This is an article by Sam Case (not his real name).
I write as a former police officer now working in sport and health. Policed during the 80’s HIV epidemic and wasn’t even given a pair of rubber gloves.
Justifying legislation to place healthy people into forced quarantine is something that should be resisted if we truly believe in any sense of human rights and freedoms. Period. No if or buts. No saving the NHS. No excuse, never.
For years I tried to catch, prosecute and lock away violent criminals, I was quite successful. They had rights and a justice system designed to ensure their liberty was only taken when absolutely necessary. So why do we bother with trials? Because taking away someones liberty and freedoms is a very serious and awful thing to do. Last resort territory. Not something to do on shaky evidence or opinion of a bloke down the pub.
I could end almost all crime including murder, child abuse, rape and countless other nasties. I could solve road deaths, drownings, electrocutions, basically anything that causes harm and death. How? I’ll legislate to lock up the suspected rather than the guilty, I’ll stop all driving over 10mph, razor wire all open water including the ocean, fill in all garden ponds, ban baths, refuse appeals, no parole. You get the picture. My slogan would be ‘Anything Goes to Save Lives’.
With blistering speed we have descended into a downward spiral of centralised control, criminal sanctions and daft, risk-averse reasoning. All applied to ordinary folk, doing wicked things like visiting their grandchildren. Nothing to be proud of whichever way you try to justify it. We then have those individuals with no limit to their notion of self importance. They embrace the current situation with glee, often making grand public statements. I am not talking here of journalists, who are prone to exaggeration and sensationalism. Or politicians who spin and divert through fair means and foul. No, I’m talking about large public and private institutions who have fallen, lockstep, behind the central narrative without pause or question.
Only this week I received my copy of the National Trust (NT) magazine, and to my surprise it seems the NT Director General is now an epidemiologist. Wise words to welcome the reader below the clichéd thumbnail image:
But we know the only way we will beat this virus is if we all make a contribution by staying indoors
How very sad that she feels the need to lecture the population and support the lockdown. No research, no expertise (whatever that means), no consideration of what harm isolation and confinement can do, just a dogmatic pronouncement. FOLLOW OR BE DAMNED.
The NT is not alone in this blind allegiance. Take organisations that have a central role in sport, health and water safety, and well-funded sporting governing bodies. Take the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and the revered Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). These have responded with varying degrees of absurdity, panic and unquestioning support for the lockdown. Vying to outbid the current restrictions with their own list of things we should not be able to do. This is from the Chief Executive of British Triathlon:
We would encourage anyone considering open water swimming over the coming weeks to think before doing so and read our advice very carefully …
During these unprecedented times, it is vital that we think of others before ourselves and make sure we neither risk the spreading of the Covid-19 virus or place unnecessary burden on emergency services.
The phrase ‘burden on emergency services’ made me chuckle as A&E departments have been rather underused of late. No reflection on the risk and probability of spreading infection when swimming outdoors? No questioning of the message to desist in such activity, regardless of the fact that the Government encouraged it. No consideration that thousands of people use cold water immersion and swimming for mental-health issues and pain relief. No trust that swimmers – more people drown in the UK whilst out walking, running and fishing than swimming – already use their common sense and think before they swim.
British Swimming set about their own lockdown policy by initially declaring that open-water swimming was banned when it never was, and the RNLI, bless them, having had weeks to prepare new protocols, are still absent from our beaches for fear that their staff may become infected. Close the beaches! Lifeguards are mainly young and fit who regularly risk life and limb battling through surf and swell to pluck unconscious surfers and screaming kids on inflatables from the water. I know most lifeguards are willing but the organisation is in a panic.
This segues me nicely onto my role as an aquatic lifesaver. I have been reviewing the First Aid and CPR protocols issued by the Resuscitation Council UK and others including UK Search and Rescue (SAR). This is just one mad gem:
If a bystander or family member has already commenced CPR including chest compressions, and hence has likely already been exposed, consider supporting them continuing this intervention by provision of guidance at a safe distance and focusing efforts on marshalling other emergency services to scene as they arrive…
Do not use airway adjuncts, suction, rescue breaths, bag-valve-mask ventilation or high flow oxygen therapy.
(UK SAR Medical Guidence Covid 19 p. 3. Bold my emphasis.)
So it is suggested that highly trained SAR first responders should allow untrained bystanders to continue chest compressions alone, whilst they shout encouragement from a distance downwind, or should that be upwind because shouting is an aerosol generating procedure (AGP)? Maybe a megaphone from 25mm, or better still over the phone? Or just send the bin men with a body bag after seventy-two hours in case the virus persists on clothing. Then chalk the death up to Covid-19. The mind boggles. Years of first-aid awareness and community engagement flushed down the pan in an instant. I’ve already witnessed this hesitation and reluctance to help people in need. If this is the New Normal then we are all f*****.
