Wait for ambulance or Go on your on?

[Kyle_in_Tex]

The recent thread of getting snake bit rurally begs this discussion.

How far are you from emergency services? How long would it take to get an ambulance to your place?

I'm just posting this so that folks might be able to formulate a plan and discuss it with loved ones in case of emergency. I know there are many who say to wait on ambulance and not to speed themselves to emergency help. I say it depends on severity and timeliness. If the ambulance can meet you somewhere on the way, great.

Most "critter" related emergencies possibly can be initially treated with an EPI pen or benedryl. Do you have either? Do you know how much to treat a victim of different weight?

I don't have all the answers so thats why I started this thread.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

I keep benadryl because of all my allergies. Also personally we are only 6 miles from several emergency rooms. As the crow flies about 4. I could put my flashers on and go like a bat while calling 911 and get to the ER. I have driven myself before. That's also one of the reasons we stay where we are, DD and I both could either get an ambulance or go ourselves if needed. They ask your symptoms and stuff and I think that determines how quickly they get there.

I got cellulitus from a wasp sting 3 years ago. I got bitten years ago and we didn't know what was happening, I took a bunch of benadryl, my lips were swelling, heart flopping. Hubby said oh you will be fine. I was bitten by fire ants over 25 years ago when we moved to Texas and we didn't know. The next day I went to the ER, the doc threw a fit, he said its a wonder I didn't die, foot was even starting to turn black.

I also had a reaction to oysters, throat started swelling, couldn't breathe, hubby took me to ER, I tried telling them, they thought I was having a heart attack, think they gave me an IV of something. My face was all swollen. I still eat seafood but not oysters.

I have to be really careful taking new antibiotics, I've had reactions to meds too. So if I got snake bit or spider stung, I'm in trouble. I was bitten, we think by a spider some years ago and it took a year for the spot to heal. Also horse fly bites on me get infected and get huge, sometimes requiring antibiotics and of course all this is not improving as I age. I figure I will die from some allergic reaction to something.

 

[eepete]

Ask around in your area and figure out how long it took for people to have an ambulance show up. Then figure out how long it takes for you to get to the two closest emergency rooms. That's about all you can pre-plan, the rest depends on your current health and what went wrong.

One thing _Everyone_ should do is have a piece of paper that you can give away that has all your information on it. Name, DOB, SS#, address, phone number, medical history, current medications, allergies (both things and medications), 1st and 2nd choice for hospital and doctors names. If you've recently been discharged from a hospital, have a copy you can give away of the discharge papers and medication summary. You will save a lot of time throughout your ordeal, and mistakes will be harder to make. Lots of times when someone has all this, the "treat and transport" times improve by 3 to five minutes.

Yeah, this paper is all someone needs for identity theft but it's information that will be needed for your records at the hospital anyway. If you're really nervous, leave off the SS# and hope they can get that somehow. If you're going back to a hospital you've been at, they will pull your ss# up by your name, address, and phone number.

Post so far on being ready at home with EPI pen and meds is good stuff too :thumbsup:. In about 5 years, I'll be purchasing a home defibrillator, pulse ox meter and oxygen bottle just in case.

Pete

 

[Egon]

A few years back I drove to emergency [ 1/2 mile ] and was admitted.

Truth be told I really didn't care how I got there and when the good stuff hit it was pretty pleasant!

Think the truck spent three or four days in the parking lot.

 

[rekees4300]

"I say it depends on severity and timeliness."

Agree. On the one hand you don't want to pass out and wreck your car on the way but on the other hand it's faster to go one way than a round trip. Lots of variables involved in each situation so can't really make a general statement about the right course of action.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

Good advice about all the personal information. Sue Anne couldn't tell them about me or really any of her stuff.

I had that at one time and didn't keep it up. I need to write one up for each of us, probably laminate them and keep in each vehicle and the house.

That's a really good reminder, thanks.

 

[schmism]

do both

call it in to 911 say your own your way and want to meet the ambulance in route. That way it reduces the amount of time it takes to receive care and your ride to the hospital is also shortened.

 

[Thomas]

Depending on circumstances..how bad,I call 911, ask for local PD to be told first..better reaction time,easier for PD to setup point for ambulance meet if need be.

 

[Ken45101]

You also have to think about your ability to drive in an emergency. I was an EMT eons ago and some people just freak out and would be a danger on the road.

That being said, we've always driven each other to the emergency room, even when my wife was having a heart attack. EMS response here would be 20 minutes minimum, IF they get out of the station at all. I've monitored county dispatch and it's not unusual for a squad not to get enough members to respond. I've even heard one EMS call get passed to a second and third department before they got a unit on the road (figure 20 minutes to get on the road then another 20-30 to get on the scene.)

Also, think about the quality of the local hospitals. The county hospital here is horrible and I wouldn't take a dead dog to it.

Ken

 

[AD18]

After some of these comments I realize how truley blessed my rural community is. I'm in an all volunteer fire dept. We are at least minimum of 45 minutes from a hospital in by ambulance but, we are covered by life flight for critical situations. We have 3 nurses and the two lead paramedics for the ambulance service in the district just down the road. In my situation, knowing the people who will respond and trusting themI 'd wait for ems. Plus the last time I had to call ems for my wife a babysitter showed up knowing I would need one for the two little ones. I have done the same for friends and neighbors as well in times of need. I'm greatly blessed to live in such a great area.

The level of care provided by our dept compared to what I saw provided at a car wreck in Vancouver, WA was shocking. I had stopped and was providing aid to a semiconscious victim with a head injury when the city boys rolled up. I tried to pass on vitals and hand off to them. They didn't take the info just grabbed her and sat her on the gurney and off they went. I had to slow them down enough to take her purse.

My two cents.