Aversion to Ambulances

[ferrit worrier]

Yesterday on the way into work I came accross an accident. A lady cyclist had fallen off her bike and was injured. I stopped and enquired if she was ok, her responses were slow and she was obviously dazed she told me her wrist hurt. Given her state of health at that moment I told her I would call an ambulance for her, she did say that she didn't want one, so while I was dialing 999 I'm saying to her "ok not a problem but we need to make sure your ok" Within 5 mins the ambulance arrived and the paramedics sorted her out. Her "sore" wrist did look to be a funny angle, so I suspect it was broken, hopefully not.

But I've seen this a number of times, both when I was in the plod and currently in my present occupation where a person has taken a tumble and been injured but not wanted to bother with an ambulance. Is it embarassment or what? I recall coming off a motor bike in 95 and injuring an ankle and breaking a wrist, fortuitously an ambulance was passing It stopped and the driver asked if I was ok, I recall thinking "Now be sensible your not ok so tell him" a few minutes later was off to AE neee Naww Neee Naww (see it is embarasment)

The problem for anyone trying to help is the victim who doesen't want it, you can't make them go. but why the reluctance?

[diapason0]

When I came off a motorbike about 12 years ago, in the middle lane of the M5 at night, I managed to get up and leg it out of the road, but I knew right away that my arm was broken. I was very grateful to the driver who stopped and called an ambulance for me - there was no way I was going to be able to lift the motorbike (which was 100 yards further down the road with all it's lights still on) and ride it home. When they got me into A&E I had 4 breaks in my right arm. The paramedic told me that when they gave me the gas and air, I was reciting the Requiem Mass in Latin.

[reohn2]

............ The paramedic told me that when they gave me the gas and air, I was reciting the Requiem Mass in Latin.

Sounds like you needed more than an ambulance

IMO the problem is that people feel embarassed if theres nothing seriously wrong once they get to A&E,which I can understand.Some years ago I had the most aweful pains in my chest Mrs R2 took no chances and dailed 999, after checks,cardiograph etc etc,in A&E it was deemed I'd had suffered a bout of acute indigestion (something I've never suffered from or experience before or since) the medical staff reassured me that it was the right thing to do under the circumstances but I felt a complete wally nevertheless

[reohn2]

............ The paramedic told me that when they gave me the gas and air, I was reciting the Requiem Mass in Latin.

This has just reminded me of our local Vicar who told me of a chap who used to turn up on his doorstep occasionally and couldn't leave until he'd (the chap not the vicar)had recited evensong from the 1662 prayer book

[Cunobelin]

One of the problems is the "fight or flight" syndrome.

Lots of hormones, stimulants and anesthetics are released into the system in order to allow you to overcome any injury and either run away from the danger or confront it and fight your way out.

For this reason the wrist would not actually hurt as much as you would think,and therefore the need for an ambulance is not obvious.

[snibgo]

There is the awkwardness factor: "I'm supposed to be doing other things today, I don't want to spend half the day in hospital if there's no need, and how will I get home from there, and what will happen to my bike in the mean time?"

And some people just don't like hospitals, probably because of bad associations. I used to be fine with that, but then Dad died in the same hospital I used to work in, and I'm not so keen on the place any more.

[eileithyia]

Initial response is probably one of shock and again the flight/fight syndrome.
It is easy to think that you are ok and be sure that you are. I remember sittingin the road after a first accident thinking I was ok. A stopped passerby enquired if I wanted any assistance; police ambulance.... I knew I wanted police to ensure the b***h who had hit me up the rear was apprehended but ambulance........
Then I realised my wrist felt funny, then it started to hurt but only after the self diagnosed broken wrist

More recent accidents there has been no contest I was in far too much pain to even consider I was OK!

[thirdcrank]

There may been an element of people dealing with casualties being keen to get them into an ambulance as a back covering exercise. OTOH, I think when somebody is injured, even quite badly, there is sometimes quite a delay before it really takes effect. That happened to me the only time I was hurt in a collision. I carried on as normal for several hours before feeling completely rotten.

[snibgo]

... there is sometimes quite a delay before it really takes effect.

Indeed. I may have mentioned before: when I broke my hip last year, I was in pain but could walk well enough to get myself off the road, get the bike up, lean it against a post, pick up loose change that had fallen from my pocket, and find somewhere reasonably safe and comfortable to rest while I hoped the pain would subside. But it got worse until I could no longer flex the joint or put weight on that leg.

I don't know if the initial effect was adrenalin, or the time for internal tissues to bruise and swell, or something else. A neat trick of evolution that would have allowed me to get some distance from a rampaging sabre-tooth tiger, so long as it wasn't chasing me.