Last night - at about 4:00 AM - I injured myself badly enough to go by ambulance to the ER, where I received 13 stitches from my hairline to my nose. I arrived back home around 9:00 AM by taxi.

Having not lived alone before, I had never considered how to deal with emergencies by myself. So, no First Aid Kit anywhere, no phone #'s in my PDA, no bandages here in the house with which to stop the bleeding, and I didn't even know which house key worked in my locks. No lists of emergency contacts for the paramedics in case they couldn't communicate with me (which for a very brief few moments was the case.)

Thankfully I was NOT knocked out, in which case I might have bled to death. Thankfully I was able to open the door for the paramedics, and had managed to find a towel to wrap around my head until they arrived. That towel was the only thing I could put my hands on, however. Thankfully I remembered to bring my purse so I had $$ for a taxi home. (I have no idea what I would have done if I couldn't afford the taxi). Thankfully the paramedics waited patiently while I figured out which key would lock the door - and they had also helped me get my dogs outside and then shut back up again as well.

Here's the scary part: After I found the towel, but before I called 911, I actually laid down at one point and told myself I should go back to sleep and deal with this in the AM. Fortunately a little voice said, No, you MUST dial 911 and deal with this now.

I will be revisiting my emergency prepardness procedures and making better arrangements for the future. Even though I hope I'll never need to do this again.

Wow, Deja! I hope you are doing better today. I agree that we're usually not thinking about how to prepare until we've been through an unprepared experience. I'm not alone now, but I was for a few years. You offer a good reminder that we should all plan for the worst. Heal fast!


Mrs. W8ing

Thanks! I'm home from work as a result and appreciating the rest, but not the reason for it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Deja Vu!
Sorry to hear about your accident. Glad to hear you are on the mend.
Just a suggestion for your emergency checklist. I've been told to list someone in my cellphone under the word ICE (In Case of Emergency). The idea is that emergency workers will check your cellphone list specifically for that word when you can't communicate with them and they want to contact someone for you.

Great Idea - however, the first part is that I would have to keep my cell phone where it could be located (instead of buried under my car seat), now wouldn't I? Yup! Lots of things I've been doing wrong!

You so sound like me. Hmmmm. I have bandaids, Tums, aspirin, tylenol, ibuprofen. The ice packs are in a pile - in my bedroom (used 3 on my back one night).

so.....are you gonna post what you did???? lol

i am sorry you got hurt, and i hope you are feeling better. i think posting this as a warning to others is great---thanks!

Sure - but I'm not sure what you're getting at - you mean how I dealt with the emergency? or...?

Wow, I'm glad you posted this, I'm either alone or with my two little guys. A lot to think about. Hope you are feeling better.

What did you do that caused that much damage?
Did you fall out of bed?

Also about cell phones. Most people would look at the most recent calls in and out to find a contact. This worked when I found someone left a purse with their cell phone in it.