Fight through traffic jams: how traffic police inspectors saved a one-year-old baby

Suburban routes are taught to wait. But there is an expectation that ceases to be just an inconvenience. When the health and life of a child is at stake, every second counts. That's just the road leading to salvation, because of ridiculous accidents can turn into a maze - suddenly running out of fuel, ahead of the traffic jam, and a one-year-old baby urgently needs to go to the hospital. Those who usually don’t welcome speeding have come to the rescue. Employees of the traffic police transplanted the mother with the child in the service car and quickly delivered to the RSPC.

You rarely see that! Except in crime thrillers. But the scene from this DVR is not staged. Pedestrians and drivers became unwitting participants in this drama. A traumatized one-year-old baby, a panic of parents and an empty car tank on the highway. No doubles, just one chance at salvation.

Anastasia Polchenko, mother: We were visiting my husband’s parents in the country, there was an incident involving my son. He got hurt. We decided not to waste time waiting for an ambulance, immediately jumped into the car and drove towards Minsk. We started running out of fuel in the car.”.

The call for help in 102 was immediately answered. At that time, the father continued to move along the road, but the arrow on the car panel treacherously dropped to the critical mark.

Alexey Pavlovsky, inspector of the road patrol service of the traffic police department of the Minsk police department: About an hour in three days, it was reported that a car was moving along the road and assistance was needed in escort to the hospital. A small child was injured at home. They dropped out immediately. Orientated, contacted the driver. We caught him here, near Minsk. And the driver, he says, ran out of fuel.”.

The inspectors understood that going to the gas station for gasoline, accompanying or waiting for a tow truck were not options. The child was getting worse. The father remained on the side of the road in the car, and the baby together with his mother was decided to transplant into a patrol car. We went to the RNC.

Angelina Dikun: Just imagine: in this seat, an excited mother with a one-year-old baby who urgently needs medical attention! DPS staff have a few minutes to get the child to the hospital. A city that is not in a hurry to give in.

There's traffic in the city. While the traffic police car was in a hurry, the rest of the participants of the movement – drivers and pedestrians – were in no hurry to respond to the commands of the traffic police. This is an additional risk on the road.

Sergey Starovoitov, senior inspector of the road patrol service of the traffic police department of the Minsk police department: “I understood everything so that I would then suffer for myself, that I did not do something, did not have time.” I tried my best in every way, in every way. You've probably seen the video of us driving down Yakub Kolas Street, which is a familiar Toyota.

Sergey Starovoitov, senior inspector of the road patrol service of the traffic police department of the Minsk police department: “Yes, a little emotional, because, in fact, I was already coming, we drove most of the way, and I did not want to go around it first on the right, because we could lead to not quite the right consequences.”.

According to traffic inspectors, this happens all the time. Drivers and pedestrians at the sight of beacons and the sound of a loudspeaker are often lost. But there are those who simply ignore and persistently follow the planned route.

Is it ignorance of the rules, impudence, or just a slow reaction? But in such situations on the ground there is no time to deal with. The child in the back seat was getting worse.

Anastasia Polchenko, mother: It was terrible only for my son. We've been in touch with the ambulance ever since. They told him not to let him sleep at all, and he tried to switch off all the way.”.

In the reception room of the RSPC of pediatric surgery of the baby was already waiting for the duty brigade.

Alexander Nikulenkov, Deputy Director for Medical Work of the RSPC "Children's Surgery": "In such cases, especially with trauma, suspicions of injury to internal organs, traumatic brain injury in children under three years old, who themselves can not tell what is happening to them, what hurts them, the time factor is decisive.".

The doctors confirmed that the risk of inspectors and emergency trip with flashing lights were fully justified. But while the baby was in the hands of specialists, the question of why the “corridor of life” had to break through with combat, did not give rest.

Alesya Shloydo, driving instructor at DOSAAF Driving School: I can understand a driver who has a 70 sign, yes, that is, it can be understood, because a person has recently received a license, accordingly, he will be lost in this situation. But when the driver does not have a sign "70" behind, respectively, the driver with experience and must navigate the road, look around, understand in general what he is doing. I think we just looked ahead, listened to the music.”.

Didn't look around... The problem of overconfident drivers. At the same time, experts note that flashing lights are not a superpower. Driving is the same driver who also needs to make sure that his maneuvers are safe.

Sergey Starovoitov, senior inspector of the road patrol service of the traffic police department of the Minsk police department: “I found ways, well, I had to be additionally nervous, because I understood the triple responsibility: the fact that I as a driver drive a vehicle, plus I drive an operational vehicle, my signals should be clear, obvious, I must observe safety measures on my part.” And most importantly, the first thing was that I had to deliver a little man.

Thanks to self-control and clear solutions, the route with flashing lights overcame 3 times faster than usual. For parents, this trip will be the longest.

Anastasia Polchenko, mother: If it were not for the traffic police, I do not know what would have happened next. Because at that moment it seemed like we were literally on the verge of a big tragedy. I exhaled when we arrived at the hospital, we were examined by doctors and it turned out that everything was fine. We were very lucky.”.

Fortunately, the baby's home. Today, the health of Vanya is not threatened, like all children, he plays, explores the world. The story ended well. But there's a lot to think about. Someone should once again look at the traffic rules, someone to remember the simple human solidarity and driving culture. Sometimes the seconds to adjust to the right or look in the rearview mirror can become vital and even decisive for the passenger of a car with flashing lights.