A scary sunday lunch

[Bartdude]

I was out for dim sum today with friends when a guy nearby, at a table of about 10 family members, including four children, keeled over and started having what later was revealed to be a seizure. With 300+ in the restaurant, there was brief mass panic and dialling of cell phones, fortunately he did not stop breathing.

The seizure, fortunately, was relatively brief. I almost thought I would have to jump in with CPR, and I found myself double checking if I remembered the right procedure (breathing, circulation, 2+15)

Fate picked the right setting - crowded restaurant, odds are there had to be a doctor in the crowd, and there indeed was. He assessed the guy and a bunch of us helped keep the family calm until the paramedics arrived.

I don't mind saying I left feeling a little shaken. I was talking to the doc, and he said the guy, in his 40's, has no history of seizures, so first thing I'm thinking is "uh-oh".

On another note - I called 911 - got an operator who asked me what city, then I got put on hold for fuck's sake....ON HOLD....six other people were having the same problem, naturally. It took a full 3-4 minutes before someone got through.

 

[felix29]

The seizure, fortunately, was relatively brief. I almost thought I would have to jump in with CPR, and I found myself double checking if I remembered the right procedure (breathing, circulation, 2+15)

Just so you know,

CPR has been changed to 2 : 30 with no check for pulse. New protocals

 

[hitrack]

I have a family member that suffer from seizures from an enlarged vein in the back of their head. To risky to operate so meds are the only solution. I have been witness to 3 of them. All 3 robber her (she is an elderly lady) of her memory for a few weeks while her brain recovers and recoups from the trama.

The first freaked me out, now I just worry she won't take to bad a hit when she falls down. She's had 3 over a 3 or so year period. And last suffered from them as a kid, she's now in her 70's.

 

[S.G. Gibson]

dim sum is scary, I wouldn't eat that stuff

 

[john23]

dim sum is scary, I wouldn't eat that stuff

Well, the chilli chicken feet are ok and ... they bring you good luck!

I've seen people who are much worse off than the cases described above who wear helmets all the time to avoid self-inflicted injury.

 

[JustAGuy]

Back in high school, a friend of mine had epileptic seizures on a fairly regularly basis. Luckily for him, they were almost always in public places and he'd be with someone who was more or less expecting it and knew how to react.

He died at the age of 25 when he had a seizure in his apartment, where he lived alone. In falling, he hit his head on the sharp corner of a table, split his head open and bled to death. So sad.

I'm sure there are drugs these days that regulate epilepsy far more effectively than when Jim was alive but an incident such as what happened in the restaurant sounds almost impossible to predict if the guy has had no history of seizures. Probably a very good thing it happened where it did, if it had to happen.

 

[aznboi9]

Exactly. Poor Teej as well. The worst of his injuries are when he face plants on cement when he seizes. We can't always be there to catch him...so it's really worrysome for those of us who care about the guy.

I was watching this thing a while back on TV about dogs. One of the segments was talking about dogs and epileptics. Reportedly, the dog in the show was able to notify the owner that she was about to have a seizure, 45-60 min before it came on. They don't know how it was able to do it; but it was a boon for the owner as it enabled her to go home and prepare herself (put on helmet, padding etc) so that she didn't get injured and her family members could assist her as needed. Maybe your friend can look into that sort of thing?

 

[georgebushmoron]

dim sum is scary, I wouldn't eat that stuff

Ditto. It always seems to me to be the leftovers from the week previous.

 

[sirlickheralot]

dim sum is scary, I wouldn't eat that stuff

I like alot of dim sum items but I make sure I know what the hell I'm ordering now. I went to a dim sum place where they bring you a slip of paper with the names of all the dishes and you check off what you like, however there was no description of what the dishes were. I saw phoenix claws and I thought maybe they were crab claws, imagine my suprise when they brought me a plate of soggy chicken feet. They might be okay deepfried so the skin is crispy, but soggy, and rubbery chicken skin just grossed me out, after 1 little bit I left the rest of the order.

 

[Bartdude]

A friend mentioned to me today that MSG can cause reactions in people that include seizures....hmmmm.....

 

[gravitas]

For starters kudos to you for even being willing to help. With car accidents, medical emergencies there are two things that seriously piss me off. One, people who aren't doing fuck all but feel the need to crowd around the scene. PISS OFF and get out of the fucking way and stop acting like a human pylon. Two, people who have the skills and knowledge to help but don't want to get involved. Hell, even if you don't have the training chances are someone nearby will....ask if there's anything you can do to assist, if they say yes great, if no then get out of the way.

I almost thought I would have to jump in with CPR

Again, admirable you were willing to help but as felix mentioned the CPR protocols have recently changed. Given its a skill you likely won't get a whole lot of opportunity to practice on a regular basis its worthwhile to get retrained/certified every couple of years. While you're at it register for a basic first aid course

We know what to do know

For friends, family and even casual bystanders watching someone seize is a terrifying experience. For anyone unfamiliar with what to do here are the basic steps when someone's having a seizure:
-lay the person on the ground, spine side down
-remove any sources of potential injury (i.e. furniture, tools, etc.)
-contact EMS
-DON'T stick anything in their mouth while they're seizing
-once they've stopped check their ABC....A, do they have a clear Airway or is it blocked by their tongue or foreign object, if it is blocked clear it*.....B, are they Breathing, if not then perform AR*.....C, do they have Circulation (i.e. pulse), if not only then perform CPR*

*again, take a first air course!

dim sum is scary, I wouldn't eat that stuff

Dim sum restaurants are a lot like SP's. Some provide great selection, others have a limited menu. Some are nice and clean, others smell like NYC subway toilet. Some you want to go back to again and again since they're so tasty, others you'd sooner eat cat food.

In falling, he hit his head on the sharp corner of a table, split his head open and bled to death. So sad.

Thats a shitty way to go

 

[mick_eight]

Grav you're right that everyone should have up to date First Aid . I once held a A ticket ,but many years since expired. CPR has changed a lot . But still think my old would be better then none. They used to teach a hard thump on chest before beginning CPR. but not anymore I heard. Tho I know a cardiac care nurse that when she gets a code the first thing she does is smack the sternum. So I guess we have to decide for ourself and do the best we can.I've had the misfortune to have to use my training on a few occasions and it is a nice feeling to at least help when people are in distress. Very hard to deal with when nothing works. I think fear stops a lot of people from helping and should not be looked down upon because of it. Some people can and some can not deal with the blood and guts

 

[luckydog71]

.... On another note - I called 911 - got an operator who asked me what city, then I got put on hold for fuck's sake....ON HOLD....six other people were having the same problem, naturally. It took a full 3-4 minutes before someone got through.

Cellular technology is available now and is used in most US states that determine where you are calling from and the 911 answering point that serves the location you are in.

It goes even further than that. After the cellular caller is connected to the 911 answering point, the cellular system then calculates your location down to a few feet then transmits your location to the 911 operator you are talking to.

This capability was mandated by the US federal government many years ago. It is also required by many other countries, I am not sure why the Canadian gov't has not passed similar requirements for Canadian carriers.

I am glad everything worked out in the end.