debodun
SF VIP
- Location
- way upstate in New York, USA
I had to deliver meals-on-wheels this past Friday. I had a problem at two stops. At one, the person wasn't home and hadn't called to cancel the delivery which always pi$$es me off. But this was nothing compared to my third-to-last stop.
I walked in as I usually do and didn't see the gentleman in his usual chair. I thought he might be out on his deck since he does go out and sits there when the weather is nice. I looked out, but he wasn't there either. I called out and there was no answer. Then I turned around and saw him on his back on the floor near his TV. Needless to say, I was taken aback. I checked to see if he was breathing and he was, but it seemed labored and shallow and he was foaming at the mouth along with having small seizures about a minute apart. He was unresponsive to conversation.
When there's a "situation" I have to report it to the County Office for the Aging (the meal distributor) and had to hunt for the phone in his house since I don't have a mobile phone. I finally found a wall phone in the kitchen and called OFA. They asked if I called 911 and I said that I had called them first to report the problem. They said for me to call 911, but I had left the delivery sheet in my car and wasn't sure of the correct address (I know how to get there, but don't pay much attention to house and route numbers) and my car was parked at the entrance to the property about 300 feet away. I asked the OFA agent to call 911 sine they have more info than is made available to me. They also have to contact the client's "go-to" person. The agent said she would and for me to stand by the phone and not leave the scene until help arrived.
About 2 minutes later she did call back to say she had called the incident in to 911. While I was talking to her, the phone beeped. She said it was probably the 911 dispatcher calling me. I hung up and the phone rang. It was the dispatcher who asked me some questions I wasn't very helpful in answering like how old was the man, how often was he breathing (I couldn't see him from the kitchen) and if he had any medical conditions. Then he proceeded to berate me because I had called OFA BEFORE calling 911, but said that an ambulance and sheriff were on the way, but if it ever happened again, to call 911 FIRST. When I hung up, I went out and moved my car so it wasn't blocking the driveway and I stood out to wave them in when they arrived since it's a hidden drive (I KNOW where it is and I sometimes go by it).
Now this was about 10 minutes after I first walked in the house and it was at least another 10 and everyone arrived together - 2 ambulances (don't ask why 2) and a local police officer. The officer interviewed me and asked the usual questions - my name, address, what I was doing there (he had mistaken me for a visiting nurse), what I had observed, etc. When he was satisfied and I was satisfied that the man was being cared for, I left since I had other deliveries to make, but I was about 30 minutes delayed. Good thing the last 2 people didn't give me any grief about being late - I don't think I would have been very gracious about it in the mood I was in.
When I got back to the place where I pick up the meals, the manager said that OFA wanted me to call them ASAP. I figured I was going to get another reprimand, but they just wanted to follow up with me to see I was okay. I told them I was a little shaken, but was better off then the man. I don't know what his problem was, but I almost suspect an epileptic incident, but I don't know what medical issues he has that would have contributed to the situation. I am anxious to see if he is back on the delivery list on Monday.
When I got home, I decided to mow the lawn since rain was predicted for the weekend and it really needed it. It was very warm and humid which makes it more difficult for me, but I managed - mowing and watering the lawn at the same time. But that evening I had such a pain in my left hip, I couldn't find a comfortable position to rest. At 2 am, I finally had to take some ibuprofen (and have some cereal with it). It was a little better Saturday morning, but today (Sunday) the pain is back.
What a weekend!
I walked in as I usually do and didn't see the gentleman in his usual chair. I thought he might be out on his deck since he does go out and sits there when the weather is nice. I looked out, but he wasn't there either. I called out and there was no answer. Then I turned around and saw him on his back on the floor near his TV. Needless to say, I was taken aback. I checked to see if he was breathing and he was, but it seemed labored and shallow and he was foaming at the mouth along with having small seizures about a minute apart. He was unresponsive to conversation.
When there's a "situation" I have to report it to the County Office for the Aging (the meal distributor) and had to hunt for the phone in his house since I don't have a mobile phone. I finally found a wall phone in the kitchen and called OFA. They asked if I called 911 and I said that I had called them first to report the problem. They said for me to call 911, but I had left the delivery sheet in my car and wasn't sure of the correct address (I know how to get there, but don't pay much attention to house and route numbers) and my car was parked at the entrance to the property about 300 feet away. I asked the OFA agent to call 911 sine they have more info than is made available to me. They also have to contact the client's "go-to" person. The agent said she would and for me to stand by the phone and not leave the scene until help arrived.
About 2 minutes later she did call back to say she had called the incident in to 911. While I was talking to her, the phone beeped. She said it was probably the 911 dispatcher calling me. I hung up and the phone rang. It was the dispatcher who asked me some questions I wasn't very helpful in answering like how old was the man, how often was he breathing (I couldn't see him from the kitchen) and if he had any medical conditions. Then he proceeded to berate me because I had called OFA BEFORE calling 911, but said that an ambulance and sheriff were on the way, but if it ever happened again, to call 911 FIRST. When I hung up, I went out and moved my car so it wasn't blocking the driveway and I stood out to wave them in when they arrived since it's a hidden drive (I KNOW where it is and I sometimes go by it).
Now this was about 10 minutes after I first walked in the house and it was at least another 10 and everyone arrived together - 2 ambulances (don't ask why 2) and a local police officer. The officer interviewed me and asked the usual questions - my name, address, what I was doing there (he had mistaken me for a visiting nurse), what I had observed, etc. When he was satisfied and I was satisfied that the man was being cared for, I left since I had other deliveries to make, but I was about 30 minutes delayed. Good thing the last 2 people didn't give me any grief about being late - I don't think I would have been very gracious about it in the mood I was in.
When I got back to the place where I pick up the meals, the manager said that OFA wanted me to call them ASAP. I figured I was going to get another reprimand, but they just wanted to follow up with me to see I was okay. I told them I was a little shaken, but was better off then the man. I don't know what his problem was, but I almost suspect an epileptic incident, but I don't know what medical issues he has that would have contributed to the situation. I am anxious to see if he is back on the delivery list on Monday.
When I got home, I decided to mow the lawn since rain was predicted for the weekend and it really needed it. It was very warm and humid which makes it more difficult for me, but I managed - mowing and watering the lawn at the same time. But that evening I had such a pain in my left hip, I couldn't find a comfortable position to rest. At 2 am, I finally had to take some ibuprofen (and have some cereal with it). It was a little better Saturday morning, but today (Sunday) the pain is back.
What a weekend!
