The oil truck hit him, threw him off his bicycle then ran him over. Somehow, he remained conscious. The rear wheels went over his pelvic region, crushing his hips. He could move his toes and I felt a pedal pulse. Shock had set in, his skin was cool and clammy.
"Can you call my girlfriend?" he asked, before asking for something for the pain. I took her name and number and planned to call as soon as things settled down.
Engine 13 had responded along with Rescue 1, six of us, all with a job to do.
"Seth, I need a board and collar," Steve removed the stretcher from the back of the rig while I did a primary assessment. We got him into the rescue, immobilized, vital signs taken, IV's established, hi-flow 02 running, 4 mg. of morphine in and got rolling. I picked up the phone. Paul, a firefighter from Narragansett and RN at Rhode Island Hospital answered on the first ring.
"I've got a twenty-five year old male, conscious and alert, stable vitals, struck then run over by an oil truck, diaphoretic, 4 mg morphine on board, we're about two minutes away."
Miraculously, the patient was able to answer all of my question appropriately. We had him in the trauma room in minutes, all tests underway soon thereafter.
He had just moved here from Boston. He's got a broken pelvis but all vital organs are intact and functioning. Id like to say that he is lucky, but how lucky is it to be run over by a truck?
Two years ago I responded to the exact same location for another man who was run over by an eighteen wheeler. He too lived to tell the tale.
Ironically, both accidents happened on Terminal Road.
*Update. Me and Steve checked on our patient a few hours later. He was still in the trauma room, still conscious, broken pelvis but no life threatening injuries. A few pins and he'll be as good as new, in about a year. His girlfriend and two other friends stood by him. I told his girlfriend that he had asked me to call her but forgot to mention that he did so before worrying about the pain he was in.
"He's a keeper." I told her. He asked our names, when I told him mine one of his friends asked,
"Are you Lt. Morse?"
"I am," I said, wondering what I did now.
"I read your book, It was pretty good."
"This will make a good chapter for the next one," I said.
We shook hands and left them to themselves. I couldn't help but think what a great job this is. I am truly blessed.
11 comments:
you are more famous than you thought...
Hmm. Seems like that's a lot of sitting around onscene considering the fact that he was a major trauma patient two minutes from a trauma center? Especially since 4mg of IV morphine would take 4 minutes if given properly?
I'm hoping the entry doesn't actually reflect the flow of what happened.
We were on scene for less than two minutes.
Great job as always Michael! You are practically a super star? Good thing I already have your autograph. :)
concerned emt- where does it say he was on scene too long and as an e.r nurse morphine does not have to be given over 4 minutes in a trauma pt.
Like I said, the post probably didn't capture the actual order/flow. Glad I was right. Great job.
I just want to thank you for the wonderful job you have done for my friend. I was really moved when you checked in on my friend in the ER. It shows that you still have compassion after all these years, and haven't hardened or become jaded. I was the guy who asked if you were indeed Lt. Morse. Your actions speak louder than any words in your book. And thats what matters most. And on behalf of my friend, Thank You.
Ian
EMT NEA
Nick's girlfriend Katie is one of my closest friends, and I have known Nick since high school.
Thank you so much for helping my friend and telling this miraculous story!!!
What a scary day for me, for us. Thanks to you and your colleagues, I found him in one living piece.
My gratitude
Katie
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such thoughtful comments. These are the things that make this all worthwhile! Please give my best to Nick, he is one tough kid!
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