View Full Version : emergencies - first aid situations
yendor28
02-07-06, 01:53 AM
Hi,
How would you deal with these?
Ambulance is fine
What about things that you would use a car for. Taxi? What about the delay waiting for a taxi?
Especially interested in those with kids & elderly!
Big Helmet
02-07-06, 04:00 AM
Hi,
How would you deal with these?
Ambulance is fine
What about things that you would use a car for. Taxi? What about the delay waiting for a taxi?
Especially interested in those with kids & elderly!
I'm not sure I understand the question. In any situation where waiting for a taxi would be dangerous, an ambulance is the best answer, whether or not you own your own car.
I do know what you mean. And I agree that it is a problem that should be planned for.
Some urgent medical situations do not require an ambulance, but still need rapid transport. Examples would be cutting your finger badly enough to need stitches. Or fever and vomiting on a weekend when the doctor office is closed.
Some ideas: I have called cabs and told the dispatcher that it is a medical emergency and told the name of the hospital we were going to. A cab arrived quickly, and the driver even cell phoned the hospital to be waiting with a wheelchair. He also gave me his name and said to request him when we were ready to go back home. He got a real nice tip! :)
Arrange to be picked up with friends or relatives in advance of the emergency. Most would be happy to help.
If you're temporarily or permanently disabled and need transport to medical appointments, most bus companies have accessible vans to pick you up at your house. These rides have to be arranged in advance.
I hope this helps. I'm sure others will have ideas too.
What about things that you would use a car for. Taxi? What about the delay waiting for a taxi?
Especially interested in those with kids & elderly!
Where I live the Taxi's have a reputation for being quicker than an ambulance, so if I don't need the life support stuff I'd call a cab. Also, during my one ambulance ride, with a broken clavicle, the stiff suspension caused a lot of pain. The medics insisted on a neck brace and the brace pushed down into the splintered bones with every bump. The speed bumps at the emergency room entrance were horrible.
Sir Lunch-a-lot
02-07-06, 06:06 PM
Also, during my one ambulance ride, with a broken clavicle, the stiff suspension caused a lot of pain.
Belgium! I'd hate to be in your shoes. Is it true that you can't move your arm with a broken clavicle?
Anyway, I don't know what I would necissarily do if I were entirely car free out in a small town 30km away from any hospital... of course, if it were bad enough that I couldn't even drive in to the hospital (like if I cut off a finger) and needed medical attention, then an ambulance would be an order, car free or non-car free (either that or call upon a relative or something).
If car-free were was wide spread as owning-a-car in North America, then I think that there would be more small town hospitals and such, just like in de olden dayz.
Is it true that you can't move your arm with a broken clavicle?
No, and Yes. Broken clavicle is a common biker injury, I have broken both right and left side in bike accidents. The break in 2 places didn't hurt as bad as the single break. Doctors said that the pain depends on what the splinters do inside and how old you are. Aparently young people have more cartilege and the thing heals up better but old people have to keep the arm more immobilized. If you feel your clavicle and move your arm you can feel that certain motions that put torsional or compression stress on it would just wrench the splinters through the surrounding tissue while other motions are OK. The doctor said the three piece break probably allowed more give without pinching nerves or whatever. I could juggle balls but not do behind the back tricks while recovering from the single break. I wouldn't even consider swimming. Actually I got better at some juggling tricks by practicing with my arm in a sling. The sling kept my throws more consistent.
yendor28
02-07-06, 08:40 PM
I do know what you mean. And I agree that it is a problem that should be planned for.
Some urgent medical situations do not require an ambulance, but still need rapid transport. Examples would be cutting your finger badly enough to need stitches. Or fever and vomiting on a weekend when the doctor office is closed.
Some ideas: I have called cabs and told the dispatcher that it is a medical emergency and told the name of the hospital we were going to. A cab arrived quickly, and the driver even cell phoned the hospital to be waiting with a wheelchair. He also gave me his name and said to request him when we were ready to go back home. He got a real nice tip! :)
Arrange to be picked up with friends or relatives in advance of the emergency. Most would be happy to help.
If you're temporarily or permanently disabled and need transport to medical appointments, most bus companies have accessible vans to pick you up at your house. These rides have to be arranged in advance.
I hope this helps. I'm sure others will have ideas too.
Awesome!
brokenrobot
02-07-06, 08:44 PM
Some urgent medical situations do not require an ambulance, but still need rapid transport. Examples would be cutting your finger badly enough to need stitches.
Last time I cut myself and needed stitches (in the base of my thumb) I biked to the ER.
Last time I cut myself and needed stitches (in the base of my thumb) I biked to the ER.
:eek:
OK, but please don't do that unless the bleeding is well controlled!
brokenrobot
02-08-06, 02:32 PM
:eek:
OK, but please don't do that unless the bleeding is well controlled!
I figured it's a 10-minute ride either way - bike, cab, or ambulance ;)
I figured it's a 10-minute ride either way - bike, cab, or ambulance ;)
Well sure, but fainting on your bike would not be real cool. :eek:
Eatadonut
02-09-06, 01:31 PM
Well sure, but fainting on your bike would not be real cool. :eek:
Thought about that today, actually. I'm giving blood this afternoon, but it's only about 3 miles home, and I've got plenty blood to spare.
Besides, fainting is for pansies.
Thought about that today, actually. I'm giving blood this afternoon, but it's only about 3 miles home, and I've got plenty blood to spare.
Besides, fainting is for pansies.
If by pansies you mean gay men, I am one. I'm pretty tough nonetheless. :p
But I did faint about two hours after I limped home from a bad bike accident. thank goodnss my stepson called an ambulance then! My HR and blood pressure were incredibly low because I was in shock, and they kept me in the hospital two nights. They also discovered a broken wrist that I would not otherwise have known about. (Broken wrists are common in bike accidents, and often don't caus much pain.) Treatment for that saved me a lot of trouble down the road.
Eatadonut
02-09-06, 03:16 PM
If by pansies you mean gay men, I am one. I'm pretty tough nonetheless. :p
But I did faint about two hours after I limped home from a bad bike accident. thank goodnss my stepson called an ambulance then! My HR and blood pressure were incredibly low because I was in shock, and they kept me in the hospital two nights. They also discovered a broken wrist that I would not otherwise have known about. (Broken wrists are common in bike accidents, and often don't caus much pain.) Treatment for that saved me a lot of trouble down the road.
I do make it a habit to call 911 any time someone stumbles into the room and faints :D I myself have only fainted once, and that's because I was in a headlock I didn't escape fast enough. With friends like those...
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