Part1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
We make progress towards the Holy Hospital silently but lighting up the night with blue strobes. SoItIs* is trying his best to get the balance between speed and smooth travel.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10......
"Hang on, stop a minute" Delboy* from the RRU has come in the back with me. There is too much for one person to do.
He suctions the frothy red blood coming from her airway. We've been doing this routine since we left the scene. I can't get anymore than 10 compression in before needing to stop and clear her airway.
Airway, Breathing, Circulation...... thats your priority......... we're finding it difficult to get past A but we continue in the face of certain failure.
I hold on to the yellow bar that runs along the roof of the interior ambulance as we negotiate another roundabout. I know where we are and how far from the hospital we are just through awareness of this road, having driven it thousands of times.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10................
Another pause. Blood is falling from the spinal board in the floor around the trolley.
C, control of haemorrhage. Her abdomen is growing before my eyes, blood continues to come from her lungs and the blood matting her hair masks the further loss from the horrific head injury that is the only external wound on her. This haemorrhage is beyond the level we can deal with, so we continue to concentrate on A and B
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...........
I leave a bloody hand print on the ambulance wall as we take the long sweeping corner which indicates we are approx 4 minutes from the hospital.
As we leave the corner and I begin to compress and count again.
I notice her wrist is broken.
Its amazing what the mind latches onto and remembers.
__________________________________________________________
I will have to leave a longer interval for part 6. I haven't found a way of writing the final part without the job, and therefore myself, becoming instantly recognisable. Also finding the words to convey the scene we were faced with aren't quite within my literary capabilities yet. Add to that the resulting investigation still being under review and I have to leave it for some time.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
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9 comments:
/QUOTE "Its amazing what the mind latches onto and remembers" /ENDQUOTE
I feel in situations like this, your thinking processes "speed up", like in the moments just before you have a car crash; time seems to extend and move more slowly, leading to the "slow-motion" effect a large number of people describe.
Although it seems odd to you, I think it's just this effect "allowing" your thought processes to pick up on everything, which wouldn't happen normally.
Couple of things cross my mind;
Does the driver not think to / supposed to call out "sharp left!" when they are about to negotiate a corner / roundabout etc., much like a co-driver would in a rally car? Makes sense to me...
It's a shame no one has come up with some sort of ceiling harness that you could connect yourself to, much like a baby bouncer, but far less restrictive, to "take" the sharp turns and allow you to remain on your feet.
Have a look at this link under the part; "Does Time Fly?" for some interesting reading, and the BBC's page for the series of "Time" documentaries is here.
Looking forward to part 6, if you think of a way to post it.
James UK
During our emergency driver training we're not specifically told to commentate our driving. In these kind of jobs I wouldn't have taken any notice of him anyway, far too busy concentrating on what was happening in the back. Also as a driver in those situations you tend to get the dreaded 'Red Mist' and its all you can do to concentrate on keeping safe.
As for the harness idea........... genius! But I'm not sure the baby bouncer comparison was the most appropriate! I will look at the BBC link and get back to you!
OK, thanks for that.
I suppose I was thinking of something akin to a hang glider harness, in that you could "lean" into it with your feet still on the ground, work on the paitent, but it would reduce the sudden "jolts"; smoothing them out. Supporting your weight, if you see what I mean.
Just a thought anyway! ;-)
Ha, yeah I can see it working to a point! I use to do climbing so could come up with and patant a design!! Citing yourself as the idea person of course!
The time article is interesting, I've had many instances of my perception of time being altered in this job. Luckily we have a computer logging all the important times for us to piece it together afterwards!
These harnesses exist for roofers and others working at a height. They have an inertia reel so you can move around but it locks in case of a sudden stop. They are not expensive.
2 of my colleagues were hurt in the back because someone pulled in front of them on a junction. One landed on the other as the driver braked sharply.
Wel I must say......... while writing this I had no idea it would turn into a discussion about the benefit of harnesses!
I have to say the way you write these particular posts makes it very clear to me that there is no way that i could do the job you do. although you know i really enjoy your post and i wanted to read the rest of this series im begining to think maybe i dont want to know what you found in anymore detail that i already do.....
see you soon
C
C......... unfortunately as the friend of a couple of Technicians you are in the firing line for us off loading the bad jobs, even if its just because your in the area! So I knew you would appreciate the need for me to delay the final part.
While writing the last bit I thought "C will be disappointed!
Nothing worse than doing CPR in a moving vehicle. Especially when you're struggling to maintain the airway. Been there myself, Car v Padestrian with Maxillo facial injuries. Not easy!
As for the harness idea....pure genius! Although I have to giggle at the thought of some of our 'larger' colleagues using one.
Hope you're doing well
Take care and take it easy.
I'm off to look out my climbing harness and a bungee cord!!!
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