Warning! Graphic, Got beat up @ work...

[Jimbo]

Well it happened again...

We have had increasing amounts of patients or patients family beating up or attacking staff at the hospital.  I fell victim Sunday night around 1915, when a 17 year old kid punched me in the face twice.  He knocked me out, split my lip on the inside and outside, and caused a fistula where I could drink water and it would come out my nose.  The patient who hit me also hit another one of my staff and gave him a slight concussion too (poor Marc got hit in the head, neck, and ribs, didn't get knocked out, but dazed).  What had happened was the patient was brought in by his sister, she stated he was acting strange and might have taken something and needs his stomach pumped.  I asked the kid what was going on and did he take anything, he freely admitted to taking morphine and meth (Methamphetamine).  I began to go threw in my mind the dangers of "speedballing" which would me euphoria and increased risk of slipping into respiratory or cardiac arrest due to it causing dysrhythmia/tachycardia and respiratory depression.  I really didn't think he would be wound up like a full blown tweaker or PCP cranker.  I took him back to the room, was talking to him and his sister trying to get him checked in when he jumped up and ran out the door yelling "don't give me anymore!" over and over.  We called for security, but he was pulled to upstairs to another floor where family was being a bunch of dicks about who know what.  We went after him as he was running down the hallway yelling and crying, then ran out in the parking lot, collapsed in the grass and was crying.  We then got him up and walked him back in, he was mellow, almost like a limp noodle, and didn't need any restraint to be walked back in. 

Security still hadn't made it back, we walked him into the room, put him in the bed, when he jumped up and ran out the room.  He ran and smashed into the door to waiting room but didn't bust threw, turned around yelling, then ran into our ambulance bay doors and bounced off them.  He then ran to the crash cart located between two rooms.  It was a busy night, on one side we had a 87 year old woman who couldn't poop and was partially crippled, the next room over had a mother with a 4 year old with a fever (she had her other child too who was 3, in the room).  Now all I could think was, "crap, if he gets in there and hurts those kids..."  so I tried to defuse the situation, walked up and said,"hey you need to come back to your room", had my left hand out palm up, with right had at my side.  I thought I was far enough away...

I wasn't, he reared up and decked me.  Last thing I saw was his fist like an inch from my nose thinking "of fuck this is gonna hurt!"  And the room went black...
He hit me again as I dropped to the floor, then my buddy behind me did a flying tackle (Marc is like 6'4") and pinned him down with our doc's help.  The girls had been doing all other stuff, like shutting doors, calling security and the police, getting patients in their rooms, etc... came and pulled me away from the scuffle.  I woke up to the sounds of four beautiful ER nurses calling my name...hell ya I'll take experience over virgins anytime! The damage was a split lip on the outside and inside, and the fistula on the nostril and lip area, and a head injury with loss of consciousness.  I initially got 8 stitches on the outside of my lip, 2 stitches on the inside of my lip and then 8 on the inside to close it.  Then later on I took a drink of water and it went out my nose!  Wow that felt horrible and wild @ the same time.  Doc then repaired the opening with 8 more stitches.  So 26 stitches, got lucky on the head injury, no broken bones on the CT of head and face.

The sad thing is this is the 5th time I've been battered @ work, hell I've only been there 8 years.

The pics are graphic except the last one, where it shows the repair is complete.





I was able to eat some bread today.  First 2 days were miserable since I couldn't smile, laugh, or talk without it hurting (and I love to do all of those!), plus I have to drink with a straw from the side of my mouth since it hurts to try and drink or eat head on.  The swelling is going down today, and the bleeding finally stopped, it bled for 3 days on and off.  Plus I notice it is taking longer to feel better since I'm old.

[Morat20]

Sorry to hear it, and let me  thank you keeping up the good and often thankless work. I've had EMT's help me four or five times so far, and I'm sure I'll need them again.

I've had friends who were EMTs. It's a tough job, and you take shit like that, and fuck...you go back to it. I tend to lump EMTs, Nurses, and teachers as jobs wherein you're underpaid (if you're paid at all), overworked, often treated like shit, and it's often assumed your job isn't that difficult. All of them had similar stories --  mostly people on drugs, the occasional gang member, a sadly unsurprising number of drunks and a scattering of domestic abusers who were not as absent from the home as they thought. Oh, and one diabetic who went into a seizure and gave two concussions and a broken nose to the paramedics assesing him.

