Hit and run, in reverse
You may be post-call, but you are always on call as a doctor.
I had thought about this statement once or twice before boarding an airplane in fear that a fellow passenger might choke on the inflight meal, get injured in the minuscule bathroom or worse, have a heart attack (which as a pediatrician, I couldn't say I really know how to fix on a plane or elsewhere). Luckily, being called to service has happened to me infrequently.
This morning I was at the gym after a tough 13 hour night shift, not too long, but I was the senior on the floor. This means I was THE doctor in charge, making sure that all 24 patients lived through the night. I was making the critical decisions, and even patted myself on the back this AM for going with my instincts and with G-d's help, helping a very sick baby out of the woods all by myself. I am not bragging, but it is OK to be happy with yourself and Hashem, of course, once in a while :)
I didn't really want to run today but I guess I was meant to, in fact after a little 5 minute warm up I decided to take a rest for a 1/2 hour (watching TV in the gym lounge before starting to run, how fun and indulgent!)
Somehow I did my run, it wasn't too bad, and I was cooling down and looking around when I heard the yelp I dreaded.
HELP ME, SOMEONE!!! behind me a middle aged woman was struggling on a treadmill going at Marathon speed, she then fell, got thrown off, hit her head and was out. Not thinking, I jumped from my treadmill, almost falling myself and repeated over on my head, "airway breathing circulation."
In luck, she was breathing, airway seemed stable and she opened her eyes and said "I'm ok".
Her lip was bleeding, her knees looked badly scraped, but I thought shed be ok. I asked the usual questions, found out she's non medicated, no medical history, and had no chest pain or dizziness. She thought she pressed the wrong button and therefore made the treadmill fly. I got her sitting, she still seemed nervous, but ok for a minute and then..
Her face went pale, her eyes closed and she slowly slumped to the floor in her daughter's arms.
I was freaking out, but a group of bystanders were looking at me, "do something" I guess they saw my T Shirt which read "X- University School of med" . I called for help, I cried internally and wished to be back in med school behind the safety of my desk and textbooks..
The gym had no emergency kit to be found! I had no tools, but my hands, so I put them to work. She was breathing well, had a strong regular pulse which I could feel at her wrists, so I knew her pressure must be ok for now, she was warm, her perfusion was good, not yet in shock, phew!
She opened her eyes and again said " I'm Ok" Then EMS showed up. A female EMS barked at the patient, "where did you hit your head" the patient couldn't speak so well, so I started to say "well, she was on the treadmill and.." again she barked " duh, of course she's on the treadmill, now out of my way" .. I tried to explain, "but I am a doctor, I witnessed, I..." I was shoved by a large orange bag in her hands. Clearly a well trained EMT, she didn't even open her bag to start assessing the patient, and just stormed away muttering about the damn backup not responding to her call.
In the end the patient turned and thanked me as she was wheeled away. It turned out she is an OR nurse at my hospital. She wanted to repay me for being with her, I said to her. "the best thanks would be to be good to the residents and the medical students in the OR , they appreciate a smile and simple kindness more than anything else"
I had thought about this statement once or twice before boarding an airplane in fear that a fellow passenger might choke on the inflight meal, get injured in the minuscule bathroom or worse, have a heart attack (which as a pediatrician, I couldn't say I really know how to fix on a plane or elsewhere). Luckily, being called to service has happened to me infrequently.
This morning I was at the gym after a tough 13 hour night shift, not too long, but I was the senior on the floor. This means I was THE doctor in charge, making sure that all 24 patients lived through the night. I was making the critical decisions, and even patted myself on the back this AM for going with my instincts and with G-d's help, helping a very sick baby out of the woods all by myself. I am not bragging, but it is OK to be happy with yourself and Hashem, of course, once in a while :)
I didn't really want to run today but I guess I was meant to, in fact after a little 5 minute warm up I decided to take a rest for a 1/2 hour (watching TV in the gym lounge before starting to run, how fun and indulgent!)
Somehow I did my run, it wasn't too bad, and I was cooling down and looking around when I heard the yelp I dreaded.
HELP ME, SOMEONE!!! behind me a middle aged woman was struggling on a treadmill going at Marathon speed, she then fell, got thrown off, hit her head and was out. Not thinking, I jumped from my treadmill, almost falling myself and repeated over on my head, "airway breathing circulation."
In luck, she was breathing, airway seemed stable and she opened her eyes and said "I'm ok".
Her lip was bleeding, her knees looked badly scraped, but I thought shed be ok. I asked the usual questions, found out she's non medicated, no medical history, and had no chest pain or dizziness. She thought she pressed the wrong button and therefore made the treadmill fly. I got her sitting, she still seemed nervous, but ok for a minute and then..
Her face went pale, her eyes closed and she slowly slumped to the floor in her daughter's arms.
I was freaking out, but a group of bystanders were looking at me, "do something" I guess they saw my T Shirt which read "X- University School of med" . I called for help, I cried internally and wished to be back in med school behind the safety of my desk and textbooks..
The gym had no emergency kit to be found! I had no tools, but my hands, so I put them to work. She was breathing well, had a strong regular pulse which I could feel at her wrists, so I knew her pressure must be ok for now, she was warm, her perfusion was good, not yet in shock, phew!
She opened her eyes and again said " I'm Ok" Then EMS showed up. A female EMS barked at the patient, "where did you hit your head" the patient couldn't speak so well, so I started to say "well, she was on the treadmill and.." again she barked " duh, of course she's on the treadmill, now out of my way" .. I tried to explain, "but I am a doctor, I witnessed, I..." I was shoved by a large orange bag in her hands. Clearly a well trained EMT, she didn't even open her bag to start assessing the patient, and just stormed away muttering about the damn backup not responding to her call.
In the end the patient turned and thanked me as she was wheeled away. It turned out she is an OR nurse at my hospital. She wanted to repay me for being with her, I said to her. "the best thanks would be to be good to the residents and the medical students in the OR , they appreciate a smile and simple kindness more than anything else"
PS, that is a phot I took on safari in South Africa, life should be so serene!
posted by 29 and mighy fine at 7:01 AM
1 comments
