When Did a Useless Piece of Knowledge Save Your Life or Someone You Know?

It often happens that the most obscure pieces of information become invaluable in unexpected circumstances. This article explores a real-life example of how a seemingly insignificant detail from a high school chemistry class helped a street cop rescue a stranded motorist. Witness the power of knowledge recall and the real-world application of scientific principles.

The Unlikely Moment

Some knowledge sticks in the back of our minds, not because it’s absolutely vital, but because it's interesting or just seems cool. One such fact, a minor detail from my high school chemistry class, played a significant role in a real-life situation almost 15 years later.

In my high school days, we learned that a liquid can be carefully poured from one container to another if the liquid is directed down a glass rod. This was a fun, almost trivial fact that I kept tucked away in the recesses of my memory - perfect for a trivia night, perhaps, but not something I ever expected to use in a serious, life-saving situation.

The Crisis on the Interstate

Fast forward to a hot summer day, 15 years after my high school days. I was a street cop, and I received a dispatch to check on a disabled vehicle on the side of the interstate. The young man who drove the car had run out of gas. His gas cans, however, were equipped with a spout, but he had forgotten a paper long snouted funnel. The spout would not fit through the entry pipe flap on the gas tank, causing the gas to spill messily instead of flowing into the tank.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, and with no apparent solution in sight, I found myself hoping for some stroke of inspiration. While standing there, gazing at the trees near the highway, a nagging memory surfaced. That chemistry class factoid suddenly came to the forefront of my mind.

Problem-Solving with a Twist

With the young man's safety in mind, I carefully climbed over the guard rail to find a suitable object. After a search, I spotted an 18-inch dry and fairly straight stick. Then, after performing a quick and crude surgery, carving away the bark, I ingeniously positioned this improvised tool to direct the gas flow.

The stick was placed across the opening of the gas can, with the other end maneuvered through the gas tank pipe flap. By very slowly and carefully lifting the gas can, the gas trickled down the straight stick, bypassing the flap and directly into the tank. The process required patience, as the flow rate had to be carefully matched with the speed at which the stick lifted. After a considerable amount of time and effort, we managed to transfer approximately 85-90% of the gas back into the tank.

Once the challenge was overcome, we helped the young motorist safely restart his vehicle and back onto the interstate. As we drove to the nearest trash can to dispose of my now gasoline-soaked rod, I couldn't help but feel gratitude towards my high school chemistry teacher, Mrs. Boone.

The Lesson in Knowledge Recall

Stories like these remind us of the power of knowledge recall and the real-world application of scientific principles. In many professions, from engineering to medicine, a detailed understanding of one's field can be crucial in emergency situations where quick thinking and resourcefulness are necessary.

So, the next time you find yourself learning a "useless" piece of information, take a moment to absorb it. You never know when it might save the day!

Thank you, Mrs. Boone!

Psalms 133:1 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!