I have asked those responsible the following:;
If we suspect that a viral infection is widespread in the community and transmitted by aerosol/droplets (AGPs), and that rescuers and health care professionals are at risk, and that this infection can cause thousands of deaths, then why have we never used these protocols for flu-like illnesses?
The ‘experts’ all remain silent on this one. Not even considered it, I suspect. A new disease called COVID Blinkered Syndrome or Covid BS for short.
Organisations including the police service could and should carry out their duties without expressing their own, often personal opinion, as to the rights and wrongs of a political decision. Make no mistake, lockdown is a political decision, it’s not science or a health policy. They all need to knuckle down and stop being unduly afraid of nature, for that is the world we inhabit. Being alive cannot be measured by a heartbeat alone, life has a 100% mortality rate.
I for one will give you or your child rescue breaths when needed, you or they will almost certainly die without them. I will happily take the risk I may get infected and die. I will do this for strangers and those I disagree with, without hesitation. Would you now do the same?
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22 thoughts on “Sam Case: Covid Blinkered Syndrome”
“….I’m talking about large public and private institutions who have fallen, lockstep, behind the central narrative without pause or question..”
The problem for all these institutions is that they are no longer free to decide policy for themselves. If ANY person or organisation refuses to pay service to the current hysteria they will be punished – often excessively.
We have seen ‘twitter-storms’ starting over some imagined insult, culminating in unconvicted people loosing their jobs and even being driven to suicide No company dare stand against the Green Blob for fear of a damaging boycott or an invasion and destruction of their premises while the police look on.
In our current connected world you only have freedom so long as you do not come to the attention of the mob. Rather reminiscent of the last days of the Roman Empire…
As an aside, ALL aquatic lifesavers venture into a dangerous environment and risk their lives whenever they undertake a rescue. Even a panicking child in a swimming pool might drown a rescuer, and I hardly need to point out the risks that life-boatmen face every time they are launched. I wonder when H&S will start to complain that their going to sea in a force 10 storm should be banned…?
Well said sir.
Would the “authorities” had half as much common sense.
Superb article.
As far as I can make out, no one need fear much from a “Twitterstorm” (I prefer to call them “twits” for obvious reasons) if they follow one simple precaution:
1. Never use Twitter.
I know I don’t, and I have never been offended by anyone else’s twits, or harmed by the consequences of my own twits.
The same simple rule applies to Twitter, Facebook, and all the rest of the mindless “social media”.
Just don’t.
Freedom and liberty are no longer valued in this country. A Covid god who sits in the sky throwing thunderbolts at anyone who dares to come out from under the bed is the way the average Briton likes it. Welcome to the New Paganism.
Yes, a great article Sam, thank you. Like many an older person, I am often to be found ruminating on the state of my country, but also the state of the Western World in general. I have few prejudices, I guess we all have some, but the way that the PC, Woke cohort can now be thrown under a bus, if they are not PC and woke enough is rather worrying. The nastiness of the left (and it is mostly the left) is amazing to see. I don’t do social media thankfully, seeing it as the main seat of the fire, and it is a cesspit – that’s a bit of a mixed idea though.
First responders of all services often have to judge risk on the fly, and do so in my opinion with great courage on many occasions. Even as a member of the public you might have to make a judgement. I am an old bloke and not a great swimmer, but if I saw a small child in the water, I would go in if I thought I had an even chance of success. What grandparent would standby, pleading for a risk assessment.
I have said before on here that I would willing live my life again (it has been wonderful), but live the next 75 years? No thank you very much. I worry for my children and grandchildren.
Bravo Sir; the most uplifting article I have read recently, though the lack of such thoughtful and relevant articles in the media – and it would appear the complete omission of such consideration by the government’s advisers – is very depressing.
David R: “I am an old bloke and not a great swimmer, but if I saw a small child in the water, I would go in …”
This brings back a recollection of an incident in South East England some years ago. One morning, a man’s body was seen floating face down in a shallow duck pond in a park. He probably had had a heart attack and collapsed into the water. The first person to notice the body called emergency services. Before long, there were ambulances, fire & rescue vehicles, even a medivac helicopter — all sitting waiting because none of the personnel on scene had a piece of paper saying they were trained to do water rescues.
A policeman arrived, and naturally proposed to wade into the shallow pond and pull out the man. He was threatened with arrest, since he too lacked that piece of paper. The man’s body continued to float around in the water, waiting for the appropriately certificated personnel.
What we are seeing with the Covid-19 Scam is a continuation of a process which has been underway for many years — bureaucrats & lawyers putting their self-justifying processes ahead of common sense and natural humanity.
In a poorer society than modern England, someone at the park would have pulled that man’s body out of the water and attempted CPR, without any thought that the victim’s relatives might sue or local authorities might prosecute. Perhaps the only solution to today’s unpleasantness will be for societies to become poorer again? Certainly, the lawyers & the bureaucrats are doing everything they can to ensure that tomorrow’s world will be poorer.
