Five Minutes of Social Media Fame Versus a Human Life

First aid instructor Alise Jonāte has voiced concern about how people react to accidents in public spaces. In an interview, she says she would not want to end up in intensive care after a serious accident and later learn that a bystander had filmed the scene instead of helping her.

According to Jonāte, several recent traffic accidents have sparked debate about whether society actually knows how to act in crisis situations. Often, she says, the first reaction to an accident is not an attempt to assist the injured person, but reaching for a phone to capture video or photos of the scene.

Chasing attention online

This behaviour, the instructor believes, reflects a broader trend — a desire for attention on social media at the exact moment when real action, not passive observation, is needed. Footage recorded at accident scenes often ends up online, bringing brief attention to whoever posted it while the injured person is left without timely help.

The conversation with Jonāte also touches on the wider importance of first aid skills and being prepared to act when it truly matters. She stresses that everyone would benefit from learning at least basic first aid, so that in a crisis they can offer real help rather than becoming a passive onlooker with a phone in hand.