An important read for my fellow runners...
First of all....whoa...I'm super behind on all y'alls blogs. I've got my reading cut out for me. I just checked bloglines account...yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah...I really have 141 of all your entries to read.
Anyone want to give me a quick recap of what's been going on with everyone out there? See what happens when I take off for Kansas? I get behind in everything...running...blogging...reading...ooooof.
Okay...so today's scheduled 16 miler. I did it for distance. Not time. And it's a damn good thing I did. My right hip was on FIRE. So painful. The back half was basically walked rather than my run/walk routine. Serves me right for taking 8 days off running. No Bueno.
I won't bore you with the mundane details of aches and pains as I ran because something far more...what's the word I'm looking for...important? scary? eye-opening? happened...
While Mike and I were coming back up to "base camp" about 2 miles away, just north of the Tennis Courts, we approached a group of people standing around this woman on the ground. I took off in a sprint toward the crowd to see what had happened and if I could help at all.
As I approached, I thought the woman had been hit and knocked over by a bike. And if anyone knows anything about getting run over by a bike, it's me. Once I got to the group, there was blood all over the concrete and the folks were sorta just looking at each other like "what are we supposed to do."
Finally, a biker pulled over and called 911 for an ambulance. Everyone was standing sort of freaking out. So what does Barb do? I get down on the ground with the woman to try and calm her. (Sorry, if everyone was standing and freaking out, I'd be on the ground in an even bigger mess, so I knew trying to calm her down would be key). I tried to get her to talk and that was a no go...
It quickly became evident that she hadn't been hit by a bike. This woman was having either a seizure or a stroke. I tried to get a pulse and I couldn't find one (Mike was able to find one and it was through the roof). She was shaking with the chills and not talking (well, not answering any of our questions)...so at first I thought she may not understand English. Her mouth was sealed shut and I noticed her right hand was starting to take on a life of its own (it was moving around out of her control and it looked like someone had sucked the air out of her hand).
Two folks who said they were doctors came over and were trying to pull her up and move her...which wasn't a good idea since the folks who handled the 911 call were told not to move her under any circumstance. Finally they listened and stopped trying to pull her to the side of the path. They offered her some water from my fuel belt but she couldn't open her mouth to take it. So they pulled out some tissues and dabbed the cuts to soak up some of the blood. Then they sorta just...walked off (wtf?). Nice one, doc.
So I'm still down on the ground with her, trying to find an ID...and she doesn't have one. Nor does she have an ID tag on her shoe. Or ANYTHING with ANY indication of who she is, where she's from or any emergency contact info. Brilliant. We have a bleeding woman, with no name, who can't talk and is clearly going through something not good.
At one point, another one of the bystanders kneels down and hands the woman her sunglasses. Out of nowhere she asks "are these mine?" WHOA...she does speak english...I'm shocked. I ask her name. She delivers. I ask her how old she is. "41" ...now I've seen 41 year olds, and they don't look that age. So I ask what year she's born...she struggles to remember and offers up 1952.
So by now 10-15 minutes have passed, the paramedics finally arrive. They help her up and over to the side and give her the medical run down. I go over and talk to one of the medics, let them know her name and the age that she gave and some of the stuff we had noticed while waiting (the not talking, mouth sealed off, hand problems...and mike had noticed she had "cat eyes") and he said it sounded like she had had a seizure.
I was scared shitless for this woman. Hopefully everything turned out okay for her and that the medics were able to get a hold of someone in her family to look after her for a little bit.
here we go...i'm stepping up on my soapbox...
Campers, for the love of all that is good, please carry some form of ID with you when you're running. I don't care if its your drivers license, a "toe tag" on your shoe, or your name plastered to your forehead...this kind of situation can happen to anyone. It was a scary situation for everyone involved...
Also, if you have room, carry a cell phone. If that biker hadn't had one on him, who knows how long it could've taken to get help. Plus, if you collapse and have a cell phone on you, someone who stops can scan through your numbers to find you help.
Okay. That is all...I'm stepping off my soapbox now.
Peace, yo.
Anyone want to give me a quick recap of what's been going on with everyone out there? See what happens when I take off for Kansas? I get behind in everything...running...blogging...reading...ooooof.
Okay...so today's scheduled 16 miler. I did it for distance. Not time. And it's a damn good thing I did. My right hip was on FIRE. So painful. The back half was basically walked rather than my run/walk routine. Serves me right for taking 8 days off running. No Bueno.
I won't bore you with the mundane details of aches and pains as I ran because something far more...what's the word I'm looking for...important? scary? eye-opening? happened...
While Mike and I were coming back up to "base camp" about 2 miles away, just north of the Tennis Courts, we approached a group of people standing around this woman on the ground. I took off in a sprint toward the crowd to see what had happened and if I could help at all.
As I approached, I thought the woman had been hit and knocked over by a bike. And if anyone knows anything about getting run over by a bike, it's me. Once I got to the group, there was blood all over the concrete and the folks were sorta just looking at each other like "what are we supposed to do."
Finally, a biker pulled over and called 911 for an ambulance. Everyone was standing sort of freaking out. So what does Barb do? I get down on the ground with the woman to try and calm her. (Sorry, if everyone was standing and freaking out, I'd be on the ground in an even bigger mess, so I knew trying to calm her down would be key). I tried to get her to talk and that was a no go...
