What makes it take so long to be seen in the ER?

[jonessoda]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: jdoggg12
I was in the ER for various reasons:

Food poisoning with SEVERE dehydration
2 sprained, possible fractured ankles (motorcycle crash)
3" gash in my scalp to the bone bleeding badly (fight with roommate)
dislocated shoulder
Alcohol poisoning

All of these had a 30+ min wait and none of them had more than 3 other people waiting in the waiting room and averaged 1 ambulance entrance per visit

NOT AN EMERGENCY.

What exactly is your definition of emergency?

All but one of those have, to my knowledge (EMT-B trainee, just took the state cert test tonight), easy, easy stabilization. If you're stable, it isn't an emergency. Skill level is in parentheses.

Food poisoning w/ severe dehydration: IV fluids (paramedic), suction vomit if necessary (EMT-B).
Bilateral ankle sprains w/ possible fx: Pillow splint (EMT-B or even first responder).
3" laceration on scalp: Apply dressing and bandage (First responder)
Dislocated shoulder (assuming distal pulse is present): Splint if possible, otherwise have pt keep it still (EMT-B or FR)
Alcohol poisoning: A little trickier but you were probably stable to start with. If your airway was compromised or you started coding, you could be intubated if necessary (paramedic) and you'd be upgraded to a real emergency.