The time comes when your neighbors may be the only rescue team. How does it work? No one really wants another demand on their time.

Howdy Neighbor – Emergency Cooperation

By Ralph Ritchie (Bio and Archives)  Thursday, January 17, 2013 Comments | Print friendly | Subscribe | Email Us

The status of neighbors depends upon where you live.

In the city, neighborly hostility is a way of maintaining privacy. Most of the people on the street or in an apartment house wear a scowl.  A warm smile or friendliness is rare in an elevator.

As you get farther away from concentrations of people neighborly friendliness becomes more acceptable. People even say hello to strangers. There’s a reason for that.

In the city when there is a people problem, you let the police, or rescue or fire fighters handle it. You may even stand and watch- in an impersonal way. The privacy thing acts to make other people of little or no concern.

In the country, you help a fallen person, or render assistance however they need it. A house could burn down before volunteer firefighters can arrive.  You work to render assistance however you can. You pile an injured person into your car and take them to a hospital. Ambulance? What’s an ambulance if it is an hour away?

In my early youth, we lived one place where I was told to seek a policemen if I needed help. Later we moved from a town into the city and I was cautioned- If you see police, go the other way.

Much later, we lived in an area where the nearest sheriff help was 30 miles away. I slept with a shotgun by the bed for 20 years.

Now, even though I no longer live in a rural area, I was told that I could expect an emergency response in 30 to 45 minutes. Back to the shotgun by the bed. Oh, a handgun is nice- if you are wide awake, if it is not dark, and your aim is good.

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