We were toned out this afternoon for a fall to a nearby residence, literally just down the road from the station. It is the second time this month that we've been to his home, and it's only the 15th of October. The gentleman that lives there is in his early 70's and has a long list of medical problems. He called us out today because he fell and broke his ankle. (The last time we were called to his residence for a medical assist, he had fallen and twisted the other ankle.)
I quickly ran through my assessment but as I did, I could sense my patient was growing frustrated. I could almost hear his thoughts as I looked at his facial expressions, "Why are you asking me all these insane questions when it's obvious that I broke my ankle?" (That's my job to ask question besides the poking and probing.)
I wasn't too concerned with the broken ankle as much as I wanted to know why or what made him fall. I finally got it out of him that he had been feeling dizzy just before he he took his fall. Just about that time, I noticed while doing my assessment that his blood pressure was TOO LOW. I immediately started an IV to give our patient some fluids to bring up his blood pressure while the others splinted his ankle with a vacu-splint and placed an ice pack for the pain and swelling.
As we loaded our repeat customer, into the ambulance I told him that if he wanted to see us so bad, next time just stop by the station. We're just down the road.
He laughed and said he would.