The Rise of the Medical Emergency, Pt. 77 - Aug 17th Reports
1) Wild crash caught on video in NJ after woman suffers medical emergency at the wheel
‘GARFIELD, New Jersey (WABC) -- Dramatic video shows a driver slam into a light post and nearly hit a pedestrian before crashing into two parked cars in New Jersey.
The crash happened Monday near the intersection of Midland Avenue and Passaic Street just before 2 p.m.
Police say the 88-year-old driver suffered a medical episode but was conscious when medics took her to the hospital.
During the episode, she apparently put her foot down on the pedal and lost control of the car. