They should require IQ tests for that...

We get called out for the 'child injured' in a townhouse/apt community, though I can't remember where. I believe I was actually riding the medic unit for once.

Not long after we get on the road, the call is upgraded to the 'toddler struck by a car.' Needless to say, the pucker factor goes way up all the way around. On a call like this, a helo is automatically dispatched.

It doesn't take us long to get there, and we are greeted with a near-hysterical mob. The police have beaten us there, and are talking to the driver of the car, who is hysterical. Mom is holding a crying baby, and is nearly hysterical. The patient is about 3 years old. There is no blood, no guts, only a bald spot on one side of the tots head, and a spot of grease on the forehead. We struggle to get the story, but it goes something like this...

Mom had to finish folding/putting laundry away, and kid wanted to stay outside and play. Mom figures that the windows are open, so it's ok, and lets her 3 year old stay outside under the watchful eye of the neighboring 5 year-old, and the 10 year old watching that one. Mom figures it's ok, because there are adults floating around talking (hey, it was a nice day).

The 3 year-old decides that it's a good idea to play in the parking space because there's dirt there. The baby-sitters (the 5 and 10 year-old) try to haul the kid out, but the kid keeps going back, and they eventually lose track of the toddler they are watching, while playing whatever game it was they were playing.

Meanwhile, nice older neighbor lady comes home, and pulls into her spot. She doesn't see our intrepid toddler sitting on the ground playing in the dust pile, and is alerted to the fact that something was wrong only after she hears a thunk hit the front of her car and sees the neighbor kids waving their arms and screaming.

We get there, grab the kid and mom, and hightail it to the LZ. The flight medic hops in, and looks the kid over. Again, no swelling, no bumps or bruises, jsut that bald patch on the side of the head, and the grease mark on the forehead. No one could answer if the kid lost consciousness, because the neighbor kids were too upset, and no one else was paying attention. Hell, mom only came outside when one of the kids started yelling for her. Meanwhile, toddler is awake and fighting mad.

Never did find out the outcome of that one. They flew the kid to Children's. My best guess is that the bumper hit the top of the head, knocking the kid over where the tire could skim the side. But that's only my guess. We saw the kid for all of 7 minutes, so who knows what happened later.

Brief Hiatus

Now that the season of joy and goodwill *snort* is over, I have time.

The fact that my paying job is slowly killing me with work notwithstanding.

I do have several posts percolating in the back of my head, but they aren't yet fully concentrated into full-strength posts, so they'll have to wait a bit. I'm finding that this blog is moving more towards medical type stuff I read/hear about, in addition to calls I've been on, so it seems I may have to change the 'description' or something.

Meanwhile, for your (all 3 or 4 of you who read this blog) reading pleasure, I submit several funny things heard over the radio.

Dispatch: Ambulance XXX, please respond to the location for the allergic reaction to cocaine.

Medic XXX: County, we are transporting an 18 yo female to Local Hospital, not feelin' well after smokin' a doobie.

Dispatch: Engine XXX, respond to the previous location for the rekindle.
Engine XXX: Copy that dispatch, who reported it?
Dispatch: Engine XXX, the rekindle was reported by the fire remediation company.

Engine XXX: County, be advised we have a small fire on the desk, started by what appears to be a short in the cord to the computer.
Dispatch: Copy Engine XXX. Do you want us to fill the box?
Engine XXX: Uh...negative County. Our rookie just put the fire out with the water can.

Dispatch: Engine XXX and truck XXY, respond to the location for the automatic fire alarm.
Engine XXX: Copy County. Had the alarm company been notified? I believe this is the 5th AFA we've had to this location in the past 3 days.
Some time later....
Engine XXX: Uh, County, could you fill the high-rise box for this location on the 14th floor? And please ask my driver to bring my SCBA up?

Ambulance XXX: County, could you please have the police respond to this location?
Dispatch: Copy Ambulance XXX. Do you want them Code 3?
Ambulance XXX: That's an affirmative, County. Which is why we've had our Emergency Button activated for the past 5 minutes.

Dispatch: Ambulance XX, please respond for the injured child, non-traumatic.
Ambulance XX: Copy County. Is there more information on the call?
Dispatch: Ambulance XX, caller reports that child pulled a grandfather clock on his head.
Ambulance Officer (to driver): If that's non-traumatic, I'd hate to see what EMD generates as traumatic!