OT (ish): Some very interesting figures from America – it seems that All Cause Deaths in the US are now BELOW the average for the time of year for the last two years.
https://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=239421
Data from the CDC itself. If this trend keeps up it will fast become apparent that all the virus has done is draw forward the deaths of the very elderly and sick by a few months, and the calendar year may well end up at worst slightly above average for overall deaths, potentially even below average. Pretty damning if that turns out to be the case.
Gavin Longmuir –
Yes in the old days (there I go again), it would be accepted as best endeavours wouldn’t it. If it went wrong, you would simply ask, maybe not even out loud, “did this person do the best they could in the circumstances” – if yes, there is no case to answer.
On a less severe level. About 8 to 10 years back. A train arrived at a station with the brakes on fire. The guard/ticket collector jumped from the train and grabbed a fire extinguisher from the platform and put the fire out. He was disciplined because the extinguisher did not belong to his train company.
My Dad, who left school the day before his 14 birthday, told me in the early 90’s how my country would end up. He has been gone quarter of a century. I thought he was exaggerating the decline – as it was he was short of the mark.
Great article Sam.
Maybe we will go full circle (like fashion) and get our common sense (decency) back as the new normal.
Like Tom Walsh I don’t do social media – I prefer to look for the truth.
Punchy article. I kept shouting Yes! Yes! Yes! Loved it
Sam, good article, thanks
This x 1,000. The Left & msm support for home imprisonment for all but public sector reveals what nasty Stalin/Facsists they are and how Left infiltrated Tory MPs are
@Tom Welsh
2. But, if you do; do not respond to outrage – don’t reply, block, report to twitter. When the death threats start report to plod as Sara Vine (Gov) did
@Gavin Longmuir
+1 also the Scottish firemen forbidden to rescue peep who fell down a hole
@Jim
Thanks
Sunday Telegraph front page main story
Whut? £4-5 Billion per year PHE could only cope with five Covid-19 cases a week – way beyond appalling
Pathetically weak Hancock wouldn’t order PHE to use private sector or even Unis
No surprise, ignored by BBC Marr ‘papers review’ – PHE does no wrong
This country will be in serious trouble should we ever experience a really dangerous pandemic. This whole episode has confirmed what I’ve suspected for some time, that we live in a form of dystopia because many of the population, media and government have s**t for brains.
“This country will be in serious trouble should we ever experience a really dangerous pandemic. This whole episode has confirmed what I’ve suspected for some time, that we live in a form of dystopia because many of the population, media and government have s**t for brains.”
My guess is that ironically a more serious pandemic would be dealt with ‘better’ because the State would be emboldened to use its extensive powers more widely than it felt it could in this one. If you had a infection with a death rate of say 3-5% the State would probably close the media down, and control the flow of information quite tightly. Even browbeat the ISPs into restricting internet access significantly. And the public would support it, because the fear would be many times greater than today – the dead bodies would be being collected in every street in the land. If you didn’t have the likes of the BBC fomenting trouble all the time for the government, they might actually make better decisions, because the media reaction could be discounted and decisions made purely on what is best, not what the media will accept. Plus under Civil Contingency law the State could force people to do stuff – there would be none of this ‘bureaucracy says no’ that we get now.
Its a measure of how non-serious the current ‘crisis’ is that the State doesn’t feel the need to use its significant powers.
Locally it was very interesting to note that in response to a complaint about being slow to lift lockdown restrictions the local authority pointed out it had very few restrictions to lift as most business/organisations had closed down voluntarily, though they were now all waiting on ‘guidelines’ for re-opening. Even the local food bank would not take volunteers and donations of food from the public for fear of Covid.
The sheer mob panic and cowed compliance this has generated has surprised me, yesterday seeing people queue outside a supermarket and having to take a temperature check (non-touch scanner) and put on a mask before being allowed in, I took my business elsewhere.
Re…
“P says:
MONDAY 1ST JUNE 2020 AT 16:26
Locally it was very interesting to note that in response to a complaint about being slow to lift lockdown restrictions the local authority pointed out it had very few restrictions to lift as most business/organisations had closed down voluntarily, though they were now all waiting on ‘guidelines’ for re-opening. Even the local food bank would not take volunteers and donations of food from the public for fear of Covid.
The sheer mob panic and cowed compliance this has generated has surprised me, yesterday seeing people queue outside a supermarket and having to take a temperature check (non-touch scanner) and put on a mask before being allowed in, I took my business elsewhere.”
… martial law was ‘almost’ considered/ushered in when the Benn Act attempted to neuter the old government last October. Now we know what Boris’s martial law looks like as, in the background, a pure Brexit is allowed to rumble towards the finishing line.
Given the hole in it’s budget right now I’m sure the EU would love to extend Brexit (which means UK keeps paying) for as long as possible
Great article Sam…you are absolutely right in every respect. It is mind-blowing how ridiculous this whole situation is. I almost screamed this morning when I heard of a child getting a star at school yesterday for “not joining in and not sharing”. What made it worse was Michelle Hussain seemed to think it was funny. Utterly tragic…
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