911
While I was working in Hotel World, I had my fair share of unpleasant encounters – who hasn’t?!
Illness, blood, broken limbs, bleeding limbs, lost limbs, lost elderly persons, lost kids, loss of bodily functions, theft, armed robbery, armed personnel, death, and stroke. Just to name a few.
Even with all the training in hotel world there is to be prepared for such things, it just never seems to be quite enough. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you catch yourself saying “well, now that’s a first for me” and moving on.
Why the dark cloud you ask. I stumbled upon a number of blog posts lately regarding one being ready (or as ready as one can be) in case of an emergency – or more specifically calling upon emergency for assistance. I thought it important to share the following with you:
Four things a 911 operator will most likely ask when you suspect a stroke:
Have your loved one smile (the smile should be even).
Have them raise both arms above the shoulders (the arms should raise to equal height).
Have them squeeze your hands with both their hands (grip strength should be equal).
Have them repeat a familiar phrase (something like “The early bird catches the worm.”).
Questions emergency personnel will most likely ask of you to answer once they arrive:
Loved one’s birthdate, medications, medical history, their address (if different from yours)
AND THEN in a newspaper article today I read about items you should take with you when taking a trip to the emergency room (mind you, I can’t believe that anyone who is need of a trip to the ER would be in stable mind to remember to grab these, but maybe make a mental note of it – or even pack a bag to have ready to go at all times if you choose):
Medications, Medical History, Insurance, Legal Documents such as Medical Power of Attorney, A Living Will and Advance Directives, (preferably two copies – one for hospital and one for emergency techs in the ambulance), A HIPPA, A Call List (emergency contact numbers including names and numbers for primary care and specialists along with how long the patient has been seeing them).
And the list even goes so far as to include a book to pass the time in the hospital, pocket calendar (when loss of time occurs during stay in the hospital), Toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb, slippers and a change of clothes. Whew. That is a lot to remember in an emergency.
Maybe one day I will share some of the aforementioned episodes from my stint in hotel world. It was an entirely different world in itself that is for sure. Every day was something and someone different...I loved it! And YES, there is at least one story that stands out in my mind for each and every one of those episodes I mentioned, and I remember them all! If only persons involved in some of those incidents had an “ER Bag” of sorts – that would’ve been most helpful for us lowly “servant” types in the hotel world.
For now, let’s consider this MY public service announcement and of course in case of a real emergency, please call 911, not me.
Illness, blood, broken limbs, bleeding limbs, lost limbs, lost elderly persons, lost kids, loss of bodily functions, theft, armed robbery, armed personnel, death, and stroke. Just to name a few.
Even with all the training in hotel world there is to be prepared for such things, it just never seems to be quite enough. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you catch yourself saying “well, now that’s a first for me” and moving on.
Why the dark cloud you ask. I stumbled upon a number of blog posts lately regarding one being ready (or as ready as one can be) in case of an emergency – or more specifically calling upon emergency for assistance. I thought it important to share the following with you:
Four things a 911 operator will most likely ask when you suspect a stroke:
Have your loved one smile (the smile should be even).
Have them raise both arms above the shoulders (the arms should raise to equal height).
Have them squeeze your hands with both their hands (grip strength should be equal).
Have them repeat a familiar phrase (something like “The early bird catches the worm.”).
Questions emergency personnel will most likely ask of you to answer once they arrive:
Loved one’s birthdate, medications, medical history, their address (if different from yours)
AND THEN in a newspaper article today I read about items you should take with you when taking a trip to the emergency room (mind you, I can’t believe that anyone who is need of a trip to the ER would be in stable mind to remember to grab these, but maybe make a mental note of it – or even pack a bag to have ready to go at all times if you choose):
Medications, Medical History, Insurance, Legal Documents such as Medical Power of Attorney, A Living Will and Advance Directives, (preferably two copies – one for hospital and one for emergency techs in the ambulance), A HIPPA, A Call List (emergency contact numbers including names and numbers for primary care and specialists along with how long the patient has been seeing them).
And the list even goes so far as to include a book to pass the time in the hospital, pocket calendar (when loss of time occurs during stay in the hospital), Toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb, slippers and a change of clothes. Whew. That is a lot to remember in an emergency.
Maybe one day I will share some of the aforementioned episodes from my stint in hotel world. It was an entirely different world in itself that is for sure. Every day was something and someone different...I loved it! And YES, there is at least one story that stands out in my mind for each and every one of those episodes I mentioned, and I remember them all! If only persons involved in some of those incidents had an “ER Bag” of sorts – that would’ve been most helpful for us lowly “servant” types in the hotel world.
For now, let’s consider this MY public service announcement and of course in case of a real emergency, please call 911, not me.
How interesting---I've never had to be rushed to the ER, but this seems like a helpful list. I always wanted to work in the hotel industry, until I realised it would probably make me too depressed---I prefer TAKING the trips, you know? Too bad I'm not an heiress or something.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear some stories!