"or everyone will stand around like a bunch of cattle staring at a new person in their field."
Isn't that the truth!
Been there. Done that. *sigh*
Maybe sometimes, but not always. I was witness to, or perhaps marginally involved in, a moderately gruesome auto accident. A pickup going about 45, T-boned a mid size Mercury (the old heavy built style). The young lady driving the Mercury was knocked unconcious, and probably had a significant concussion. I was so close I was first to the side of her vehicle, and began observing her vital signs. She was breathing and her was beating, so I figured best to leave her alone. She was upright , so her airway was clear, and was only bleeding from an ear (not good I know). Before I could turn around to request someone to call 911 (this was before cell phones) someone reported that they already had. Ditto with asking for a blanket to cover her up, one was already out of a nearby home and on the way. Basically I just talked to her, continued monitoring her breathing and heartbeat (by observation of the pulse in her neck) until the fire truck and ambulance arrived. Then I removed my upper half from her car window, and backed away. A guy in the crowd said, "you did the right things, I'm a former Vietnam era Army medic". I wanted to punch him right in the face, but I just asked "Why weren't you up there" his answer, "You were already doing what I could have done".
Bottom line, no everyone are sheeple, at least in Texas.