Good Samaritan?

I was walking home from Weight Watchers this morning (I'd attended the Tuesday morning rather than Wednesday evening meeting this week, which involves a 30 minute walk there and back, no bad thing for the ol' weight loss!) when I came across an old(ish - maybe 55-60-65?) lady and a member of the public. Nothing unusual in that except that the member of the public was on her phone, talking to the emergency services and the older lady was lying on the ground, legs partially entwined in her tipped over mobility scooter!

Leaping into nurse mode, I immediately looked around for the emergency call button or another member of staff... Damnit!

Our code of conduct as nurses suggests that we should attend any accident we spot when out and about in general. We are expected to provide instant support and 'first aid' as appropriate. This is all well and good but as nurses, we are often used to working in environments with other colleagues and equipment we may need to hand! I don't carry a first aid kit in my bag and we are not trained first aiders!

However, the basics did come flooding back to me... I immediately ensured someone was calling for support (which she already was) and half listened in on her giving details whilst I checked the safety of the environment and proceeded to assess the 'patient'.

She was moaning and groaning, showing that she was still breathing and she had a pulse that felt reasonable (I didn't time it but just checked it was there and stable!) I engaged her in conversation as much as possible to find out how responsive she was. (Her speech was notably slurred and her mouth looked like it had a slight droop on the right hand side, indicating that there may be a weakness generally - this tallied with her ability to squeeze with her left hand but not her right.)

I checked her head for signs of trauma, finding a bump but no obvious wounds and checked the rest of her as well as possible for obvious injury, despite the awkward but stable position she was in (avoid moving the casualty unless it is unsafe to leave them where they are!). She was in pain but not obviously cut or bleeding.

Her colour was pale but not cyanosed (and I later ascertained there was no inhaler in her bag to indicate asthma / COPD!). She was incoherent to start, unable to answers questions in recognisable words but gradually began giving slightly more appropriate responses.

We checked her bag for indications of identity, finding a card with her surname on which she confirmed as correct and I took my place, securing her head, talking to her and comforting until the ambulance arrived.

The ambulance crew were of course marvellous, taking control of the situation though they still asked for my help with a few things (holding the oxygen & moving the casualty - I was a member of the public to them of course!) and as she began to come round a little more, they found her phone, contacted her daughter (I noted that they wrote down that she had a brain tumor, causing a generalised right sided weakness - didn't I say so!) and ascertained her medication. As they were, of course, well in control I offered to return the woman's mobility scooter to her home as we had by then got her address and the local postman, having stopped to help also, was able to give me directions! Off they headed in the direction of the hospital as I worked my way back over the ground the woman had travelled that morning (I gave up trying to walk next to teh scooter, which is supprisingly difficult to control like that and rode it most of the way - accompanied by odd looks from local folk!)

Thank fully her neighbours and granddaughter were on hand for me to hand over the scooter and keys when I got there and let them know the scant details I had, reassuring them she was concious!

This may not be a breakthrough in medicine or even a heroic step forward by day to day standards but as this is the first accident I've come across, I'm pleased that I did everything I could appropriately. I have always felt uncomfortable with the rule that means we have to provide support (a bloody good reason not to travel to and from work in uniform, as if you're spotted not helping you can get in trouble!) but was pleased that my training and knowledge didn't abandon me totally. This was a simple accident but still enough to task my memory.

Oh, and I'd lost 1.5lb at Weight Watchers, hitting my 10% weight loss goal! What a good day (for me, not for her obviously!) Jxx

More pain!

Hot on the heels of the toe incident (which flaired up again last Thursday, making me miss a days work due to walking difficulties) I've managed to trip over today and bash my knee, causing a nice red swelling bruise! (Hopefully nothing worse!) I just don't seem to bounce quite as much as I used to! Surely I'm not getting old...?

Toe wise, I had blood taken last week and now need to wait for the results... The GP appeared uninspired by my complaint and suggested that they wouldn't treat gout (if that is what it is) long term but simply manage the flair ups with anti-inflammatories - all well and good but it takes a week to get an appointment with teh GP and the flair ups only last 12-24 hours. I'm also not happy at the thought of having to take time off work on a semi-regular basis - I've got too much to do! I may be inclined to switch GP practices if I don't feel happier after my next contact...!

In other news, We're on an antique spending spree of sorts at the moment... Bakerlite Telephone, Two Mantle clocks, a barometer and another barometer-thingy all in our possesion or on the way... Pictures to follow!

Eurovision in less than a week - our dismal entry I can't imagine making a dent on the competition but our annual Eurovision-party, tihs year in Coventry is well into the planning... I'm presuming there'll be a knockout stage again during the week so Scoresheets won't be produced till last minute as I'm working Thursday / Friday! Still, it's a big night to look forward to, in the good company of friends and Sir Terry! Jxx

A week...

Sorry, it's been nearly a week since my last post (well, five days - that's 5/7 of a week!) but not a real lot has happened in that time - we cancelled a weekend away because of my toe, which has improved thankfully but I'm keeping my GP appointment next Monday to discuss long term treatment 'cos this ain't he first time it's been bad.

The toe improvement means I've been able to properly Wii Fit and it's great! The balance board is very clever and whilst my Wii Fit age may be nine years greater than my actual age, I should have some fun improving it! Hula, skiing, Step classes, Press Ups - I'm knackered at the thought of it again but determined to keep up the momentum! besides, Weight Watchers tonight is likely to be a disaster - I'll need the Wii Fit to get me back on track for next week!

I'm now officially a moderator on the Torchwood Forum... Well, on probation for six weeks - gotta make sure I check in regularly and keep track of the shenanigans of the members... AS well as balancing a work / social life mix... I'm sure I've got enough time for everything - what with D's birthday next week - which I've got pretty much all wrapped up - Hehe!

Got a new digital camera (yeah, another gadget) but the old one had such a teeny tiny screen that you couldn't show people the photo's proper on nights out and that's what everyone expects nowadays...? So, going against the Digital SLR grain, we've got another Nikon compact (Our Dig SLR's are Canons!) Coolpix s210 - basically a thinner, prettier version of the old Coolpix we had before (that still works but is battered and old looking and not beautiful enough to be seen in public with!)

Will be testing it's functions in a few weeks when we go on a Chinese buffet meal with work... Keep an eye on my Facebook pages for shots from that! It's also got video so, in response to D capturing my Wii Hula efforts last night, I'll be watching for the right moment to shoot embarrassing Wii footage of him also! I've already got some shots of the In-Laws bowling that're fun! Hehe!

Take care for now - I'll try and check back soon! Jxx