Escorted my elderly mother to her doctor's appointment. Routine short trip from home, made countless times. She calls an Ambulette service a week prior. They come and pick her up. Drop off right at the doctor's office building. Appointment over, they come and pick her up. Drop off at home. I'm with her the entire time. Usually, I don't grab a ton of gear. Just the absolute basics.
Yesterday we get an incompetent driver. Long story, short; mom ends up badly scratching up her lower leg while being helped out by the driver. I don't notice it. She's not in pain. Only mentions it once we're inside the building. I look, it's a bit of a bloody mess. We head upstairs immediately, I tell the receptionist she's checking in. And, that she needs a bandage. Receptionist, a young man, tells me he'll ask a nurse to look at it in a moment. Then he gets to the important part.... The co-pay. Yeah, that's what he was really concerned about. I clear up his confusion.
Waiting area thankfully has tissue boxes. I grab several tissues and help her clean up as best I can. Two minutes later she gets called in. I lead her in, and tell the nursing assistant about the blood. Looks like the receptionist forgot to say anything. We go into a room where a nurse finally comes in to look at her leg. Nurse did a good job. By that point it had stopped bleeding.
I decided this is never happening again. Went home, put together a Mini personal Med. kit. Used a zip-lock sandwich bag to keep it small and easily carried in a tiny purse or the leg pocket of a pair of cargo pants/shorts.
Contents:
2 Alcohol Prep. pads.
1 Sanitary wipe.
1 Small band-aid.
1 Regular sized band-aid.
1 Large Band-Aid.
1 XL sized Band-aid
1 "H" shaped band-aid.
1 small packet of Burn gel.
Everything fits neatly in the baggie and the top of it can be folded over easily almost in half. Ideal for a quick trip in which something like the above could happen. Ironically, had all of those items at home already in the medium-sized First-Aid kit. No gloves for a simple reason.... It's my mom. I know she doesn't have anything. So, not worried about catching anything from her. This thin kit is now going with us on every appointment she has.
Yesterday we get an incompetent driver. Long story, short; mom ends up badly scratching up her lower leg while being helped out by the driver. I don't notice it. She's not in pain. Only mentions it once we're inside the building. I look, it's a bit of a bloody mess. We head upstairs immediately, I tell the receptionist she's checking in. And, that she needs a bandage. Receptionist, a young man, tells me he'll ask a nurse to look at it in a moment. Then he gets to the important part.... The co-pay. Yeah, that's what he was really concerned about. I clear up his confusion.
Waiting area thankfully has tissue boxes. I grab several tissues and help her clean up as best I can. Two minutes later she gets called in. I lead her in, and tell the nursing assistant about the blood. Looks like the receptionist forgot to say anything. We go into a room where a nurse finally comes in to look at her leg. Nurse did a good job. By that point it had stopped bleeding.
I decided this is never happening again. Went home, put together a Mini personal Med. kit. Used a zip-lock sandwich bag to keep it small and easily carried in a tiny purse or the leg pocket of a pair of cargo pants/shorts.
Contents:
2 Alcohol Prep. pads.
1 Sanitary wipe.
1 Small band-aid.
1 Regular sized band-aid.
1 Large Band-Aid.
1 XL sized Band-aid
1 "H" shaped band-aid.
1 small packet of Burn gel.
Everything fits neatly in the baggie and the top of it can be folded over easily almost in half. Ideal for a quick trip in which something like the above could happen. Ironically, had all of those items at home already in the medium-sized First-Aid kit. No gloves for a simple reason.... It's my mom. I know she doesn't have anything. So, not worried about catching anything from her. This thin kit is now going with us on every appointment she has.
