Pickles by Brian Crane for October 02, 2022

who called the ambulance? certainly not Nelson

I was out with our dog and cutting through our parking lot. I should have been more attentive but I had not realized that she had wrapped the leash around my ankles and when she saw another dog she bolted. I fell backwards and smacked my head on the pavement. I got a concussion out of that. I could not get up, vomited and had to lie there for about an hour as the ambulance had to come from another town. All our ambulances had been busy. Nowadays I pay closer attention to everything the dog does!

Some people seem to jump to conclusions – when they see an ‘old person down’ it becomes “I’ve seen someone who’s fallen and can’t get up.”

Triage then call if needed ;-)

I guess at least your neighbors seem to care Earl! A lot of places these days someone may very well see an elderly person on the ground and assume they need medical attention but that doesn’t mean they’d bother to call an ambulance or even check on the person! Heck some of them would help themselves to their wallet etc

I collapsed in the park when my ICD malfunctioned and shocked me multiple times. Not one of the many people there stopped to help or even asked me if I was okay. A woman driving by stopped her car and called an ambulance when she saw me from the road.

Dogs can be oblivious. Friend was walking across our yard to the deck. Large dog charged out of her yard to get a squirrel and hit her right at the knee, almost knocking her down. It kept on running but looking back as if to say, “Was there something?”

And he didn’t have to say: “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”.

I’m a senior citizen. I get those calls offering to sell me a “Help, I’ve fallen” alert device. I say, “I’m a roofer” or cyclist, or motorcyclist, “will you come if I’ve fallen?” off a roof, bike, etc. “CLICK.” Works every time.

At my age if I lie down to enjoy the autumn leaves, they have to call a tow truck to get me back up again…

It’s true my neighbor was laying out in the hammock and someone was walking by and saw her and called an ambulance thought she was dead. Haha

A friend of mine tripped over his dog’s rug at his back door. He needed six stitches in his head and has two black eyes. His wife says that he didn’t have a bad concussion, but had a short hospital stay for observation anyway.

If it is the US will he still have to pay for the ambulance?

Why are the trees green though?

Got that right Earl

The greatest belly laugh this week. And those rides ain’t cheap, including the Fire Department’s EMTs. Last year, I installed my first smart-bulb. It flashed on and off the first time I turned it on, and I had to be faster at setting up its control software in my smartphone. I got a knock on the door from my next-door neighbor who was called by the single lady neighbor across the street, thinking I was signaling trouble.

We’re just lookin’ OUT for ya Earl..!!!!

When living with a cat that almost constantly steps in front of you and is around your ankles (when they want something, especially), a person must keep their coordinates in mind, or they land flat on their rear or face (whichever). It happened to me when my cat was a kitten and I, also, ended up with a concussion. Fortunately, I was inside and not far from my sofa. I crawled to the sofa and passed out for a while but came to and after a few minutes, was okay. But now I am VERY careful around this little furball I love so much.

and apparently this happens to Earl often.

At 75, I have low blood pressure, and if I become dehydrated, I am likely to drop. I almost never become unconscious. If I end up on the ground, I get onto my tummy, and try to rise to a kneeling posture, and subsequently try to stand up. Sometimes I have to remain kneeling longer as I work on getting my act together sufficiently to stand up. I began to walk with a cane years ago, and it helps immensely. Also, my wife helps me by telling me to take some water.

This was really funny today. Loved it.

It happens: I was doing sit-ups in the park, and an old lady asked if I was having trouble getting up. As a kid at school, I took a nap in the schoolyard at recess and woke to see two teachers and a crowd of students staring down at me.

I know the feeling.

Everywhere I go you can see in the eyes of others that they expect me to drop dead any second. It’s a bit of a nuisance, but I appreciate all the offers of help.

Earl: “As soon as I’m on the grass, it’s as if I’m caught between The Scylla and The Charybdis!”

Almost as bad is Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor (Tim Allen) on Home Improvements. They had a speed line for him in the local hospital’s ER and all the Rescue teams knew his home address. ;-p

Today’s remind me of what I went through past May. At least my daughter was there to help me. I did not suffer a head injury. There was a man with his dogs other side of the road from us, Usually we walk side he was on and be no trouble. I did fall and then did not know how bad. That man did not even bother to help me out he ignored. I did not lose consciousness fully alert. No EMS was called. Yet Earl is right on older people and I am one of them. I have posted in the past what happened. I am done with home therapy and asked for outpatient therapy. Monday is that day. I only use wheelchair to help get dressed. I use walker to help. Little steps holding on I can stand and move with solid. Goal no walker. Daughter and I do go outside, that is after I found right way to go down 8 steps. My walking is very slow not very far. I am making slow progress. I also got to go out of the house for nice outing at a sit down restaurant for breakfast, then my left side got to complaining. Fractured and break is healing, muscles still issue. If I where to slip and fall again I have to go back to the hospital then maybe not back home. Orthopedic Dr. said takes 2 years for bone to heal, I am 6 months into healing so I am being careful.

I’ve been there. In my front yard, laying on the grass. Fortunately, it ended up my neighbor’s teenage daughter walked over to check. Nothing to read into that.

My dad had polio as a kid and wore a full-leg brace. He played golf, but would always fall down when he hit the ball. He was OK with that — he’d figured out a system — but gave up golf because people always rushed over to help him up.

IN the grass? On a mowed lawn?

Nothing like an ambulance to ruin a peaceful autumn day.

the lion sleeps tonight