#80992 - 12/20/06 06:58 PM
hospitals
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Newbie
Registered: 05/18/06
Posts: 41
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Maybe the last place to think of in terms of survival but maybe not.A few years back I was in the hospital for a few weeks.I was fully mobile and was there,not home,for insurance reasons.Anyway I noticed something in the hospital-no spinkler system.I mentioned this to one of the nurses-I didn't have a lot to occupy myself with,and was told in the event of a fire they move all the patients to one side of the hospital.The floor I was on had,for the most part,alot of non-mobile patients and especially at night looked to be under staffed.In the event of a major disaster(natural or man-made)hospitals could at the very least be secondary targets.Putting the whole first response program in the area in jeopardy and causing greater panic and/or casualties.During my stay I had very limited access to supplies(only what was in my wallet,on my keyring and in my pockets(flashlights,compass,etc)and do to parking restirctions a family member had taken my car home for me and picked me up.Of course,clothing was limited-although I did have a few changes of real clothes brought to me.Depending on the extent of the disaster a hospital may not be the place to be-but one can't pick their location in every instance.If you know you're going in for a stay,no matter how brief what do you think you'd bring along just in case the worst happens at the hospital after you're already there.Looking back I'd bring a backpack full of some essentials but obviouisly not all could be taken-the staff may even insist on seeing what I did bring.Can you be prepared for anything there or are you merely in the wrong place at the wrong time?
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#80993 - 12/20/06 07:11 PM
Re: hospitals
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Addict
Registered: 03/01/04
Posts: 478
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Preparing can only go so far. You are just trying to tip the odds in your favor. Sometimes, you're just screwed. You would be better off listening to your nurse's discharge instructions than wondering what to do if a tornado hit your hospital.
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#80994 - 12/20/06 07:35 PM
Re: hospitals
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Addict
Registered: 11/11/03
Posts: 572
Loc: Nevada
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Only one thing worse than fire on a ship. That's fire in a Hospital. A real ugly scenario.
Dave
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#80995 - 12/20/06 07:39 PM
Re: hospitals
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Geezer
Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
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My sister has worked in a hospital for quite a few years now. Other than praise for (very) few of the doctors, some of the nurses, and a few support people, she has nothing good to say about it.
Management is based on your stupidity level. If you're off the top of the SC (Stupidity Chart), you're hired. Management doesn't want anyone who knows what they're doing, but they love the game players.
Submanagement consists of ineffective, frightened, easily bullied people, who aren't capable of deciding which color socks to wear today.
Personnel at night does seem to be very limited, from what I've seen personally and what my sister describes. Most of the crimes that take place within the hospital happen then.
If you're going to be relatively mobile (or could be, with proper incentive), I would ask immediately if there will be a place to put a briefcase, as you'd like to get a bit of work done if you feel up to it <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. Keep a cheap briefcase at home packed with your kit. Start with flashlights, several flashlights. A pry bar could be useful. Try to know where the various exits are.
I don't know about hospitals elsewhere, but the Providence system here on the west coast gets an F in almost every category. They're not places for sick people.
The local hospital had a fairly bad gas leak recently. The engineers decided that it wasn't bad enough to call a Code Yellow (Big Trouble). Some people were nearly passing out and vomiting from the gas, so they reluctantly told them to leave. They moved a few patients. The big 'cure' was to open some of the outside doors for ventilation. Someone with at least a partial brain finally called the fire department, which stationed trucks at each entrance.
One of the CYA managers sent a memo around the next day or so, saying that the gas leak was OUTSIDE the building and was not a danger to anyone inside (which, of course, was why they opened the outer doors: to let the gas IN). The whole memo was a coverup for incompetency.
And if you want to see the Marx Brothers mixing with the Three Stooges, attend one of their annual Disaster Drills. They really ARE a disaster. And they don't get any better.
And avoid the elevators at all costs: they're always breaking down.
Sue
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#80997 - 12/21/06 08:04 PM
Re: hospitals
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Newbie
Registered: 12/04/06
Posts: 45
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Are you sure they didn't have any? Our hospitals have the hidden pop out kind.
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#80998 - 12/21/06 08:19 PM
Re: hospitals
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Enthusiastic
Enthusiast
Registered: 03/02/03
Posts: 385
Loc: Oklahoma City
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I'm sorry your sister works in such a facility--it's a crime! I love my hospital, wouldn't think of working anywhere else. Not only is the sprinkler system _present_ and _functional_ <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />, they keep food and water in the basement (where I work) to cover emergencies.
