The Rise of the Medical Emergency, Pt. 85 - Sept 5th - Sept 7th Reports
Another random assortment of horrors and oddities presented without discernment and in no particular order. Lots of prisoners in this one. It's TROME
1) Teenage soccer player's sudden cardiac arrest shows importance of on-site athletic trainers
‘A teenage soccer player was celebrating, high-fiving his teammates and taking pictures after a game in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Athletic trainer Ashley Chrestman had just watched that game and moved on to monitor a baseball game on a nearby field. Then she got a call on her two-way radio at Stratford High School.’
‘He was gasping for air and looked like he was having a seizure. “He's known to have asthma, so everybody kind of thought that maybe he had an asthma attack and just kind of ran out of breath and passed out.”’
‘But Chrestman, who’s part of the MUSC Health Sports Medicine team and is based at Stratford, quickly determined it was something else. “I was like, this is not an asthma attack. This is something more. This is heart-related.”
Heart-related – and life-threatening. “He did have a pulse when I first arrived, but he lost his pulse. So that's when I started CPR and took his shirt off to place the AED,” Chrestman said.
The athletic trainer was trained to diagnose and treat injuries and medical conditions, so she knew the automated external defibrillator could help Omar’s heart get back to a normal rhythm. Berkeley County emergency medical technicians arrived to take over caring for the young man Chrestman had helped stay alive long enough to get that aid.’
‘Omar now has a defibrillator to keep his heart on track. “If I feel pressure on my chest, I sit down a little bit, wait until it's over. I wait until my heart rate slows back down, and then I'll go back and practice because they said that I can't rush this process because this is only really the beginning.”’
The article helpfully notes that:
‘Sudden cardiac arrest strikes more than 356,000 Americans who weren’t previously in the hospital every year. About 90% of them die, according to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.’
Ankle sprains, tendon tears, and sudden cardiac arrest. Which one of these is not like the others?
2) Santa Rosa Medical Center's new cardiac services help save woman's life
‘The hospital says Kathy Gonzalez, 59, arrived at its emergency department on Aug. 23 with severe chest pain. It was discovered, through an electrocardiogram (EKG), that she was experiencing an anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) -- or a dangerous cardiac event commonly referred to as a widowmaker heart attack.’
Widowmaker. Widower. Whatever. It’s TROME.
3) Fiery crash in Kirbyville sends both drivers to the hospital
‘KIRBYVILLE — A vehicle burst into flames after a head on collision on Highway 96 in Kirbyville.’
‘According to Kirbyville Police Chief Paul Brister, a preliminary investigation indicates that a car traveling south crossed into the northbound lane and struck a truck head on.
The car then burst into flames. Kirbyville Police department believes the driver of the car may have had a medical emergency that caused the vehicle to veer.’
‘The driver of the car, a Kirbyville resident, was taken to Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the truck was flown by medical helicopter to a Kingwood hospital.’
4) Inmate dies after ‘medical emergency’ at Madison County jail
‘MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — An inmate at the Madison County Detention Facility was found dead in his cell late Tuesday evening, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
A spokesperson with the MCSO says Coryell Derrick, 45, was in a cell by himself in the jail infirmary when he suffered a ‘sudden medical emergency.’ HEMSI responded to the facility but was unable to revive him.’
‘HEMSI responded to the facility and was unable to revive Derrick. Sheriff’s detectives responded to the jail and conducted a preliminary death investigation, which showed no indications of foul play or other suspicious circumstances surrounding Derrick’s death, according to MCSO.’
‘The University of Alabama in Birmingham will perform an autopsy to determine Derrick’s cause of death.’
5) Inmate dies at hospital following medical emergency at Lawrence County Jail
‘LAWRENCE CO., Ala. (WAFF) - A Lawrence County Jail inmate died on Wednesday following an early morning medical emergency.
According to Chief Deputy Brian Covington, 48 -year-old Hollis Shannon South of Hillsboro was experiencing a medical issue in the early morning hours of Sept. 6.
Officials say inmate alerted the jail staff and CPR was performed by inmates and jail staff while an ambulance was on the way.
South was transported to Lawrence Medical Center where he later died.’
‘The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office has requested the State Bureau of Investigations to investigate the in custody death and the Alabama Department of Forensic Science will conduct an autopsy.’
6) Harris County inmate dies while in custody, suffered medical emergency, officials say
‘HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - Another inmate at Harris County Jail has reportedly died while in custody, according to jail officials.
