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First responders save Hanska man’s life

Submitted photo The Blair family of Hanska wishes to thank the dozens of first responders who saved David Blair’s life on March 7 after near-fatal home accident.

HANSKA — David and Ozeda Blair wish to thank all those who helped them during a critical life and death moment last weekend.

A freak home accident nearly cost David’s life, but quick thinking and the fast response of Hanska’s first responders prevented a tragedy.

It was a normal Sunday morning on Summit Street in Hanska, and David Blair was trying to do a simple mundane task of closing a back door on the home. The problem was this door was weathered and did not shut completely.

David said he tried to force it closed with his shoulder but instead, he went through the glass section of the window, slicing his right arm from shoulder to elbow. David immediately began to lose large amounts of blood.

“It was definitely a scary scene,” David said.

He applied pressure on his elbow to stop the bleeding and yelled for his wife Ozeda to call 911. David’s memory of the next several minutes was hazy as he faded in and out of consciousness.

Ozeda said at first she was confused about what had happened, but saw the blood and realized it was serious. The cut was an inch deep. Ozeda said she could see down to the white parts of the muscle.

Together with their son Wyatt, they moved David to the front porch and tried to find a way to stop the bleeding and call 911. Once outside, Ozeda was also able to yell for the next-door neighbors to help.

Wyatt returned with a belt which they were able to use as a tourniquet. Another neighbor also provided a second tourniquet. Together the two tourniquets halted the bleeding while they waited for help.

Ozeda said she made a call at 10:56 a.m. and the Hanska first responders arrived within five minutes of the call, but Ozeda said it felt like much longer.

“I kept saying to the dispatcher ‘you don’t understand, he’s going to bleed to death on the porch,” Ozeda said.

Fortunately, the first responders did understandt he severity. Ozeda said she later learned 911 calls for severe cuts are common on farms.

Once the first resonders arrived, they were hesitant to move David from the home. His bleeding was under control, but they feared moving him could cause the bleeding to start again.

Eventually, the bleeding was controlled enough to transfer David to New Ulm Medical Center (NUMC). The Brown County Sheriff’s Department provided escort for the ambulance.

They managed to stop the bleeding at NUMC. David’s wound was rewrapped and he was transferred by ambulance to a St. Paul hospital for surgery. There, David received 17 outside stitches and 17 internal stitches.

By the next day, David was healthy enough to be discharged and returned home Monday, March 8 — a little over 24 hours after the accident. A week later, David has some mobility issues with his pinky but is healthy and happy to have recovered.

The Blair family is eternally grateful for the first responders. Ozeda said they were able to manage the situation and keep her calm during an extremely traumatic time.

Ozeda wanted to thank the Hanska first responders and neighbors who helped during some of the family’s scariest moments.

David said he wanted to publically thank all the responders who showed up to save his life.

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