26 stiches for two punches? Damn, though, he caught you good. (And mental note: This is why you wear mouthgear when sparring, ALWAYS).

Was he that strong, or just a lucky hit? Or am I just underestimating the power of a good knock to the face? And did he manage to break his hand doing it?

[Slyfeind]

Wooo, damn! Tough guy is you indeed. So why don't they have at least one security hovering around at all times?

Heh, and do you guys always take pics of each other like that? :)

[Soln]

very sorry to hear that friend.  Doesn't help, but hang in there.

[Engels]

Glad to hear you're more or less alright Jimbo.

[apocrypha]

Fucking hell man, bad luck!

What happened to the kid in the end? Anyone find out what he thought was going on to make him freak out so badly?

[Ubvman]

Will there be criminal charges against the guy?  He should be charged, junky or not.
When they can do serious damage like that - hes not a kid anymore IMHO.

The 5th time you got battered at work in 8 years? Time you complained to the management about the security if you haven't already. If you have to deal with junkies off the street, you need better security. Are you trained to deal with situations like these? You know in this case, I think I would blame management about it. It's not providing a safe working environment, is there an employee grievance thing you can do or a union that can help you? Just saying.

[NowhereMan]

Holy hell that's a lot of damage for two punches. I am seriously impressed you're going back into work, I have second thoughts about going into work and I have no danger of getting punched in the face.

[Mosesandstick]

Damn, does this happen to all the EMTs? Keep up the thankless work man.

[tgr]

I woke up to the sounds of four beautiful ER nurses calling my name...hell ya I'll take experience over virgins anytime!

Now that sounds like a nice job perk.

Also props for doing what you're doing, you're all getting far too little recognition for the importance of the work you're doing.

[Sheepherder]

Anyone find out what he thought was going on to make him freak out so badly?

Speedball.  It's a heroin/cocaine cocktail.  The idea is that the euphoria of each substance is not countered by the other, but the two drugs ameliorate the short-term withdrawal effects.  This is full of shit, because the mechanisms are very much different (heroin simulates endorphins, cocaine prevents the re-uptake of dopamine).  Chances are he had a freak out because of the cocaine, and the heroin impaired his ability to make higher level decisions or feel pain.

EMT's, police, and firefighters tend to really not fucking like the drug trade for more or less this reason.

[Nebu]

Sorry to hear it, Jimbo.  I hope that you heal up quickly. 

[ghost]

If you have a fistula between your nose and mouth you should probably get in to see an ENT or oral surgeon, just to make sure there is nothing else that needs to be done.  You definitely don't want a sinus issue to pop up out of this. 

[K9]

Bloody hell man; hope you get better. Sorry to hear about this.

[Mrbloodworth]

"You got knocked the hell out" :)

Sadly, when I worked in the ER, this isn't uncommon. Good thing you can take a punch!

[rk47]

And people say drugs are not supposed to work like that in Fallout 3. That sounds scary. I dealt with a few difficult people at security work before but I always feel unnerved by psychos. You never know what they gonna do.

[HaemishM]

Yeah, EMT's are another of the jobs that take way too much shit, get paid way too little, get taken for granted by pretty much everyone (especially the people like hospital admins and management who determine their salaries) and are way overworked. You're doing God's work, brother. Sorry you got jacked in the jaw. Hope the little shit gets some pound me in the ass time for being such a dumbass.

[Morat20]

Yeah, EMT's are another of the jobs that take way too much shit, get paid way too little, get taken for granted by pretty much everyone (especially the people like hospital admins and management who determine their salaries) and are way overworked. You're doing God's work, brother. Sorry you got jacked in the jaw. Hope the little shit gets some pound me in the ass time for being such a dumbass.

He probably broke something in his hand. Probably several somethings. A bit of instant karma, if it helps.

[WayAbvPar]

I would be reporting dizziness and blurred vision for a couple of years and relax courtesy of L & I! 

Glad there was no permanent damage. Hopefully it will get you laid (if you are in need, that is).

[MisterNoisy]

Damn - glad you're generally okay, though.  Sucks that your employer is apparently saving a few bucks by having the staff double as security.

[Hawkbit]

Think of it this way...  If you've pressed charges (and you should) he should do at least a few months over it.  Luckily, junkies have one place in prison:  Bitch.  So you can smile knowing that he'll likely be anally raped at some point in the next few months. 

