Pardon me while I perspire a bit
I was just settling in for an evening's perusal online. Of course, it didn't get far. The power went out for about three minutes, then came back on. I restarted the computer and turned the fan back on (if it loses power it defaults completely OFF, which is a nice safety feature). Then I started wondering if I was going to get a page for the fire department, so I put my shoes on and stashed my department ID in my back pocket.
I'm getting better at this.
BEEBEEBEEBEEBEEBEEBEEBEEP
"One car motor-vehicle accident, car into a tree."
The crash was about a quarter mile north of where they originally reported it. I took one look at the car and beelined for the entrapped driver. A few questions and answers later, and I made a quick decision.
"Rescue to Car 1, start a helicopter."
We wound up getting access to the patient by taking the door off the car using the Jaws. The driver (sole occupant, seat belt on, air bag deployed) was exceptionally fortunate, considering the condition of the car: the only obvious injury was a definite broken leg. But based on some past medical history, I kept the helicopter coming. We got the driver out and immobilized, the local ambulance started routine ALS procedures (IV access, cardiac monitoring), the helo arrived and did their thing, and within about 25 minutes of our arrival on scene, the patient was on the way to the area Trauma Center.
I'm hoping to get an update tomorrow while I'm at work. The odds are that I'll get into the Trauma Center at some point during my shift, so I'll ask a few discreet questions and see if I can get at least a general statement of condition and the extent of injury. HIPAA might work against me, though...but questions are still free.
Oh, and the power outage? The car bumped the power pole on its way to hitting the tree. I had a really, really hard time finding where the power pole had even been touched. But there was a definite paint mark on it, in a location that shouldn't see paint. So apparently the car hit the pole hard enough to trip the automatic breaker somewhere along the line, but the breaker reset itself without any problems, and there was so little damage to the pole that it was a non-issue.
Now I really need a shower, and a good cool drink. (Note to self, pick up some lemonade mix on the way home tomorrow evening.)
I'll see about sneaking back online in a little while. Right now, I feel...disgusting.
*poof*
I'm getting better at this.
BEEBEEBEEBEEBEEBEEBEEBEEP
"One car motor-vehicle accident, car into a tree."
The crash was about a quarter mile north of where they originally reported it. I took one look at the car and beelined for the entrapped driver. A few questions and answers later, and I made a quick decision.
"Rescue to Car 1, start a helicopter."
We wound up getting access to the patient by taking the door off the car using the Jaws. The driver (sole occupant, seat belt on, air bag deployed) was exceptionally fortunate, considering the condition of the car: the only obvious injury was a definite broken leg. But based on some past medical history, I kept the helicopter coming. We got the driver out and immobilized, the local ambulance started routine ALS procedures (IV access, cardiac monitoring), the helo arrived and did their thing, and within about 25 minutes of our arrival on scene, the patient was on the way to the area Trauma Center.
I'm hoping to get an update tomorrow while I'm at work. The odds are that I'll get into the Trauma Center at some point during my shift, so I'll ask a few discreet questions and see if I can get at least a general statement of condition and the extent of injury. HIPAA might work against me, though...but questions are still free.
Oh, and the power outage? The car bumped the power pole on its way to hitting the tree. I had a really, really hard time finding where the power pole had even been touched. But there was a definite paint mark on it, in a location that shouldn't see paint. So apparently the car hit the pole hard enough to trip the automatic breaker somewhere along the line, but the breaker reset itself without any problems, and there was so little damage to the pole that it was a non-issue.
Now I really need a shower, and a good cool drink. (Note to self, pick up some lemonade mix on the way home tomorrow evening.)
I'll see about sneaking back online in a little while. Right now, I feel...disgusting.
*poof*