DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Unfortunately ER's are slow for the less/non life threatening injuries, and illnesses. Our Dr. told us to call his office 1st, before going to an ER, 24/7.
I would think a traumatic head injury should be "up there", also. We tend to minimize our injuries, unless there is blood running.
My most curious ER visit was for an allergic reaction to aspirin! Three "middle of the nights" in a row. Didn't even get the waiting room seat warm. On the 3rd occasion, I commented to the nurse about the short wait. Her reply was "We treat anaphylactic allergic reactions the same as a heart attack"! In 5 minutes time, your throat can swell shut, and you are toast! Got my attention! She also said " If the ER does not get you right on back, the admissions person needs to find another job". An interesting side affect was that my asthma completely disappeared when I stopped taking aspirin.

anotherview Loc: California

I started using handrails with the steps. I also watch where my feet go as I walk up and down.

wireloose

Nice to see the comments on the VA- also a preview of free health care :)

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

Absolutely! Same here...!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

For sure = especially if you are dazed, confused, or lose consciousness. And added to your list is Ronald Reagan - after leaving the White House he was home in California and suddenly became confused - when he was taken to the ER he was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma and he recalled falling from his horse two weeks prior. A hole was drilled in his skull and the blood was evacuated and he recovered fully. Subdurals can be slow or fast. In rural Maine we had a middle-aged man who was brought to the ER after a blow to the head and he was rapidly decompensating. A STAT CT scan showed a subdural with evidence of impending massive brain damage. No helicopter was available and the "big city" hospital was 2 hours of bad road away. Our general surgeon gathered the surgical team and quickly did the craniotomy and saved the man's life. "I watched a few during my training" he advised us.

The general rule of thumb before CT scanners were on every street corner was that if you did not get hit hard enough to knock you out, you were unlikely to have or develop a subdural hematoma. If you lost consciousness for a brief period but had a normal neurologic exam, you needed to be checked every 2 hours for any neurologic changes - if there was not a competent (and sober) person at home to do this, the patient was admitted for observation.

Patients who are alcoholic or who are taking "blood-thinners" are more susceptible to subdural hematomas.

The problem, for people like Bob Saget and Steve Allen, is that they may have bumped their head and even lost consciousness momentarily. The blow gave them a concussion, which causes drowsiness. They go to bed, and there is no one to wake them every two hours to check on them, and the progression of the bleed kills them. BTW: it is perfectly fine to let the victim sleep - you just have to wake them every two hours and do neuro checks (can you speak clearly? Show me you can move your arms and legs - squeeze my hands).

These days, if you go to the ER with any kind of blow to the head you are 99.99% likely to get a CT scan. Years ago when my youngest was about 8 she had a minor blow to the head and was out for 20 seconds. She recovered and was completely back to normal. She had been taken to the ER where I joined her and my wife. The ER doc said: "Maybe we should get a CT scan". I responded that "Maybe we should wait - we will check her every two hours and bring her back if any changes". A CT scan exposes the patient to a lot of radiation. The ER doc quickly said: "Sure - that is fine - I imagine that we will find out that CT scans are the asbestos of our generation". He was perfectly happy that we weren't doing the CT (although I have no doubt that he documented that a "CT was offered but parents declined").

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

CT scans do expose you to a heavy radiation dosage. If you really need one, great, but I’m always aware of it when one is suggested. My ENT doctor who treats me for sinusitis has a mini CT scanner in his office to visualize sinuses, and he likes to use it at every opportunity/visit, and although he is a very good physician, I try to get care from my primary care physician instead if possible for that very reason.

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

I was assaulted several years ago. i received a wack on the side of the head resulting in a messed up an bloodied ear. In my jurisdiction if an ambulance picks you up with any type of head injury you are automatically taken to our shock trama ER in downtown Baltimore. Everything turned out OK and I'll be as normal as I'll ever be.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

A friend of a friend fell a short distance off a step ladder and hurt himself. The next day he couldn't get out of bed so he called 911. (he's a retired doctor) So the paramedics took him to the hospital where he used to have privilege's. He got worse, developed Covid, was intubated, and died 30 days later - cause of death, Covid. He admitted himself to the same hospital where he practiced for 35 years and they killed him. Ugh! All he had were bruises from the fall off the step ladder.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

MAYBE all he had were bruises - since he’s an MD, one would assume he knew when to go to the hospital and the risks during Covid. The hospital didn’t kill him - it sounds as if complications from Covid did, but we don’t have all the first hand medical information, so his cause of death is just a guess.

Alan1729 Loc: England UK, now New York State.

You should know there is no such thing as "Free Healthcare" it's just how it is paid for before or after.

Larelain Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

Natasha Richardson also hit her head while skiing on beginners slope and said she was all right but died two days later

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

So very sad for your loss. I had a son go before me and it's very hard to handle. I wish you a speedy recovery, but I'm sure you have figured out by now that the grief never quite goes away.

Larelain Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

You are correct that you can spend a long time in the ER waiting room if you do not have life threatening injury. Last time i visited an ER in Los Angeles I had a kidney stone but was seen immediately. (It helped that I was the one who signed their payroll checks) The second time was in Myrtle Beach when I had chest pains and thought I might have a pulmonary embolism. I drove myself to the ER and they saw me immediately.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Oh, I know your wife's pain. In 2015, I fell on a bike ride and sheered off part of ball at the top of the humerus. Fortunately, my ER experience was relatively quick, but having fallen on a Friday afternoon, it was a long weekend to Monday afternoon to see the orthopedic guy. Fortunately, the fit me in for surgery on Tuesday, replacing the ball and adding a 9" titanium rod for support. Six years later, I have about 50% range of motion and lots of pain anytime I go 1 degree beyond the limit.
Hope you wife is doing fine now.

Divenavy Loc: Chicago Suburbs

And the worse part about getting hit on a motorcycle, Car, Bike etc.
Even if you get shot in Chicago..most likely the bad guy gets a $100.00 bond and Walks.
They get a plea deal.. 10 days and their home free to do it again.