Betty Brewer
Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2005
- Posts
- 4,778
Ray D said:I had a ?significant event,? yesterday. It was a ?wake up? call! My whole family knew about it, within minutes, as did the neighbors and a lot of friends.
Ray.
A very valuable story and warning for all of us to heed. Glad you are OK!
On October 4,2006 I also had an "opportunity " to use the 911 system. Each month I make a trip to Mesa to care for my 73 year old aunt. She had a stroke in 1998 that left her with significant language expression deficits so I make her phone calls and do bills for her. She had not been feeling well and was more easily confused so I took her to primary care physician where she was weighed, blood pressure monitored , labs done and an ex ray done for a bruised rib. I took notes during her exam. At 5 pm that evening we were enjoying a glass of wine when she went stiff and rolled her upper body over onto a table. Her eyes were open but only a glassy stare existed. While I know the three questions to ask if someone is having a stroke, this was clearly a problem so without hesitation I picked up phone and called 911. Paramedics were there within 4 minutes. It was a good call as she had a TIA (trans aschemic attack) or small stroke. She is home now and we have home health caregivers coming into her home daily.
Here are some things that worked well in this emergency.
I knew her address to confirm with 911 operator.
I knew her birthday and age.
I knew her social security number.
I knew what she had last eaten and when.
I knew her weight and blood pressure as of that morning.
I handed the paramedics a list of her current medications and dosage.
I knew the name of her primary care physician and phone number.
I knew she had a DNR order on file with her physician.
I had the phone numbers of family I needed to contact programmed into my phone so I did not have to search for numbers in my panic and stress.
My cell phone was fully charged.
Things that did not work so well were
I was glad that I only had had only one glass of wine becaue I never ever drive when drinking and I wanted to have my independence with my own car. Otherwise I would have ridden with her in the ambulance.
I was not prepared for the anger she expressed toward me for her hospitalization. It was as if her illness had become my fault. I was not prepared for the resistance she still gives toward any efforts to help her. It is terrible thing to lose your health but I was fortunate to have felt so very prepared with the 911 issues.
I encourage everyone to get a little organized as you never know.....
Betty Brewer