Monday, February 28, 2011

You've come a long way, baby...

For some reason, I'm pondering mortality today.  (Well, I know why, but I can't divulge.)  Anyhoo, I've been thinking about modern medicine and how many times I would have died by now if I'd been born in any other century.

The broken arm at 4?  Could've done it.  The multiple cases of strep throat?  Yep, each time I could've died.  Don't even get me started on my pregnancies and how sick I was.  If I'd been able to carry the pregnancies, I probably wouldn't have survived.

Then I have to factor in vaccinations.  Small pox was eradicated by the time I was old enough to be immunized.  Measles?  Mumps?  Rubella?  Tetanus?  Diptheria?  Pertussis?  All preventable with vaccinations.

But no matter how far we come medically, we seem to be dead set on killing ourselves.  Build a car to keep you safe, we'll make it go faster.  Develop a seat belt?  Let's cut the top off.  How about roll bars and air bags?  Raise the speed limit, why don't cha?  We've distilled alcohol, purified opium, and rolled cigarettes.  But the human race keeps on reproducing.  When will we destroy ourselves in the process?

Sorry to be so maudlin today.  Guess I'll just have to be glad to be here and take it one day at a time.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Emergency Bowl

I knew before I went into work today that it would be slow this evening.  No, I'm not psychic.  I just knew that the Super Bowl was going to be on, and during big games the emergency department becomes slow.

While it's nice to get a couple of hours of decreased business sometimes, it really bothers me that I can predict the volume of the emergency department based on sporting events.  Is it only an emergency when there aren't any big games on?  Or is it that no one will take a loved one to the hospital when a favorite player is throwing a ball?  I know the commercials are good.  Well, usually, anyway.  And the half-time show is awesome.  When the singers are on-key.  But what does it say about our society that the ebb and flow of the emergency department can be predicted by what is on TV on any given night?

It says that our emergency rooms are not really for emergencies.  They are for convenience care.  They are for medication refills.  They are for obtaining recreational drugs.  We did have some true emergencies tonight.  We cared for those patients while trying to wade through all of the other junk that came through the front doors.

Until 6:30.  Then we were home free.  Until 10:00, anyway.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever has set in here, and set in hard.  We've been through most of the movies in our arsenal, sang every princess song known to man, and we're now relegated to dressing up in church clothes and putting on makeup.  It's only 9 am.  We could be in big trouble here.

I really shouldn't complain.  We're warm, we've got lights, and we can nuke up some chicken nuggets when lunchtime rolls around.  We also have access to the all-important chocolate milk.  No rationing has been instituted.  Showers this morning were warm.  I don't even have on socks right now.  Life is good.

Most important, I'm having a second day in a row with my children.  For a woman who's most recent complaint is feeling like she's missing the childhoods of her offspring, this ice is a gift from heaven.  Guess I'd better get off of the computer and open up the wrapping paper.  Time to enjoy some cabin fever.