recent excursions into this type of thinking happened on my drive to work one morning a couple of months ago. It was a textbook morning as I kissed my wife and kids goodbye, got into my car, and pulled out of the driveway en route to my final destination. 

As I drove on mental autopilot, navigating my way down the same roads that I drive every day, something caught my eye as I was just about to enter a small roundabout at a four-way intersection. The object I spotted was in the opposite lane and as soon as I saw it, I immediately began trying to process what it might be; ultimately, my mind decided that it looked like what could be a small-framed person lying in the road. 

When I finally drove by the object, it was clear to me that it was not a person lying in the road, but in that split second of thinking, my mind immediately went into working through the situation as if it had been someone lying in the road.

As I continued to drive my well-memorized route that I take nearly every day, I started thinking about the exact actions I would take in the now hypothetical situation playing out in my mind. I started recalling my Self-Aid and Buddy Care training that I received many times throughout my military career. 

If it was really an injured or unconscious person in the road, I’d immediately stop my car and approach the person in the road to determine whether or not they are responsive. I should probably be careful not to move them because they could have a neck or back injury. If they were unresponsive or unconscious, I might have to resort to giving CPR. 

Should I risk giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? What is the ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths — is it 30:1? Of course, I’d have to stop traffic and possibly have someone driving by call 911 while I administered first aid. 

But what if I had to call 911 on my own? I don’t even know the name of the road I’m on, but I do know the names of the intersecting roads so I think I could give the emergency services dispatcher good enough directions to get them close. After that, I’d wait with the person until emergency services arrived and give the emergency responders my version of the events leading up this point.

It would all happen so quickly and I would be hoping that I did everything correctly and remembered my training as closely as possible. Did I do everything I could to save that person’s life? I sure hope so.

Satisfied with the outcome of the scenario, I finally snap back to reality as I approach the base security gate to show my identification and continue the short remainder of my trip to work. At least now I know that I will be somewhat prepared if I ever actually come across a person lying in the road at that particular spot in the future. Now, time to contemplate and analyze the next hypothetical scenario so I can be prepared for anything.

As for the object in the road — just a crumpled up empty cement bag from a nearby construction site. Definitely not a person!