I know how you feel, Paul. When I was 16 my older brother (17) bounced his helmetless head off the side of a station wagon. It wasn't really the old duffer's fault who pulled out from the stop sign in front of him, he was going too fast and not paying attention.
It is the most scared I have ever been in my life, seeing my brother lying in a gutter bleeding, unconcious, making a sucking sound, unable to breathe. I paniced, I couldn't touch him...what if his neck was broken? I could kill him by moving him. Two people started to pick him up, and I screamed "Don't move him!!" They gently let him back down. He wasn't breathing, I had to do something, I couldn't do anything, what to do, total brain lockup.
Then his passenger (unhurt) cupped one hand behind my brother's neck and opened his mouth with his other hand (took the broken tooth out). With the airway clear, he began breathing. Mine ended better than yours, he had a fractured sinus, concussion and broken tooth.
But nobody wants to go there, that kind of feeling. You have to know what to do, and be ready to act decisively. Also, I think using some leadership helps. When your buddy wants to go for a spin after drinking, or is just riding like a moron, you have to put your foot down and say, don't be an idiot. Just always try to improve your odds.