I got into a fist fight with a patron at the library when I worked there - public service is a nutty job and you've got the nuttiest, most unpredictable side of it.  Hope it heals fast and just remember - there's a whole lot of people that you helped and were thankful for it.  Don't let one douche sour that.

[Paelos]

Meth is a hell of a drug. 

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the well wishes ya'all.  Still feeling like bleah...but the bleeding is stopped, but the swelling is big.

I'm a RN/NREMT-P which means I'm a Registered Nurse and a National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Paramedic.  I'm also the charge nurse for the night shift, which means I'm running the ER, or "head cat herder" for night shift.  I had under my charge that night 1 Paramedic, 5 RN's, 1 Unit Secretary, 1 Doctor, & 1 Mid-level (P.A. or F.N.P.), even thought the doc's and mid-levels tell us what to do I'm helping them get stuff going in a team fashion.  The Doc may be the CO & the mid level his XO, but I'm more or less on line like the 1st Sergeant getting the patients and staff moved and managed.  I love it! 

You all can use Nurse or EMT or Medic or Charge Nurse or ER Nurse interchangeable, I'm mellow and don't mind, some take offense on what you call them, just never call us handmaids or ambulance drivers.

Security feels horrible about it, it happened so fast that the Police officer for the hospital could not get down from upstairs to come help us.  Bill is a seasoned police officer and has the badge, gun, and taser to deal with patients when they get too out of control.  I felt the need to act since the guy was in a spot where he could harm the patients...I know I know..."scene was mother fucking not safe!"  but if he hurt those kids I couldn't live with that.  Bill did get down and help Marc subdue the patient and handcuff him.  The police department was there pretty quick with back up, they ended up with 6 officers to restrain him, and place him in the paddy wagon and take him to jail (he was too combative for juvenile center).  He might have been dry tased, but I know they had a helluva time with transport and restraints.

As to why, well the "speedball" is mix of depressant usually a narcotic, and an upper like amphetamine or cocaine.  Historically it was a mixture of cocaine and heroin that was heated and injected (while hot) into a vein.  John Belushi and Cris Farley died from this if I remember, it is a combination that usually doesn't produce the crazy psychosis that he had.  A cheap version going around is methadone and xanax taken together for the buzz.  My guess is that he got his meth and it was not local but some from Mexico (the tweakers are having a hard time making it locally now) and it could have PCP laced in it.  PCP is worse than Meth in that it lasts even longer and can cause the superhuman feats of strength and rage and hallucinations.  PCP raging patients can break handcuffs if that tells you how bad they get.  Meth can cause some rage and superhuman strength but not as common, but it could have been.  Either way it was a drug induced rage and psychosis that led him to go wild, run, scream, and then attack me and the others.

I'm on light duty tonight and tomorrow, so hopefully I can like do some homework while doing secretary work tonight.  I hope the swelling goes down and I can talk again soon.

My friends are taking it harder than me, Marc and Tammy (they both were there Paramedic and RN) saw me and came to my aid, and another RN Tami is having issues, we had a critical incidence debriefing and I think that helped them a lot, plus we got to vent about how security and training would help, especially on a night where there is no males working.

We do have security, but it is only from 5pm to 5 am, it is an off duty police officer who is marked in a uniform and carrying his gear.  We have had numerous turnover in upper management, so I think this incident, plus we had 2 more where patients were doing crazy things (one was going to shoot his wife and girlfriend when they walked out, the cops arrested him and found 2 guns and drugs, the other was a husband ambushed his wife and started beating her in the parking lot, the cops took him to jail) so maybe we will get security increased and more officers and more training for staff.  I'm good friends with the police here in town so they were really upset over it, hopefully they can give us some training and ideas to help too.  I really don't want to sue my employer since I'm a single dad, I need a job, and I'm more willing to work to make it safer, besides I don't think a 17 y.o. kid has much money for me to get.

I'll post the pic's of my face once the sutures are out.

And I can't wait to get back in on night shift, I love it still!  Just wish I wasn't a Shit Magnet...

[Count Nerfedalot]

Just think how much money this hospital has saved by not hiring adequate security!  I bet their profit margins appreciate your noble sacrifices.  I sure hope you don't get dinged for insurance deductibles and co-pays for your treatment.

My apologies for being so negative when you are taking it so well.  You're a better man than I.  Thanks and kudos to you and all like you who put it on the line for the rest of us.

[Jherad]

Glad you're safe Jimbo, and I hope you feel better soon.