On Thursday, Raymond Cooper, 62, suffered an apparent medical emergency in a medical ward of the jail, authorities say. He has been in jail since July 15.
According to officials, he was taken to a local hospital by Houston Fire Department EMS after CPR and lifesaving measures were administered.
Cooper was pronounced dead around 5:32 a.m.
He has no obvious physical injuries, authorities report. His cause of death will be determined by an autopsy conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.’
Statistics for us.
‘This is the 12th death in Harris County Jail, the most recent one being on August 9. In 2022, the jail had 27 deaths.’
Nothing about earlier years.
Is 27 a lot?
The community has leapt into action:
‘Harris County community members recently held a forum to discuss how to protect their loved ones from becoming a statistic in the criminal justice system, particularly those who face time in jail.’
Proof of vaccination required.
I mean… I made that last part up.
7) Williston man dies in crash after suffering apparent medical emergency
“Williston man,” “SEMI-TRUCK DRIVER,” call it what you will.
‘WILLIAMS COUNTY, N.D. — A semi driver died in a single-vehicle crash in rural Williams County on Thursday, Sept. 7, after he appeared to suffer a medical emergency.
The driver, a 53-year-old man from Williston, was traveling northbound on 115th Avenue Northwest around 6:30 p.m. just north of Ray, North Dakota, in a 2013 Peterbilt 389 semi when he appeared to have a medical emergency, according to a report from the North Dakota Highway Patrol.’
‘The semi went off the road and into the east ditch, the report said, continuing through a fence and striking a tree row before coming to a rest in the front yard of a residence.’
The semi-truck is like the Energizer Bunny of TROME.
‘The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead on scene, according to the report.
The crash remains under investigation by Highway Patrol.’
8) Driver slams car into Springfield Soccer shop; medical emergency suspected
‘SPRINGFIELD, Va. - A woman is in a hospital after nearly hitting more than a dozen people and plowing her car into a northern Virginia soccer business.’
Keyword: nearly.
‘Some say it’s luck, others say it’s a miracle, that the driver did not hurt anyone when she crashed.’
I’ll say.
‘The exclusive, only on FOX 5 video, shows Springfield Soccer employees standing on the sales floor.
Seconds later, a woman slams her Nissan Altima through the front wall window, causing staff and customers to run, duck for cover, and get out of her way as she comes to a crashing stop near the back of the store around 4:20 p.m. Thursday.’
‘The driver gets stuck, trapped, in her car, and firefighters have to cut the door to get her out.’
Alright. I’m not supposed to have favorite parts to stories like these, but this is my favorite part:
‘Medics drove her to a hospital as a precaution.’
Just in case.
Bravo, boys.
‘Police are still investigating the crash.
At this point, they believe the woman had a medical emergency.’
‘The incident comes at a bad time for the store because soccer clubs need to pick up their uniforms this weekend for opening day games.’
Brutal. But there’s good news, too.
‘The staff is working on a solution to make sure everyone gets their uniforms.’
Soccer shop strong.
9) High school student acted quickly during medical emergency
‘Rubyus Price, a sophomore at Deming Cesar Chavez Charter High School, was honored with the student of the month award at a governing board meeting this month.’
‘On Aug. 22, Price was having a routine day at school when the emergency unfolded. She had just walked to the school’s front office looking for pain medicine when she encountered a parent having a seizure on the floor.’
‘Her teacher, Veronica Vazquez, was trying to help the parent when she demanded that Price bring in the school’s principal, Noel Nuñez. Despite being scared, Price did not hesitate and ran for Nuñez.’
10) Chaseburg man suffers medical emergency behind the wheel, crashes into post office
‘CHASEBURG, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – A Chaseburg man is dead after suffering a medical event before hitting a post office in Vernon County. Sheriff Roy Torgerson says the Sherriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of a vehicle hitting the Chaseburg Post Office around 1:30 PM Saturday.
67-year-old Charles Oldenburg was driving north on Swain Street when the medical event occurred. The vehicle went straight off a curve and hit the front of the post office. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful, and Oldenburg was pronounced dead at the scene.
Torgerson says community members boarded up the front of the building and provided emergency personnel with water due to the extreme heat.’
11) PARK HORROR
Tragedy as boy dies in busy park after ‘medical emergency’ with paramedics desperately trying to save him
‘A BOY has died in a busy park after he suffered a "medical emergency" which saw paramedics desperately try to save him.