It quickly became evident that she hadn't been hit by a bike. This woman was having either a seizure or a stroke. I tried to get a pulse and I couldn't find one (Mike was able to find one and it was through the roof). She was shaking with the chills and not talking (well, not answering any of our questions)...so at first I thought she may not understand English. Her mouth was sealed shut and I noticed her right hand was starting to take on a life of its own (it was moving around out of her control and it looked like someone had sucked the air out of her hand).
Two folks who said they were doctors came over and were trying to pull her up and move her...which wasn't a good idea since the folks who handled the 911 call were told not to move her under any circumstance. Finally they listened and stopped trying to pull her to the side of the path. They offered her some water from my fuel belt but she couldn't open her mouth to take it. So they pulled out some tissues and dabbed the cuts to soak up some of the blood. Then they sorta just...walked off (wtf?). Nice one, doc.
So I'm still down on the ground with her, trying to find an ID...and she doesn't have one. Nor does she have an ID tag on her shoe. Or ANYTHING with ANY indication of who she is, where she's from or any emergency contact info. Brilliant. We have a bleeding woman, with no name, who can't talk and is clearly going through something not good.
At one point, another one of the bystanders kneels down and hands the woman her sunglasses. Out of nowhere she asks "are these mine?" WHOA...she does speak english...I'm shocked. I ask her name. She delivers. I ask her how old she is. "41" ...now I've seen 41 year olds, and they don't look that age. So I ask what year she's born...she struggles to remember and offers up 1952.
So by now 10-15 minutes have passed, the paramedics finally arrive. They help her up and over to the side and give her the medical run down. I go over and talk to one of the medics, let them know her name and the age that she gave and some of the stuff we had noticed while waiting (the not talking, mouth sealed off, hand problems...and mike had noticed she had "cat eyes") and he said it sounded like she had had a seizure.
I was scared shitless for this woman. Hopefully everything turned out okay for her and that the medics were able to get a hold of someone in her family to look after her for a little bit.
here we go...i'm stepping up on my soapbox...
Campers, for the love of all that is good, please carry some form of ID with you when you're running. I don't care if its your drivers license, a "toe tag" on your shoe, or your name plastered to your forehead...this kind of situation can happen to anyone. It was a scary situation for everyone involved...
Also, if you have room, carry a cell phone. If that biker hadn't had one on him, who knows how long it could've taken to get help. Plus, if you collapse and have a cell phone on you, someone who stops can scan through your numbers to find you help.
Okay. That is all...I'm stepping off my soapbox now.
Peace, yo.
posted by Iron Jayhawk at 12:26 PM
16 Camper Comments:
Yikes! It does sound like a seizure of some sort - hopefully she's okay now. I can't understand the docs wanting to move her; I always learned that, unless someone needs to be moved (ie, burning car or something), then the best thing is to not move them until the paramedics get there.
Anyway, I rarely have room for a cell, but I always carry ID, just in case. You never know when you might need it.
Good job Jhawk...way to keep your cool. Have a good one.
Hope she is okay. Nice job on being helpful and maintaining your cool. For the record, I always run with my Road I.D. that I got for Christmas from my wife...
woah...that's really scary. nice job staying calm and helping out! I really should get id for running, but jason and i are always together....but still in case we get seperated or something.
excellent advice. I went to my local pet store and made an id for me from the dog tag machine. I choose the circle and not the dog bone.
well done on the 16 miles
I agree with medics. Sounds like a seizure. Ouch! Keep the situation calm is so critical. Those docs are bunch a yahoos - you DON'T move anyone because of the risk of an unknown head and neck injury. (MNFirefly off soapbox!) Huge kudos from a 1st Responder. Awesome job on trying to find her ID. I always carry my Driver's License in the side pocket of my shorts - at all times during a run. I also have my TNT shoe tag as well - telling them to see ID in pockets for additional info.
I hope you got my e-mail - the one that I promised. **grin** BTW, poke OOSG with a yardstick for me for NOT updating his blog.
Wow, that does sound scary!! I always, always have my phone on me!! I really need to get some RoadId, though.
Scary Stuff! Sounds like you kept a cool head. Good for you. And great reminder on the ID. I always try to wear my Road ID for long runs, but am less likely to make sure I have it for a quick 3 mile run around my neighborhood. But, you never know when something might happen. I should wear it at all times! Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for the reminder about the ID. I used to carry an expired drivers license with me, but have not done it lately.
Great of you to help the women - hope she is okay.
you are so right, and i'm guilty on all counts, i will take care of that!
p.s. you were good to try and help and get down on the ground like that, we need more people like you in the world!
You're a hero and a Good Samaritan!
I've got to admit I am guilty of not running with ID. I would totally be a John Doe. Yikes. Gotta get something.
I like ALI's idea of the Pet ID tags. Goes right on your shoe lace no problem!
Yo, what a scary incident. Glad to see you were focused and able to stay by her side until the parameds arrived. I'm as guilty as anyone for not carrying ID or anything. Suppose this is a wake-up call right?
Great Job on stepping upto the plate! a true reflection of how awesome you two are.
wow.. yeah i really SHOULD carry something with me, but.. i don't.
maybe i'll look at getting a shoe tag thing. hmm.. thanks for the PSA and well done!
Good job, Jayhawk, on both your assistance to the injured and your advice to us all. You've certainly reminded me that I need to keep my toe tag updated.
I hope you are feeling OK after your run. Understated in your epic is that you ran a very long distance.
Do you have another long run next weekend?
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