Ambulance Ride Along & rant

So I spent 12 hours Sunday on an ambulance out in East County as part of the requirements for my EMT class. While it was a hot day and I started to get a little car sick riding around in the back I did get to see quite a bit of stuff, where some of my class mates had to simulate patient experiences I had all I needed before dinner time!

People say we need "Universal Healthcare" but we really already have it! Call 911, the ambulance shows up and it goes like this, "Do you have insurance?"

"No."

"Ok, get in the ambulance let's take you to the hospital. Where do you work? Do you have a doctor? Are you a US citizen?"

"I don't, nope and no."

"Ok, we're at the hospital let's go inside and get you taken care of."

People talk about it being a "right" but yet soooooooooooo few people then exercise the other side of the coin for rights, responsibilities. Yep, with every right is a responsibility. If you think healthcare is a "right" then you need to do all you can to be healthy. No smoking, no alcohol, no drugs, no fast food and exercise. If you can't do those things you shouldn't get a damn thing for free.

Long time readers will know I like pictures, so here you go:



pnt1:diabetic iv drug user who fell off the wagon after 40 days and was totally drunk with blood glucose of 400+, found at a hotel.

pnt2:heroin user who was totally drunk and barely responsive, with cigarette burns in their clothes who only 5 hours earlier had been discharged from the hospital due to alcohol abuse. this person also stated they just wanted to die.

pnt3:old person with an altered mental status who fell trying to get in the shower and maybe hit their head. there are on blood thinners so off to the trauma center for a head CT. the pic is the one of the spine board being turned on its' side so they can vomit. they also had a possible broken foot.

pnt4:post traumatic brain injury with left sided weakness. addicted to oxycontin. complaining of back pain a week after a fall and pain 10/10. requesting to be taken to hospital because, "i just cant take it anymore!"

pnt5:a car accident happened. one of the occupants walked to a nearby house to get a drink of water. everyone else at the scene gets taken care of. this pnt shows up after all the ambulances are gone and we have to be called back to get them. now this person is complaining of chest pain. c spine and trauma center here we go again.