Ambulance Quote by Studs Terkel
“One night a guy hit his head on a welding gun. He went to his knees. He was bleeding like a pig, blood was oozing out. So I stopped the line for a second and ran over to help him. The foreman turned the line on again, he almost stepped on the guy. That's the first thing they always do. They didn't even call an ambulance. The guy walked to the medic department -- that's about half a mile -- he had about five stitches put in his head. The foreman didn't say anything. He just turned the line on. You're nothing to any of them.”
About This Quote
A worker witnesses a severe injury, receives delayed help, and observes indifferent management, highlighting workplace neglect and dehumanization.
In simple terms: Workers can be ignored and unsafe in hazardous jobs
Key Takeaway
Recognize and demand safety protocols
Themes
safety
indifference
workplace
humanity
Mood
tense
critical
Type
testimonial
cautionary
When to use this quote
- construction site
- emergency response
- union organizing
- management training
Key Concepts
Labor rights
occupational health
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How would you intervene in such a scenario?
- What systems can protect vulnerable workers?
A Different Perspective
Management may prioritize productivity over safety
![“I [...] vowed that rather than let Alzheimer's take me, I would take it. I would live my life as ever to the full and die, before the disease mounted its last attack, in my own home, in a chair on the lawn, with a brandy in my hand to wash down whatever modern version of the "Brompton cocktail"…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f3b/terry-pratchett-19_alzheimer_i-vowed-that-rather-than-let-alzheimer-s_428272.jpg)