Nothing but the utmost respect for the work you do as an EMT.

[Abagadro]

Glad you're relatively okay. That is a scary situation.  I hear crazy stories from my paramedics about this kind of stuff (they get the added fun of going into meth houses).  Front line people really are amazing.

As to the issue raised just above, this is likely a worker's comp situation which usually precludes a lawsuit (not saying you should even if you could, but this was on the job and within the scope so in most places would be WC as exclusive remedy). If you have permanent damage or need some oral reconstruction you should definitely pursue a WC claim though to get it paid for.

[Strazos]

Hot.

Get well soon.

[LC]

Hospitals should keep a tranquilizer gun or maybe a taser for these situations. Just shoot those fuckers when they get out of hand.

I kind of know what you go through Jimbo. I have an alcoholic cousin that gets extremely violent when he's drunk. He will take a swing at anyone that gets in his way. Last year at a BBQ he picked up a grill full of hot coals and threw it at his 4 year old son. Luckily he misses almost every time he tries to hurt someone. The hospital stopped dealing with him. They turn him away now, and he has to go to the county hospital.

[Der Helm]

Last year at a BBQ he picked up a grill full of hot coals and threw it at his 4 year old son.

That should have been the last stupid thing he ever did.

[TripleDES]

I figure with this being the fifth time, you developed a sense of alertness towards drug addicts, keep your distance and are ready to punch them on the slightest sign of troubles. You know, that bullshit about attack the best defense. I mean, if you're about to get punched in the face anyway, why not giving it a try to prevent it?

[Pennilenko]

I figure with this being the fifth time, you developed a sense of alertness towards drug addicts, keep your distance and are ready to punch them on the slightest sign of troubles. You know, that bullshit about attack the best defense. I mean, if you're about to get punched in the face anyway, why not giving it a try to prevent it?

Its a huge lawsuit and likely his job if he punches a patient in anticipation of an attack. He did the right thing. Its unfortunate about his injury but the way he handled things ensures his job is secure and that the hospital is not in trouble.

[Strazos]

Since you work at a hospital, and this occurred while on the job...free reconstructive surgery...right?

[Sir T]

Hospitals should keep a tranquilizer gun or maybe a taser for these situations. Just shoot those fuckers when they get out of hand.

If they are that wound up on a drug psychosis they probably would not even feel the effects of a tranq. Especially as in the real world tranqs take time to knock someone out. A tazer could work MAYBE, but god help you if someone died from it. Seriously, people on drug episodes are literally superhuman. Their body is just burning energy. This isn't a drunk that will rage for a bit and fall asleep. These guys can be in a room smashing it up for hours.

I'm sorry what happened to you happened Jimbo. Some of my family or in the nursing trade and some of the stories they tell me are are just frightening.

[MahrinSkel]

If he really was on a combination of meth, PCP, and heroin, the only certain way to stop him would be a bullet to the head.  A taser *might* work, or it might just piss him off.

--Dave

EDIT: And not a little bullet.  .357 magnum hollowpoint would be the minimum.

[Ubvman]

If he really was on a combination of meth, PCP, and heroin, the only certain way to stop him would be a bullet to the head.  A taser *might* work, or it might just piss him off.

--Dave

EDIT: And not a little bullet.  .357 magnum hollowpoint would be the minimum.

Armchair ballistican:
I would think the .357 magnum would have too much velocity and go thru the guy or the walls in case of a miss. I would think a slow big and heavy .44 special or .45 ACP (hollowpoints) would do the trick.

If the guy is so hopped up on drugs - a Tazer wouldn't bother him if all the episodes of COPS I have seen is correct. Seen some junkies shrug off several Tazer jolts and still fight the police/run on the show.

In our particular case, I am of a mind that the negligent party in this case (apart from the junky) is the management of the ER. Its a pretty bad working environment in that in 8 years you had 5 serious accidents (all of which could have been fatal). Does your pay reflect the risks you are taking? Does management provide adequate training and security to prevent such incidents? If not (IMHO here), you really ought to take it to next level and complain/bring industrial action against the management. You owe it to yourself, your family and your fellow co-workers. Well at least make some noise to get management off their asses and improve security. The squeaky wheel gets some grease after all...

PS:
I'm not suggesting suing the management. I am not American but over here, we do have labor protection laws and labor groups that we can complain to over unsafe working conditions. Don't know if there is anything similar in the states.