--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One night a guy hit his head on a welding…" description: "\"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 seco..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/studs-terkel-3020_ambulance_one-night-a-guy-hit-his-head-on-a-weldin_3047647.jpg" --- # One night a guy hit his head on a welding gun. He went to… ![“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…” quote by Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/studs-terkel-3020_ambulance_one-night-a-guy-hit-his-head-on-a-weldin_3047647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/studs-terkel-3020_ambulance_one-night-a-guy-hit-his-head-on-a-weldin_3047647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/studs-terkel-3020_ambulance_one-night-a-guy-hit-his-head-on-a-weldin_3047647.jpg) > “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.” [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Medics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medics/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Stitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stitches/) [Welding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welding/) ## Related quotes > [I know as I'm taking my dying breath, the ambulance guy will ask me why they cancelled Action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-know-as-i-m-taking-my-dying-breath-the-ambulance-guy-will-ask-me/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [But despite their heroic acts, the Vietnam Veterans of America continued to struggle to establish a combat badge in honor of these brave pilots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-holden/but-despite-their-heroic-acts-the-vietnam-veterans-of-america/) [Tim Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-holden/) > [“They’re medics. Rebel medics. I’d know the uniforms anywhere. They swarm in among the children, wielding medical kits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/they-re-medics-rebel-medics-i-d-know-the-uniforms-anywhere-they-swarm/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [The medics generally see the worst of the worst. They see everything. They're working on their friends, and they're working on their enemy. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-fehr/the-medics-generally-see-the-worst-of-the-worst-they-see-everything/) [Brendan Fehr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-fehr/) > [The greatest heroes of the Normandy battlefield were the unarmed medics, whom snipers often shot at despite their Red Cross armbands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-beevor/the-greatest-heroes-of-the-normandy-battlefield-were-the-unarmed/) [Antony Beevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-beevor/) > [When life is suddenly more serious more of the time, there is also more need for it to be fun at least some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boswell/when-life-is-suddenly-more-serious-more-of-the-time-there-is-also/) [Thomas Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boswell/) > [So, it was really important that I go do the necessary research. In doing the research, I spent time with a lot of medics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-monaghan/so-it-was-really-important-that-i-go-do-the-necessary-research-in/) [Michelle Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-monaghan/) > [ I \[...\] vowed that rather than let Alzheimer's take me, I would take it. I would live my life as ever to the full… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-vowed-that-rather-than-let-alzheimer-s-take-me-i-would-take-it-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A father who denies a child of his attention is no better than a fully-equipped medic who watches idly as a soldier bleeds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/a-father-who-denies-a-child-of-his-attention-is-no-better-than-a/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [I'd come out of the army after five years as a medic. I was a medical administrator and we ran hospitals, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/i-d-come-out-of-the-army-after-five-years-as-a-medic-i-was-a-medical/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) ## More by Studs Terkel > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“It was in ’35—we had this campaign to raise a million tax dollars. In the town of Phillips, one evening, during a blizzard, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/it-was-in-35-we-had-this-campaign-to-raise-a-million-tax-dollars-in/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-read-somewhere-that-when-a-person-takes-part-in-community-action/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Don't be an examiner, be the interested inquirer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/don-t-be-an-examiner-be-the-interested-inquirer/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Hope never trickles down. It always springs up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/hope-never-trickles-down-it-always-springs-up/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I never drove a car. I'm hopeless that way. I press the wrong buttons on the tape recorder. But if the person I'm interviewing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-never-drove-a-car-i-m-hopeless-that-way-i-press-the-wrong-buttons/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [To survive the day is triumph enough for the walking wounded among the great many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/to-survive-the-day-is-triumph-enough-for-the-walking-wounded-among/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“I’ll never forget that Depression Easter Sunday. Our son was four years old. I bought ten or fifteen cents’ worth of eggs. You didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-ll-never-forget-that-depression-easter-sunday-our-son-was-four/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [All you need in life is truth and beauty and you can find both at the Public Library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/all-you-need-in-life-is-truth-and-beauty-and-you-can-find-both-at-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Reading