My apologies for being so late with my post today. The past
few days have been hectic and unusual. On the weekend, I had to take a friend
to the emergency room of one of the main hospitals right downtown in my large
city.
It turned out that what she thought was the flu was
something much more serious and was admitted that night. I’ve been spending
time at the hospital since then.
In emergency, she was taken to a small room that wasn’t
large enough for me so I had to sit in the main waiting area. While sitting
there watching others who were waiting to get into emergency, I was struck by a
couple of things, the first of which was…I’m so happy that I’m healthy, because
a lot of the people in Emerg looked like they had pre-existing conditions. I
have my minor complaints, but I am so, so fortunate to be healthy.
The other thought I had was…thank God for emergency
personnel. I don’t mean the doctors and nurses in the hospital—although they
were excellent and worked non-stop—but the firefighters and EMS who came in
with people on stretchers, including one person they were performing CPR on
while running beside the stretcher. They were patient and thorough and kind.
EMS brought in one man who looked either very high or very
drunk who looked like he'd been beaten. They took him straight into the back. A minute
later, a call came over the intercom asking for Security with restraints. One
of the security guards sighed then retrieved the restraints and ran off down a
long corridor. I could almost read his mind. “It’s going to be one of those
nights.” When he returned a short while later, he appeared calm and in control.
It takes all kinds of people to make a city. One young man
came in dressed as a young woman, but it was painfully obvious he was a man and
very self-conscious. He hid behind a vending machine facing the wall. I really
felt for him.
There was a full moon that night. My ex, who was a
firefighter in this city for years, said that he was always busy on nights when
the moon was full.
My friend’s problem will require time and a lot of care to
heal. She will have to relinquish her independence for a while, which will be
hard for her, but so far, barring any negative results from more tests that are
scheduled, she will be okay. I hope I'm right. Touch wood and fingers and toes crossed.
12 comments:
My cousin is a paramedic/fireman. They do care and they go through a lot from delivering babies to dealing with multiple fatalities and injuries. You have to be a special kind of person to work with emergencies.
I am always amazed at people who can be so calm and step in when others would step aside. My oldest (14 years old) is thinking about a career in firefighting. He's also wanted to be a Marine, a cop, and a professional athlete. I think there might have been a pilot in there somewhere.
I am not good with emergencies. I'm the mom who had to have someone drive me and my son to get two stitches. I'm the mom who has to kneel down next to my son who just fainted while the coach (also the police captain)called the EMT to tell us he's probably dehydrated. Fortunately I was able to remain conscious enough to drive him for tests instead of taking us both in the ambulance.
Although, when I was teaching, I did manage to keep my cool when a girl tried to skip 5 on the monkey bars, she landed on her forehead. I grabbed my skirt to stop the gushing blood and sent another child ahead to alert the office that we were coming.
I guess I only panic if someone more capable is around.
When my daughter collapsed onto the floor one morning - apparently going from a warm horizontal bed to abruptly vertical into the cold will do that - I called for an ambulance. The paramedics were fabulous.
I've never had to watch paramedics in action (Thank God) but I know their response is usually critical for the injured. I am very thankful to them because they save lives everyday.
In our area, people often use the emergency room in lieu of going to the doctor and it's become a real problem. Some go in for sore throats and it costs loads of money because they are uninsured. Not to mention, it prevents people with severe emergencies from getting the care they need. Many ER nurses have told me it's a growig problem but they can't turn people away.
Glad your friend will be okay. She's lucky to have you, Mary.
Hey Liz, Using the emergency room for colds and sore throats is also a fault of the insured. We have a great medical plan that covers us only in Hawaii and where there are Kaiser clinics. My son is in AZ at school and is not covered. I was told that he has to go to urgent care or ER to get help before the insurance will cover him. It's a very sad sitution that people have to go to ER instead of doctors and like you said takes away or limits ER care from those who really need it.
Snookie, you are so right. It takes a special kind of person to deal with emergencies effectively without falling apart.
Kristina, I think you are so right about taking charge when there is no one else around to do so. Many of us rise to the occasion when we have to.
Mary, you must have been terrified when your daughter collapsed. I'm glad your experience with the paramedics was so good.
Liz, it's such a shame when the ER is used as a substitute for visiting the doctor.
I did notice that a few of the people who had less minor problems got tired of the long wait on the weekend and left before seeing a doctor or nurse, so their problems really couldn't have been too serious.
Mary, I hope your friend finds healing. She is lucky to have you. I dare say some of what you witnessed will inspire a great story or two!
Geri, all of life is fodder for writers, isn't it?
I hope your friend is doing better!
I’ve had some weird emergency room trips (including being taken there in an ambulance three times!), not all of them here in Australia (I wouldn’t recommend visiting a hospital in central London after midnight). You really never know what you’re going to see.
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