"...how long ago he had used the duct tape; he said it was a month or more..."

Was "your" tape the original tape, applied a month or so ago, or had tape been reapplied??

Amazing story by the way...

"...And some are even dumber..."

Sad but true. Sometimes you have to wonder who dresses these people in the mornings...

The duct tape on his leg when we treated him was the same, original (unchanged) duct tape he had applied previously over a month ago. For all I know the gentleman maybe dead now or placed into long term care, as I never ran another call to that location.

The condition of his home led me to believe there were significant mental health issues along with his medical issues.

Pete

"...significant mental health issues..."

Oh yeah there were...

Well let’s just say, my wife and I with all of our interests and commitments have a fairly cluttered home, so I know clutter. This gentleman’s home made ours look like Martha Steward was our personal maid. His predilection to have a significant amount of pornography prominently displayed thought out his house was somewhat disturbing. Yes, I know this was his house and he was free to do whatever he wanted, it just gave us a real creepy feeling being in that house. Finally, his personal hygiene (beyond his nose bleed and leg infection issues) habits left much to be desired.

All in all, one of those calls that made your skin crawl and made you to want to take several showers before really feeling clean once more, both physically and mentally. Even after about 15 years, I still get shivers just thinking about the call.

Pete

I can never figure out, these people that get removed from their house because its unsafe due to all the clutter, they are usually on government assistance of some sort so how do they afford all that stuff, or does the welfare system still pay too much?

Remind me someday to tell you the story of the "cat lady"...

"...does the welfare system still pay too much?..."

It does in CA!!!

My parents just came back of a coach trip to Switzerland. Very nice. My Father was having a quiet swear about the fact that there is always one loud mouthed attention getter - either sex - with a penetrating voice on every trip they have been on. I think that he's starting to consider the possibilities that open up when you have 20' of 550 cord, a few cable tidies and 30' of duct tape handy..........