Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

Epileptic fits

16th Apr 2013
Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

No not mine.  I was in a cheery mood this morning and walking through the town centre, when I saw a drunk stumbling about and then fall against a bench.  I gave him a wide berth, but then felt a bit guilty so thought I should at least see if he was hurt in his stumble.  He had time to mutter 'I'm epileptic' before going quiet.  By this time the presence of 2 men in suits tending to a prostrate man (a fellow citizen had turned up by then) attracted a crowd, so we ended up with a 'Genevese Syndrome' where everyone thought everyone else had it covered, so no-one took initiative.

Cue a few minutes of me thinking 'should I call an ambulance?  Is he in fact drunk and just claiming epilepsy?  If I call an ambulance and he stands up in 10 seconds, will I get told off?'.  Stupid in hindsight, call ambulance and let them decide if he needs it, talk you through anything that might happen while you wait, cancel the ambulance if he stands up and says 'just kidding!'.

We spotted a city centre ambassador and flagged her down, she came over and did everything we should have (someone had called an ambulance by then), including propping his head up a little and making him more comfortable.  To our credit we did have him on his side and I was watching his breathing in case it, well, stopped.

Paramedic arrived, checked he was responsive, we all dispersed.  I spent the next half hour (and I imagine the rest of the day) second guessing everything I did and didn't do.

Lesson learned?  Call ambulance straight away, if it turns out not to be needed ring again and cancel.  Better to waste medic time than delay and have the man die.  Luckily it all worked out this time.  Currently wondering how much responsibilty a person in a group has in these situations, does it dilute as each person is added?

Dealing with clients should be a doddle after that!

Tags:

You might also be interested in

Replies (3)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By User deleted
16th Apr 2013 09:46

Some study?

I'm sure I read somewhere recently about a study that had been done that said people are more likely to take decisive action when they're on their own and when there's no-one else around - it's the fear of looking an idiot to other people and not knowing who's taking charge. You did the right thing by paying attention in the first place - it's too easy to dismiss it as drunkenness and walk by with your head down.

I reckon you should give yourself a big pat on the back - if you'd carried on there's no guarantee anyone else would have bothered. Well done!

Thanks (0)
Replying to User deleted:
By thomas.peterson
16th Apr 2013 10:13

Yep

Flash Gordon wrote:

I'm sure I read somewhere recently about a study that had been done that said people are more likely to take decisive action when they're on their own and when there's no-one else around - it's the fear of looking an idiot to other people and not knowing who's taking charge.

I read it in a book years ago, the more people present at a scene the more likely more will join in (so if there is a mugging and there are people there, extra people will be more likely to help) but the less likely any one will take certain actions (such as calling the police, I believe there is a famous case where someone was murdered while basically being watched by lots of people in surrounding buildings who all thought 'someone else will take care of this' after seeing all the people watching).

I reckon if I'd been on my own I would have been straight onto 999 as I would have felt out of my depth, but all those people who didn't call 999 along with me made me feel that was the correct course (as you say, who wants to be the stupid looking one who overreacts and calls 999 when it isn't needed?  At least that's the thought, in reality the idiots were the ones who didn't call 999, i.e. all but the one man who did).

Next time I will do better!

 

Thanks (0)
By Roger.Thornton
16th Apr 2013 11:06

First Aid courses should be compulsary for all.

Take a first aid course, your local St. John's will run them. Not only do they teach you basic first aid, but, more importantly, they give you the confidence to act.

Thanks (0)