Don't judge by appearances. RANT

TDGee

On my way home from picking up my kids today, I noticed a small crowd of people standing around a 70ish lady lying on the sidewalk face down, not moving. I pulled over to offer assistance as nobody there seemed to be able to do more than stand around and stare. One was on his cell phone with 911, which was a good thing. I assessed the lady for a pulse and breathing, She had a pulse, but was breathing very irregularly. With assistance, we log rolled her over. She had a small cut over her eyebrow,, which was bleeding pretty well, but not life threatening. She was looking straight ahead, but obviously saw nothing. No movement or response to talking or stimuli of any kind. She had peed her pants at some point as well. I opened her airway, which helped quite a bit. As we were waiting for the Paramedics to arrive, she slowly became more responsive and able to move. She had no recollection of what had happened to her or the events prior to her being in her current predicament.
The Fire/Medic guys arrive about 10 minutes later, and do their thing, completely disregarding the information I gave them that happened prior to their arrival. One of them told me that I had assessed the lady incorrectly and gave an incorrect Glasgow Coma Score.
Now, IF I hadn't been on the scene before them, and IF I wasn't a 16 year veteran ICU and ER/Trauma RN, he may have had a valid reason to take the information given him with a grain of salt. IF.

My point to this rant is to never judge the people you meet in loose jeans and a baggy T=shirt as someone who does not know what they are talking about or doing. Don't judge a book by it's cover...
End rant. Had to get it off my chest or someone was going to get an *kitten* chewing.

Katbaran

Bless you Ted! I don't say that lightly either. You KNOW you did the right thing and gave them good info. I hate arrogant people. We should NEVER judge by appearances. You never know who you're talking to wearing that baggy t shirt and shorts!

janet_pratt

JERKS! She's lucky you were there.

kykykenna

You are a PHENOMENAL human being who did the right thing when many walked away or stood there. YOU probably made a HUGE difference in her outcome more so than anyone else. Sleep tight buddy knowing more people should be like you. :flowerforyou:

Iamfit4life

I'm so very glad you were there. What a good man and decent, heroic thing to do.

mjf0461

Been there and had it done to me..I understand your rant and well deserve rant it was.. Good JOB, ...

hbrittingham

If you spoke the language, they shouldn't have dismissed you. I don't have a clue about most of what you said, so obviously, if I were relating the same information, they could pretty much blow me off. But each industry has their own language and you spoke it, so they should have listened. Regardless of how you were dressed.

beckyinma

Screw them, you did the thing no one else was willing to do, no matter what they assess, you saved a person's life today.

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

Bless you Ted! I don't say that lightly either. You KNOW you did the right thing and gave them good info. I hate arrogant people. We should NEVER judge by appearances. You never know who you're talking to wearing that baggy t shirt and shorts!

Me too. These so-called "paramedics" are simply stupid & are arrogant enough to think they know it all. They are lucky that you were there otherwise I don't think they will have easier time treating that woman.

I wish there are more good samaritan people like you who is willing to help others. God knows it.

Pinksparkle65

great job

Uerzer

point taken!

What is the difference between God and a doctor? God doesn't think he's a doctor.

CharityEaton

Good for you! You probably saved her life! What a bunch of arrogant jerks they were!
Saw a pic somewhere that was kind of a before and after aout NOT judging people. the first photo was a very tatooed man on a Harley hair in a do-rag and a leather vest. The second was the same man in a white Doctors jacket lookin very "docotor-ish"

Just goes to show! Besides, isnt that what we all wnat anyway...a doctor/nurse/med. professional that is "normal" and easy to relate to??? Not someone that thinks they are better than you because they have letters after their name or they arrive in an ambulance??
Grrr,now I am mad!

Slinkybaz

You did a great thing and I hope, despite them being idiots, she will have a positive outcome. Pat yourself on the back, smile and think of Karma. Karma is your friend my friend and one day won't be theirs!

taso42

No good deed goes unpunished. F'em, man

krissagirl0709

In sociology we were shown a video of a study done and in a very busy area only one person stopped to help the person within the half an hour the person was on the ground very sad!

