Kind Men Caught Helping Elderly Woman in Wheelchair Stuck in Dirt
When is the last time you walked outside to get the mail? At the grocery store, where do you park so you can easily stroll back out with your purchases?
Many folks take actions like this for granted. We walk the dog, amble out to water the lawn or saunter over to chat with a neighbor.
But getting around isn’t so easy for everyone. In a 2015 survey, Pew Research Center found there were nearly 40 million Americans living with some sort of disability.
This number represents nearly 12.6 percent of the civilian population not residing in some type of specialized care institution. Pew also cites an American Community Survey indicating that older Americans are considerably more likely to have a physical disability.
Maybe that’s why social media is paying such close attention to a thoughtful group of Colorado men. Their actions are an inspiring reminder that a little caring assistance can go a very long way.
Have you ever been out driving in your car, when you suddenly notice someone proceeding down the sidewalk in a wheelchair? Consider for a moment what that individual likely needs to endure.
The going is often slow, and the terrain is frequently uneven. In cold or inclement weather, even a quick trip can become a difficult challenge.
The three young men in question recently encountered a wheelchair-bound elderly woman in Lakewood, Colorado. According to Denver CBS affiliate KCNC-TV, she was attempting to traverse an area near the side of the road.
Unfortunately, the sidewalk had ended, so the woman had been forced to try making her way over an unpaved dirt path, and her wheelchair had become stuck.
Immediately, these good Samaritans knew what they needed to do. They hopped out of their vehicle and rushed to the woman’s aid.
Local resident Holly Bolesky witnessed the whole incident and filmed what happened next.
Once the three men reached the elderly lady, they realized her chair was wedged firmly in place. A simple push to get it rolling again would not be an option.
So each one of them leaned in, and got a steady grip on the heavy apparatus. Then they physically lifted the chair, while the woman remained securely seated.
Once the chair had been freed, the men were able to move it to a paved section of the road. But of course, they realized cars driving by could still represent a potential safety hazard.
So KCNC-TV explains that the men stayed very close by. They carefully watched and waited, to make sure the woman got back onto the sidewalk without any issues.
A 2015 Georgetown study found that wheelchair users are a third more likely to be killed in car-pedestrian crashes than non-wheelchair users. So if you ever encounter someone outside struggling in a wheelchair, take a cue from these kindly Colorado gentlemen and lend your support.
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