We responded to a call for a lift assist only, no medical needed. My district has a lot of elderly and infirmed citizens and when they fall, or slide out of bed/chair/walker whatever, we go and pick them up. They aren't hurt but just don't have the strength to get up. Dispatch informed us that the patient would be in front of the residence. I figured this meant it was an actual fall but sometimes people just have trouble transferring from the car to wheelchair and need assistance.
When we arrived we found an elderly woman lying next to her side yard gate with a neighbor supporting her right leg. I asked what happened and she told me that she fell and that she thinks she cracked her hip. So much for the lift assist. I told my captain to get an ambulance coming right away. I sent the firefighter into the house to get some pillows and padding to prop her leg up so the neighbor could let go of her leg. Turns out she was bending over and lost her balance and fell, landing right on her hip. She had no other injuries but was in a lot of pain anytime her leg was moved.
We assessed her injury and obtained vitals. I then established IV access in preparation for pain meds. I knew it was going to hurt like hell when we had to move her. I adminstered the pain meds and I could tell just by her voice and reaction that they were kicking in but she still had pain to be sure. I told her we ready to move her and that we would do our best to make it quick but that it was going to hurt. She said, "Alright, I understand. But, is it alright if I curse?". Now that's a lady, huh? We laughed and told her she could do whatever she wanted to.
We rolled her to the uninjured side to get our scoop stretcher under her and she responded with, "Shhhhiiiiiiitttttt". We got her loaded up and on her way with no further distress. It just cracked me up that she asked permission to curse. She was a very sweet lady and I hope she heals up quickly.
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