RE: My Bad Day

T5.

I too have a ‘sick’ story, but mine goes a little bit further. A few years ago I was working as a nurse on an elderly care ward, it was a late shift and should have been relatively quiet. Always a bad sign. Anyway I’d just gone on duty and only been on the ward a few minutes when a lady was taken ill. I attended to her and for my pains this lady managed to projectile vomit all over me. My tunic and trousers were covered so I had to wear a set of greens.

You have to know that a number of our patients were confused. So, there I was, in the middle of a large dressing change when I asked my colleague to fetch me some more absorbent pads. Off they went and soon someone came to me behind the curtains just as I was involved in a tricky part of the procedure. Imagine how I felt when I heard liquid splashing before something wet hit the back of my leg. It was one of the old chaps, who, in his confusion, decided to use me as a urinal. Change of clothes no2.

Later that day a woman vomited a huge amount of blood over me which necessitated yet another change. Faeces was an ever constant hazard which I managed to avoid that day. However, just to cap it all, I was asked to get a sputum sample from a patient. Normally they spit in a cup and it goes away for screening. This patient asked me if I wanted their sample as I was talking to someone else. Helpfully, I held out my hand only to have them spit in it!!

A perfect end to a perfect day.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Something for Sunday

Andrew,

thanks for another great set of pictures but especially (old fart that I am) the superb Dan Air Comet – Beautiful!!

Regards,

kev35

RE: Airlines Not liable for DVT, a court rules.

Wys,

“How about the sizeable but unreported number of cases of DVT in hospital wards where patients lie in bed for a long time without moving.”

From my experience I would suggest that the anecdotal evidence would point far more to patients suffering from other complications of immobility rather than DVT. Among these are pneumonia, fluid on the lungs, constipation, blood pressure anomalies, pressure sores, dropped foot. I saw few patients with DVT which occurred whilst hospitalised. Hospitals love to put patients in compression stockings directly to help the circulation. I think that is probably one of the few things hospital are successful at.

“Should the hospitals be sued?”

Possibly, and in an increasingly litiginous society, probably. It could be said that hospitals have a ‘duty of care’ to their patients so I am surprised that people don’t sue when dressings aren’t changed correctly, people on two hourly turns are missed leading to an increased likelihood of pressure sores. If we accept that, then surely the airlines should take some responsibility for people who develop DVT as a result of using their services. Yes, videos are shown and advice given but they continue to cram passengers into seats with inadequate legroom. Passengers are encouraged to walk about but that’s hardly practical is it? A pressurised steel and aluminium tube with passengers squeezing to walk down aisles barely more adequate than the legroom?

“The patients aren’t made aware of the risks there anywhere like as much as they are on an airline flight.”

That’s because the risk of the other complications of immobility are more significant. You have surgery these days and you are being mobilised as soon as is possible, you receive physiotherapy, depending on your condition you have an exercise regime.

Sorry, Wys, but I have to disagree on this one.

Regards,

kev35

RE: planes you would like to own

PII.

“Kev, I’m impressed. Perhaps we are making strides afterall. Or maybe we both just have good taste in airplanes.”

You might be right but you have to remember there is another British saying for when people agree…

“Either great minds think alike, or, fools seldom differ.”

How are the flying lessons going?

Regards,

kev35

RE: planes you would like to own

De Havilland Chipmunk T.10, just for the memories.

A Dakota, again for the memories but also for owning a genuine piece of aviation history.

Phantom FGR 2, just for when I want to get anywhere in a hurry.

I’m a man of simple tastes so that’ll do for me.

PII, I chose two from your list, that’s getting mighty close to an agreement.

Regards,

kev35

RE: ROCKY VI

Death Race 2000 and Rollerball were true cult classics. Copland was a good film but I do think he lacks any real substantial acting ability. Action scenes? Yes he can carry them off ok, but I think that’s just about all he can do.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Name the horse

1. Trigger. Incidentally, he was stuffed and mounted, fortunately, after his death.

2. The white horse mainly ridden by General Lee, and, I think, buried near him was traveller. He also rode a brown mare named Lucy. Traveller is usually the horse he is riding in paintings.

3. Silver, as in Hi-Ho Silver Awaaaaay!

Not a clue for the others but I’ll ask my dad tomorrow.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Air Marshalls on U.K Flights

“A knife is a personal weapon, whilst one person is being stabbed the knife is no longer a threat to anyone else.”

Isn’t that a little simplistic? While the knife is in the hands of the terrorist it is always a threat. But what about multiple terrorists as there was on September 11th? These are people who crave death. If five terrorists kill five passengers and die in the attempt they have still succeeded.

“If shots have to be fired as a LAST resort an officer will understand the ramifications of that,”

If that last resort means the deaths of passengers, and conceivably the police officers own deaths in the process, the terrorists still come out on top.

“if there are hostages he can just protect the cockpit until he has a shot or the plane is landed by the pilots, who will be able to radio the ground and fly the aircraft un hindered (which is there 1st
responsibility!)”

Great! The cockpit crew get to land the plane safely so the investigators have an easier time identifying the bodies following the bloodbath that will inevitably occur. Don’t get me wrong, I sincerely hope this works, but I think there’s as much chance of this working as there is of Bush’s invasion of Iraq bringing an end to the war on terror.

Regards,

kev35