Show of Hands

the hospital before my baby is born. Just because they both deal with health doesn't put them on par.

Wow

What kind of an idiot goes to the ER for a sprain?

A teenager idiot. They're all idiots. They screw around on skateboards and jump on trampolines, they get hurt and someone says. Ohh. You better get that checked out. It's your neck. It could be serious. That's what happens while you're at work.

Did they check to see if he had a concussion? If he hit his head on concrete, and he was going at a good speed, he could have gotten one.

Never mind

Misread that. For some reason I thought that said a kid on a skateboard. I had a brainfart. Sorry

The ER also loves when you complain about wait time because obviously your minor cut that's causing you 10/10 pain is super urgent!

My daughter suffered a compound fracture in her forearm on July 4. It would have been exceedingly dangerous for me to have driven her. I was no where near calm enough to drive.

Compound fractures are serious enough for an ambulance.

But kat, I'm not a medical professional. My husband woke up one night with very strange chest pressure, tightness of chest. I called an ambulance. Nothing was wrong ultimately though they did take him to the ER. Was that wasteful? I'd rather be safe

than sorry with any of my family or friends. And I have good insurance. How's the common frightened person supposed to know every time there is an apparent serious problem whether to call?

So, I'd say there's a difference between not knowing if it's a big deal when it certainly could be, or something that doesn't. My parents called when I woke up confused and unable to talk as a kid, was fine by the time the ambulance arrived. They

took me to the hospital to run tests (my parents could have driven me, fwiw) and ended up having emergency brain surgery for a tumor.
I also called when my oldest was a baby and rolled off the couch bc she wouldn't stop crying and the nurses line

suggested it. She was fine just very upset about it. Paramedics chucked a little but said they'd rather I have called than transport her had she been hurt.
It's a bit different than when you know you have time to get to medical care safely.

Chest pains are always taken seriously, as are neurological issues. It's the obvious minor stuff....a broken finger, a small cut.. things like that. If it's something with the potential to be serious, you should call for a squad.

Agree. And most of us can differentiate a paper cut from a disembowlment. But those of us not in the medical field get scared when say our child breaks a limb. If they have no frame of reference they may panic or over respond and call an ambulance.

I'd rather that than have them think everything is small potatoes and not address something that is actually a medical emergency .

Whole heartedly agree, when seconds count help is minutes away

REB - you're inspiring me!