a book should not be a passive exercise, but rather a raucous conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/reading-a-book-should-not-be-a-passive-exercise-but-rather-a-raucous/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-hope-for-peace-and-sanity-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“The total cost of the Federal Arts Project was only $23 million. Many of these paintings, sculptures and prints were given to museums, courthouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-total-cost-of-the-federal-arts-project-was-only-23-million-many/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I find labels "liberal" and "conservative" of little meaning. Our language has become perverted along with the thoughts of many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-find-labels-liberal-and-conservative-of-little-meaning-our-language/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“Who knows Bob’s name in this outfit—let alone his lame child’s? (“The last place I worked for, I was let go,” recalls the bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/who-knows-bob-s-name-in-this-outfit-let-alone-his-lame-child-s-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [The trouble with censorship is that once it starts it is hard to stop. Just about every book contains something that someone objects to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-trouble-with-censorship-is-that-once-it-starts-it-is-hard-to-stop/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) [Explore all 142 Studs Terkel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## More Ambulance quotes > [Rita folded her arms around herself and peered up at me. “If you’d asked me three months ago I’d have said you were hitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-murphy/rita-folded-her-arms-around-herself-and-peered-up-at-me-if-you-d/) [C.E. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-murphy/) > [But where does by far the bulk, the whole ambulance load, of pain really come from? Where must it come from? Isn't the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/but-where-does-by-far-the-bulk-the-whole-ambulance-load-of-pain/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Right now, my job is that I'm like an ambulance chaser. I've got to look for movies with white guys falling out of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/right-now-my-job-is-that-i-m-like-an-ambulance-chaser-i-ve-got-to/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [If you or a family member have waited for an ambulance too long, waited for treatment for too long, I am sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/if-you-or-a-family-member-have-waited-for-an-ambulance-too-long/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I'm most proud of the ambulance service. This is emergency work. Many times Edhi ambulances are the first to arrive and save people's lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-sattar-edhi/i-m-most-proud-of-the-ambulance-service-this-is-emergency-work-many/) [Abdul Sattar Edhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-sattar-edhi/) > [I love watching people get hit in the crotch. But only if they get back up. If their teeth are bleeding, if they're really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/i-love-watching-people-get-hit-in-the-crotch-but-only-if-they-get/) [Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/) > [“I'm calling an ambulance and a priest!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-amodeo/i-m-calling-an-ambulance-and-a-priest/) L.J. Amodeo > [I'm a praying atheist. When I hear an ambulance siren, I ask for a blessing for those people in trouble, knowing that no one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/i-m-a-praying-atheist-when-i-hear-an-ambulance-siren-i-ask-for-a/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [I was in front of an ambulance the other day, and I noticed that the word ambulance was spelled in reverse print on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-was-in-front-of-an-ambulance-the-other-day-and-i-noticed-that-the/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [Hi, I’m at the Speedway at Eighty-sixth and Ditch, and I need an ambulance. The great love of my life has a malfunctioning G-tube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/hi-i-m-at-the-speedway-at-eighty-sixth-and-ditch-and-i-need-an/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Despite their authoritarian light show, those ice-cream trucks of death couldn't do any more for Perkus's murdered infatuation, his crushed crush, than could keening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/despite-their-authoritarian-light-show-those-ice-cream-trucks-of/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [“Can you hear me, Todd? There’s an ambulance on its way.” For a moment his eyes opened a little wider, and he seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/can-you-hear-me-todd-there-s-an-ambulance-on-its-way-for-a-moment-his/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [He who disagrees with me in private, call him a fool. He who disagrees with me in public, call him an ambulance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-munnery/he-who-disagrees-with-me-in-private-call-him-a-fool-he-who-disagrees/) [Simon Munnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-munnery/) > [The day we learn to allow an ambulance to pass through in traffic, might be the first step towards being a truly responsible society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boman-irani/the-day-we-learn-to-allow-an-ambulance-to-pass-through-in-traffic/) [Boman Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boman-irani/) > [I know as I'm taking my dying breath, the ambulance guy will ask me why they cancelled Action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-know-as-i-m-taking-my-dying-breath-the-ambulance-guy-will-ask-me/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) Browse all 113 Ambulance quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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