Holidays are some of the most entertaining in the healthcare field. Take the 4th of July for instance.
Anyone working in the emergency room, radiology, respiratory therapy, or transport can tell you some really dumb stuff happens during that celebration.
People try to hold fireworks in a closed first on a dare. Some think they can hold a pop-bottle rocket by the stick, light the fuse, and watch it shoot straight up.
Imagine their surprise when it blows up in their face because they had too tight of a grip on the handle. Or, it turns and heads straight for the neighbor’s house.
Christmas and New Years
These are the holidays that seem to bring the most alcohol-related accidents. Although there’s no shortage of those on Independence Day either.
Christmas brings the social aspect of loneliness with the amplification of alcohol and all bets are off on what people will do to themselves.
New Years Eve is always marked with massive alcohol consumption, among other party favorites, which inevitably bring some doozies into the ER for imaging.
Thanksgiving and Indigestion
But Thanksgiving can always be counted on to bring in the chronic and acute digestive UGI issues.
Eating to much, dare I say, stuffing too much food down the gullet brings many a patient into the ER.
It might set off their diabetes. It might cause a mighty occlusion. And occasionally, it comes in the form of a chicken bone stuck in the throat.
“Soft Tissue Neck Xray in ED 9 please!”
Holiday Tips and Tricks
Personally, I’ve found that good old Gastrografin helps coat the throat when swalled generously and often times will allow the unlodging of horizontal turkey or chicken bones lodged in the esophogus.
Of course, limited the consumption of food and alcohol can go a long way to keeping you out of the emergency room as well.
Lastly, if you can just learn to go home when you’ve had enough…maybe you can avoid that fist fight with uncle Harry this year and you won’t both end up getting xrays.
Three Cheers for Radiology
So thank you to all of the imaging technologists who will be working long twelve-hour shifts, imaging all kinds of stupid out there.
Thank you for not laughing directly in front of the patient when you see what a mess has been made of things.
Thank you for making sure they get back to the room where you found them in the emergency room.
Thank you for just doing the exam even though you know that 9 times out of 10 it didn’t need to be ordered in the first place.
And lastly, thank you for doing what you do even though most times you get absolutely no respect from your administration or other hospital employees.