The youngster, who hasn't been named, was at Central Forest Park, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on Tuesday when tragedy struck.’
‘Emergency services including an air ambulance scrambled to the scene around 3.35pm.
Ambulance crews administered life support to the boy but sadly nothing could be done to save him.
He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.
Cops are not treating his death as suspicious.’
‘"Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support but, sadly, it became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene."’
12) Off duty police officer supports woman and child dealing with "medical emergency" in middle of road in Gosport
‘The pair were seen getting out of their car in the middle of the A32 in Gosport yesterday morning. “While on my way to a routine Occupational Health appointment this morning (while ‘off-duty’), a vehicle ahead of me stopped in the middle of the road”, the officer reported on the Fareham Police Facebook page.
"A woman jumped out holding a young child, who appeared to be suffering with a medical emergency.” The road was blocked at roughly 8.15am. A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesman said the child passenger was unwell and the driver was taking them to a hospital.
The officer managed to direct the driver away from the busy lane to allow for traffic to continue on, after making sure the woman and child were ok. “An off duty officer helped the mother and child out of the road and also checked on the welfare of the child,” the spokesman added.’
Febrile seizure. I mean, I’m guessing.
‘Fareham Police added: “Thankfully, the Emergency resolved itself quite quickly and with my assistance, we were able to clear the road after a couple of minutes.”’
13) Club extends best wishes to Steve Harper following medical emergency
‘Newcastle United is sending love and best wishes to Steve Harper and his family after the club's Academy director suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage on Monday.
The club is pleased to report that Steve is awake and recovering well in hospital.
Steve, his family and everyone at Newcastle United extends a heartfelt thank you to NHS staff for the incredible care he is receiving.
Steve is the longest-serving player in club history after spending 20 years as a goalkeeper at St. James' Park between 1993-2013.’
14) Indiana State Police investigating inmate’s death at St. Joseph County Jail
‘ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) – Indiana State Police are investigating the death of an inmate at the St. Joseph County Jail who reportedly had a medical emergency Sunday.
Jail staff were alerted that a woman who was incarcerated there was suffering from a suspected medical emergency sometime before 5:40 p.m. According to a release from ISP, live-saving measures were attempted by staff and emergency crews, but the inmate was pronounced dead at the jail that evening.
Indiana State Police were contacted to investigate the death.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday at Western Michigan University. No further details were released.’
15) Man dies on Burton Bradstock beach after medical emergency
‘Dorset Police were called to a man requiring medical assistance at Hive Beach in Burton Bradstock at around 5pm yesterday evening (Wednesday, September 6).
Police were joined by paramedics, coastguards and the air ambulance at the scene.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
His next of kin has been informed.
The death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been notified.’
16) Coast Guard Performs Medical Evacuation On Carnival Legend
‘On Monday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard’s command center watchstanders received an emergency report to perform a medical evacuation on Carnival Legend. The Carnival Carnival Line ship sent a distress call stating that a woman on board suffered from abdominal pains and vomiting throughout the day.’
‘Upon receiving the call, a Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HH-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew to the vessel. Carnival Legend was approximately 160 miles to the east of Cape Cod.’
‘After the successful hoisting operation, the patient and the ship’s nurse were transferred to emergency medical services. They reached the medical facility at 12:05 a.m., receiving immediate attention for the woman’s condition.’
‘After the successful hoisting operation, the patient and the ship’s nurse were transferred to emergency medical services. They reached the medical facility at 12:05 a.m., receiving immediate attention for the woman’s condition.’
17) Moroccan senate president delays historic trip to Israel due to illness and says he will return
Echoes of Netanyahu. Remember this? Check the dates.
‘JERUSALEM -- Morocco's senate president has postponed a historic visit to Israel due to a medical emergency, the Israeli parliament announced Wednesday.
The announcement came just a day before Enaam Mayara was scheduled to visit Israel's Knesset, or parliament, on a trip aimed at cementing the fledgling ties between the two countries.
Mayara was to be the first Moroccan official and one of the few Muslim leaders ever to set foot in the Knesset. The parliament had planned to greet him with a red carpet and a ceremonial guard of honor.
Israel and Morocco fully normalized relations as part of the 2020 Abraham Accords, a series of diplomatic agreements between Israel and four Arab countries brokered by then-President Donald Trump.
The Knesset issued a statement late Wednesday saying that Mayara had been hospitalized during a stop in neighboring Jordan. He was forced to reschedule his Israel trip and call off a visit earlier in the day to the Palestinian government in the West Bank, the statement said.
