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Lessons from the Paediatrics ER
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I am half-way through a stint as the EMO in a children’s hospital. For all of you parents and wanna-be parents and kids out there:
- wear a helmet when biking/skateboarding/rollarblading. I had a 15 y/o patient who did not wear a helmet while biking. His spine was ok, as was the rest of his body (except for some scrapes and bruises). He was, however, braindead and breathes through a tube. This sucks.
- ATV’s are killing machines. The short time i’ve done trauma work, i’ve seen several ATV victims with spinal cord injuries, bleeding inside the chest, etc. Please consider something a little less stupid.
- USE A FRICKEN CONDOM!!! STI’s and unwanted pregnancies can be prevented SO MUCH earlier.
- If the kid is coughing and puking with a mild fever, it’s likely viral.
- If s/he is coughing and short of breath and having a fever, it still may be viral, but get it checked anyway.
- injury=ice. whether cut or bump/bruise etc. Ice it down, prevent the swelling. It is much easier to close a big laceration if the tissue is not swollen even more open.
- a fever is good. It is uncomfortable, but it is good. The thing that CAUSES the fever is bad and must be treated.
- Anti-biotics do not treat viruses or asthma exacerbations. Don’t demand that i give them to you - you won’t get them.
- a child in pain=bad. Let me try to treat that. Help me figure out what’s causing it.
- a violent 8 year-old that is threatening to kill you is not necessarily “bad”. S/he might have post-traumatic stress disorder, mania, depression, or some other treatable illness.
- Don’t be a wimp.
more to come.
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I know firsthand about the helmet issue. WEAR THEM! I’ve got one that is flat on one side from a bad bike accident… and I only had to get three stitches :)
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