“501 please respond for a male subject who is turning yellowish-orange”
“Copy, 501 en route”
Two females seated in kitchen, one teary. 40s male seated on couch, Mt Dew at hand and completely unconcerned. Denies any symptoms, no medical history of any kind, no medications, and no desire to be seen in the ER.
Wife, brow furrowed; “maybe it’s because I haven’t seen him in daylight in so long”
Mother in law, bent forward with hands on hips, nose inches from patient’s face, inspecting his eyes; “what you maybe need is to go out on the deck and just have a cigarette in the sunlight”
Neighbor arrives, hugs wife tearfully, says to fire personnel; “last time I was catatonic I was going thru my friend’s drawers, almost pulled out my nose ring. That was after I had the grand mal and then went tonic clonic.”
Wife, helpfully; “he isn’t even a drug user!” >> Click to read more...
"Standby for Tones" is a monthly blog written by Crystal Wallin, a La Crosse paramedic. Her stories, written from real life events, bring to light the human experience in having an EMS career and work life. >> Click to read Crystal's blog.