“I am sorry that because of a medical emergency, I am unable to come to the Knesset,” the statement quoted Mayara as saying. It gave no details on the nature of his illness but said he would return to Morocco.’
Drink lots of water, I guess.
Not-family-friendly TROME.
18) TV star collapses as medical team urged to help him in worrying moment
Double trouble.
‘Grant Denyer, an Australian media personality best known as the host of shows like Australia’s Got Talent, Iron Chef Australia and Family Feud, has also competed on a range of reality series like I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Dancing with the Stars.
He’s also about to appear on the latest season of The Amazing Race Australia […]’
‘The trailer for the upcoming season was released this week, and dramatic scenes have shown Grant passed out as those around him seek medical attention.’
‘In the footage, Grant can be seen on the ground as paramedics struggle to give him urgent medical attention while wife Chezzi watches on.’
‘‘Can we get the medic? He’s shaking, he’s shivering,’ a voice can be heard saying.’
‘His medical incident comes after Chezzi was recently admitted to hospital for a serious eye infection that could have led to her losing her vision.’
Ah, about that last bit…
There’s some stories you don’t wanna touch. This is one of them. Long and short, it’s an eye infection. Oh, they said that… Well, I’ll let quotes tell the story. I’m trying to figure out how to put a “don’t read if” warning on this. I can’t do it. I’m bested.
TROME wins again.
‘Earlier this month, Chezzi was admitted to hospital for a serious eye infection that could have led to her losing her vision.
And doctors believed an X-rated act by her TV star husband may have been the cause of the injury.’
There. There’s a fair warning. Stop now if you’re… decent.
‘'They said: "Do you and your husband have sexual partners?" And I was like "No, what are you asking?"' Chezzi explained.
'And they said it could be chlamydia. And I asked: "How do you even get chlamydia in your eye?"
'And then they asked me, "Has your partner ejaculated in your eye?" I have never laughed so hard until I realised he was serious.’
She laughed. I was laughing too until I read her answer.
‘I was like "No, he has been away!"’
Some of these stories, man…
19) ‘I’m probably going to die’: He was a cave rescue expert. Then he was the one who needed rescue
‘Mark Dickey was more than a half-mile underground when the feeling hit him like a train.
He was dizzy. Nauseated. His insides felt as if they wanted to explode out of him.’
He was underground because he was in a cave. He was sick for unknown reasons. It’s a long article.
‘He was able to make his way an hour’s journey through the cave to their underground camp at 3,000 feet. There, sleeping bags could stave off hypothermia, he could lie down and others could care for him. He figured he needed to exit the cave and hoped to rest and climb out himself, perhaps with assistance.
Then he started vomiting blood.’
What kind of blood? Both fresh and coagulated.
‘About six hours later, attended to by two other cavers, he was vomiting increasing amounts of fresh and coagulated blood. Eventually, he stopped being able to move from his tent, instead vomiting in the bucket next to him. ’
‘Earlier this week, the couple traveled to Ankara after Dickey was discharged from the hospital. They attended a U.S. Embassy reception thanking rescuers and juggled multiple media interviews.
Amid the global spotlight, it remained unclear exactly what caused the internal bleeding. Van Ord said a lesion was found but more tests would be performed once it further healed.’
The lesion’s not his problem, I don’t think.
I think he was shot.
20) Teachers at Southwest Ranches school save safety officer using recently learned CPR training
Lots of newly-minted heroes in TROME.
‘SOUTHWEST RANCHES, FLA. (WSVN) - Teachers at a school in Southwest Ranches became a safety officer’s guardian angels when he had a medical emergency at work, using the CPR training they recently learned when they rushed to his aid.’
‘The 47-year-old safe school officer’s mission is to protect the lives of students and staff.
But last month, it was Weissman who needed saving, when he collapsed in the parking lot.
It was the second day of school after summer recess, and with the sun blazing during dismissal, Weissman said he started to feel thirsty.
That was last thing he remembered until he woke up in the ambulance.
“The first thing I remember is looking up and seeing the light in the rescue truck, seeing the people move around,” he said.
Weissman later learned he had suffered not one, but two heart attacks in a matter of minutes.’
‘“Immediately, the other teacher that was with me jumped on him, started to do CPR,” said Gonzalez. “After a few rounds of CPR, he did come back to life.”’
Saved from the blazing sun.
