Had a business lunch with a 55 year old female colleague (we know each other professionally, but don’t hang out socially}. As we left the lunch place, she missed her step on the curb cut and took a hard fall face first into the concrete sidewalk. I think it knocked her out for a minute b/c her first words were “what happened?” Busted nose and upper lip (lots of bleeding) and hit her forehead. I immediately called 911 - paramedics arrived, said she needed stitches to her face, and asked if they could transport her to the hospital. She said yes. I called her significant other and boss. Later learned no head injury, just stitches. In hind sight I am wondering if I over reacted by immediately calling an ambulance? Would you have called or just driven her to the ER?
I would’ve. I do not mess around with head injuries.
Glad it’s not too serious!
You did not overreact. If you are familiar with the story of Natasha Richardson you’ll know that anyone with a significant head injury needs to go to the ER. I’m sure she is grateful for the help you gave her.
It really shook me up…
I think you acted in the appropriate way. From what it sounds, she hit her head pretty hard and who know what brain or neck trauma could’ve occurred.
You did the right thing.
And even with the busted nose and stitches, it could’ve required a plastic surgeon, so best to be checked out. And what if she had been on blood thinners? Better safe than sorry for sure.
You did the right thing. Much better to be wondering if you over reacted than if you should have done more.
you absolutely did the right thing!
Cheers to you, for calling 911 and her boss, SO. Have NO regrets.
I agree you did the appropriate thing medically. Plus because ambulance patients tend to get priority you may have saved your colleague 3-4 hours in the ER waiting room as people with more serious injuries were taken ahead of her.
yes. I would have called 911.
In my emergency response training, this is exactly what we were taught to do. So good job!
You did what you thought was best under the circumstances. Why are you questioning it? Has someone chided you? Is there a concern about the ambulance cost (they are costly, even with insurance).
@mom2collegekids … I was just questioning myself b/c of the expense she must have incurred, and in looking back I I realized how shaken up I was - I didn’t even take a moment of all to ask her how she felt, or if she wanted me to call an ambulance - I just did it… After asking “what happened” she seemed coherent - but I made the decision without even asking. So afterwards, I started second guessing myself and wondering if I should have taken a breath and inquired more before reacting.
When I took training for what to do with medical emergencies, they said you can only help someone if they agree to it. Lack of consciousness is automatically considered implied consent. So you done good!
You did not over react.
I was just at a local brewery, where an older man ( ok my age) was sitting on a bench on uneven ground and he fell backwards. He didn’t think he hit his head, but no one was sure, so 911 was called.
Better to be safe than sorry.
That’s what they are for.
If you had driven her, time would have been spent doing that, then waiting for the ER to do intake & triage. It can be helpful to see symptoms shortly after the injury, instead of 15-30 min later, when it might look less impressive.
Another thumbs up…hitting the head, lots of blood, better to be safe than sorry.
And, hey, congratulations romani <:-P
The person wasn’t in a condition to make the decision because she had a nasty knock to the head, so you had to make the call and you made the right call.
Today I woke at 5 am to use the restroom and found my housemate telling me she was going to drive to the hospital because of a pain in her arm. I asked if she needed and ambulance and she said no. She had dressed. But she was goggling to decide which hospital. Finally I asked what she thought was wrong and she said heart attack so I dialed 911. Geez, I feel so dumb that I was sitting and waking up while she was just goggling in some kind of confusion apparently.
@brownparent omg how is she?