RangerSteve

On my way home from picking up my kids today, I noticed a small crowd of people standing around a 70ish lady lying on the sidewalk face down, not moving. I pulled over to offer assistance as nobody there seemed to be able to do more than stand around and stare. One was on his cell phone with 911, which was a good thing. I assessed the lady for a pulse and breathing, She had a pulse, but was breathing very irregularly. With assistance, we log rolled her over. She had a small cut over her eyebrow,, which was bleeding pretty well, but not life threatening. She was looking straight ahead, but obviously saw nothing. No movement or response to talking or stimuli of any kind. She had peed her pants at some point as well. I opened her airway, which helped quite a bit. As we were waiting for the Paramedics to arrive, she slowly became more responsive and able to move. She had no recollection of what had happened to her or the events prior to her being in her current predicament.
The Fire/Medic guys arrive about 10 minutes later, and do their thing, completely disregarding the information I gave them that happened prior to their arrival. One of them told me that I had assessed the lady incorrectly and gave an incorrect Glasgow Coma Score.
Now, IF I hadn't been on the scene before them, and IF I wasn't a 16 year veteran ICU and ER/Trauma RN, he may have had a valid reason to take the information given him with a grain of salt. IF.

My point to this rant is to never judge the people you meet in loose jeans and a baggy T=shirt as someone who does not know what they are talking about or doing. Don't judge a book by it's cover...
End rant. Had to get it off my chest or someone was going to get an *kitten* chewing.

This is something I can get behind. I have no idea why the paramedics wouldn't be happy that you helped. Assuming you didn't roll the person over incorrectly and injure their neck (in case of a head injury), it seems like you did a great job.

I took the EMT course a few years back. About 3 days after finishing I saw a car barrel roll off the freeway, down a hill and crash into a bunch of trees. I ran down the hill, stabilized the most injured person and then helped carry all 3 people up the hill on a gurney when the firemen showed up. They were extremely happy for the help. Any medic/fireman should be happy for help in a situation when seconds and minutes are critical.

It sounds like you ran into someone who was either having a terrible day or is just a ****ty person.

RangerSteve

In sociology we were shown a video of a study done and in a very busy area only one person stopped to help the person within the half an hour the person was on the ground very sad!

Bystander effect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

The more people present, the less likely someone will help. It's ridiculous and it makes me dislike human beings.

lor007

You are such a great person, Ted. I'm sorry it went down like that but I am glad you were there to help her.

Contrarian

You are an excellent human being.

StrengthIsBeautiful

You ROCK TDGee, and don't you forget it!

skittybang

You are awesome. I've been in a similar predicament before...

I also can't take people not doing anything.

you did great and seriously, major respect

Jade_Butterfly

Boy people can be so terrible sometimes.. Well lucky for that gal you were there. Never mind people like that.. You are an awesome person.

mommared53

I guess that's the times we're living in nowadays. Unless you're someone who was sent to help in an emergency you're discouraged from helping anyone. That lady was very fortunate you came along and took charge. God bless you for helping her. We definitely need more people like you. :flowerforyou:

Romans624

I'm in EMT class. What I'm wondering is, why did they assume the GCS did not change from the time you assessed her and the time they did. Its only because you assisted her and opened her airway, and didn't just stare at her that she was able to improve at all by that point.


A few weeks ago I did a clinical with the fire dept (who are also paramedics) and I won't say what dept, but let me just say that a few of them were pretty arrogant and nasty. Not to me, but within my hearing range. I was surprised to see that kind of attitude in that field.

NewVonnie

You know how I feel about the kind of man you are. I could list the things I love and admire about you here and it would fill the page. This just proves my point. And makes me proud to be your friend.

42hockeymom

Um, ok. In being in pre-hospital EMS myself, if someone who was acting as first responder, did what you did, and gave me the information you gave the paramedics, then I'd be so flippin' happy! Are you kidding me? I would have had you sign my form with your license number and been on my happy *kitten* little way.


Stupid PARAGAWDS.



Oh, and you FLIPPIN ROCK!!!

_beachgirl_

You might have saved her life! I'm sure if she or her family could, they woudl say THANK YOU!

SugarNtheRaw

I freaking hate FF/EMT's that don't listen. Granted, some times we would roll on a scene and there would be a complete idiot there, some times people actually know what they're talking about. Gives the rest of us a bad name. I'd have listened to you, Buddy!