_________________________
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein
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#80999 - 12/21/06 08:29 PM
Re: hospitals
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Enthusiast
Registered: 05/17/04
Posts: 215
Loc: N.Cal.
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Would love to know what city you are refering to?
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#81000 - 12/22/06 05:24 PM
Re: hospitals
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Enthusiastic
Enthusiast
Registered: 03/02/03
Posts: 385
Loc: Oklahoma City
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I'm referring to Oklahoma City--not sure where Sue's sister works :0
_________________________
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein
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#81001 - 12/22/06 05:40 PM
Re: hospitals
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Newbie
Registered: 05/18/06
Posts: 41
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ducttape,
without a doubt,no sprinklers anywhere-I walked the entire hopsital-with only a few areas that I did not go(respect for fellow patients)and there was none.I can see a small fire being handled but a major disaster that actually hits at or around the hopsital would be more problematical I think. Great care at the hospital all other things considered and I wouldn't,If I was ever in for anything else,go to a different one-even with no sprinklers.I'd just go a little more prepared that's all.
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#81002 - 12/23/06 05:47 PM
Re: hospitals
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Enthusiastic
Enthusiast
Registered: 03/02/03
Posts: 385
Loc: Oklahoma City
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I just had a thought--if your hospital has dropped ceilings (ceiling tiles + grid), then the sprinklers are most likely ABOVE the tiles.
_________________________
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein
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#81003 - 12/23/06 07:12 PM
Re: hospitals
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Veteran
Registered: 05/23/02
Posts: 1403
Loc: Brooklyn, New York
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I cant speak for other hospitals but all hospitals I did fire drills at (and actual fires) had spirnklers involved. In case of emergency, hospital goes on total diversion and overflow of admited patients flows into ER and other wards. You only evacuate floor that fire happens on and 1 above and 2 below (or 2 above and 1 below). I don't know how that would play if real blaze happened as far as the evacuation goes but I know that all EMS both 911 and transport would be involved. There are going to be resources available to move the pts around yet you have to remember that since it is the multi casualty incident a lot of people in serious condition like from ICU may not get the proper care they need. If one nurse can supervise 10 lightly sick patients or 1 serious patient the chances are hospital is going to secure less sick first.
Most likely in situation like that all you need is a change of clothes and some money. If you can't walk you are kind of at the mercy of the staff. Your family will not be let nowhere near the hosp at that point so unless you can walk out and meet them somewhere than you are set. And if you are thinking about leaving and checking yourself into other hospital in the area... those hospitals ER will be open for EMS only who will be bringing in overflow of PTs and injured field personel so walk in emergencies will not be seen short of cardiac arrest or really serious cases.
The funny thing is that last fire we did caused about $50000 damage to the room (pt decided to smoke a cig in oxygen rich environment) but sprinkler system caused about $2 million damage to the cardiac labs below it and pretty much put research going there to the halt for 6 months.
Hospitals are considered to be a secondary targets for terrorist because under all conventions they are marked as "do not touch" places. In case of explosion or attack no matter how small ,public idea of safety would be shattered.I just hope that it will never happen.
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#81004 - 12/31/06 02:50 AM
Re: hospitals
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Geezer
Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 5695
Loc: Former AFB in CA, recouping fr...
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I haven't been hospitalized since the late 80's, thank goodness, but one of the things I remember from that fun visit was that during the check-in procedure they made the point several times that they did not want me to have money, jewlery, etc (apparently they do not trust their own staff). Don't know what would have happened if I had pushed it, I guess that they can't stop you from bringing "stuff," they just don't like it...
_________________________
OBG
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#81005 - 12/31/06 04:58 AM
Re: hospitals
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Addict
Registered: 11/11/03
Posts: 572
Loc: Nevada
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Hospitals are just like hotels & motels, they don't want to be responsible. Generally there's no place to lock anything up in a Hospital room. It's easy for anyone to cruise around looking for empty beds and grab whatever is laying around or in the drawer while the patient is gone to x-ray or wherever. No cash also helps cut down on deliveries of food & booze. If you gotta take cask or credit cards a small pouch worn around the neck seemed to work pretty well.
Dave
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#81006 - 12/31/06 05:56 PM
Re: hospitals
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Enthusiast
Registered: 12/16/06
Posts: 203
Loc: somewhere out there...
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WOW! Sounds like the hospital a relative of mine works at...people who play the game do well and decent folks either stay because they're committed...or should be!
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