In the neighborhood
Yesterday, I was heading home to grab some Girl Scout cookies for one of the girls in my troop, and I happened to notice a guy RUNNING down the street. What caught my eye wasn't his running, it was that he had no shoes on, and he appeared to be running in fear. In fear of what? Nothing that I could see.
A few minutes later, I am heading down our main drag here in Antelope, and I see this same guy on the side of the road, sitting down. And another man is holding him down, having grabbed the hood of his sweater and twisting it a bit to keep the other guy down. He looks around with what I refer to as "pleading eyes", so I pulled over and got out. I asked him if everything was OK.
"My brother is having schizophrenia problems", he tells me. "Can you call the police?"
I did a brief check on the man. High pulse, his respiration rate, sweating. Not 100% alert. Well, since this is clearly a medical issue, not a criminal one, I got on the phone with dispatch, requesting medical aid instead. Went through the usual yada-yada with dispatch, even after I informed them I was an EMT (They operate off of scripts), who tells me, "Don't let him eat or drink anything". OK. Right. I forgot to ask for no lights or sirens, however.
I get my gear, and get back to the man and his brother, who is still holding him down. I start up a conversation with him. He starts to talk to me a bit, which is good. He's not completely gone wherever he went. He was clearly running from someone, but we can't see them. I assure him I won't hurt him, and that the people coming to check him won't hurt him either. I don't want him bolting into traffic.
The man wants to lay down. I put my backpack under his head for a cushion. Recheck his vitals, still high pulse and respirations. Then the Fire Department arrives. Thank God, no Code 3 (Lights and sirens). I honestly think it would have wigged this guy out. I give them the run-down, and they offer to take the man to the hospital. Thankfully, he agrees and goes with them.
"Thank you, maam...", is the bulk of what I got from Fire. I toss my gear back in my Jeep.
Oh well. At least the man will get the treatment he needs. I hope.
A few minutes later, I am heading down our main drag here in Antelope, and I see this same guy on the side of the road, sitting down. And another man is holding him down, having grabbed the hood of his sweater and twisting it a bit to keep the other guy down. He looks around with what I refer to as "pleading eyes", so I pulled over and got out. I asked him if everything was OK.
"My brother is having schizophrenia problems", he tells me. "Can you call the police?"
I did a brief check on the man. High pulse, his respiration rate, sweating. Not 100% alert. Well, since this is clearly a medical issue, not a criminal one, I got on the phone with dispatch, requesting medical aid instead. Went through the usual yada-yada with dispatch, even after I informed them I was an EMT (They operate off of scripts), who tells me, "Don't let him eat or drink anything". OK. Right. I forgot to ask for no lights or sirens, however.
I get my gear, and get back to the man and his brother, who is still holding him down. I start up a conversation with him. He starts to talk to me a bit, which is good. He's not completely gone wherever he went. He was clearly running from someone, but we can't see them. I assure him I won't hurt him, and that the people coming to check him won't hurt him either. I don't want him bolting into traffic.
The man wants to lay down. I put my backpack under his head for a cushion. Recheck his vitals, still high pulse and respirations. Then the Fire Department arrives. Thank God, no Code 3 (Lights and sirens). I honestly think it would have wigged this guy out. I give them the run-down, and they offer to take the man to the hospital. Thankfully, he agrees and goes with them.
"Thank you, maam...", is the bulk of what I got from Fire. I toss my gear back in my Jeep.
Oh well. At least the man will get the treatment he needs. I hope.
Labels: EMS
posted by Renee Roberts at Wednesday, February 27, 2008
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