21) VIDEO: Officer saves driver from burning truck just before it explodes
Now here’s a hero.
The video in the link is insane. It’s the police officer’s body cam. The first thing that jumps out at you is the driver is out. Totally unconscious.
‘ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A North Carolina police officer is being honored after he rescued a truck driver from the burning cab of his truck after a crash, WBTV reports.’
‘The Aug. 8 incident happened just before 10 p.m. under the Jake Alexander Boulevard bridge on Interstate 85 in Rowan County. According to troopers, the truck hit the concrete barrier after its driver suffered a medical emergency, and its cab caught on fire.’
‘The City of Salisbury said Brooks was responding after-hours to a separate incident just before 9 p.m. After witnessing the crash, Brooks stopped and, without hesitation, ran to the truck’s cab, where he found the driver, Michael Williams, unconscious.
He immediately called the crash in over his police radio but didn’t wait for help before springing into action. Brooks pulled the driver out of the driver seat and over the passenger seat to get him out of the burning truck.
An unidentified female driver helped Brooks in pulling Williams to safety on the opposite side of the road across two lanes. The truck then exploded.
As fire and EMS arrived on scene, Williams started to gain consciousness. He was unaware of the situation but could walk on his own to the ambulance, where he was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, the city said.’
If you want to know what it was like for him:
‘“Out of 25 years, this is probably one of the scariest nights of my career,” he said during the meeting. “With that incident, either I was going to die in the truck with the gentleman, or I was gonna get him out of the truck.”’
Well, that was close. Luckily he was vaccinated, or else it could have been much worse.
22) American WTA Star Madison Keys Faces Unfortunate Interruption to Her Crucial US Open Match as New York Weather Hits Spectator Hard
‘When the match got more interesting, an interruption occurred due to a medical emergency.’
‘A fan in the stands has fainted and needed medical help. So, the match stalled for a brief period till the situation subsided. According to a tweet by ‘The Tennis Podcast,’ “Early medical situation for a fan in Ashe. We talk about how tough these conditions are for the players… But they’re also brutal for the spectators.”’
No mention of even the temperature.
Nobody howling for proof it was the heat.
Zombieland.
23) From the Brink of Death to Completely Normal in 10 Hours
‘It was a typical late-April weekend for Gregory Graves and his family in Elon, North Carolina. He spent the morning cheering his daughter at her volleyball game, had lunch with his parents, then headed home to do yard work that afternoon.
When Graves picked up the shovel to move some gravel, a wave of overwhelming exhaustion hit. There was no reason to be that tired and run down, or so he thought. He sat on the porch to take a break and drink water. Then the world went hazy.’
Not 100% sure when this happened. The context of the article suggests it was recent, though, since he’s in cardiac rehab. So it was probably April of this year.
‘Graves was in the middle of a cardiac event, likely a myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack.’
This is where it gets interesting.
‘The cardiologist on call that weekend was Dr. Alexander Paraschos. What he saw took him aback. Two of the three major arteries supplying blood to Grave’s heart showed 100% blockages. And the third was in the early stages of becoming blocked.’
‘“It’s very unusual to see two simultaneous blockages in a patient,” Paraschos said. “Because they don’t make it to the hospital. At least not alive.”’
Dark humor. It gets more interesting.
‘Later that evening, recovering in the intensive care unit, Graves felt agitated. His left arm still gave him trouble, and he couldn’t get comfortable. His nurse noticed he wasn’t getting much rest. Checking his blood pressure, she alerted Paraschos again.
At midnight, they were back in the cath lab. A blood clot had formed in Graves’ right coronary artery near the stent. This kind of complication can happen after stent placement, but it is rare and usually develops over a month or two. Not a couple of hours.’
‘ Paraschos and his team entered the right coronary artery, removed the blood clot, and replaced the stent. Again, relief was almost immediate.’
And more interesting yet.
‘The next afternoon, Graves was on his feet joking with his care team.
“It’s incredible,” Paraschos said. “I’ve never had this patient scenario in my 30-year career–going from the brink of death to completely normal in a matter of 10 hours.”’
Interesting.
Adieu
As ghoulish as it is, I wonder if we readers can place non-monetary bets for fun as to the date the dam breaks. The question is, what is the defining act that we can recognize the dam breaking.
Thank you for your work and for adding your own special brand of humour to this dark comedy. I loved the one about the soccer team and the driver who crashed into the store where their uniforms were about to be handed out. 😂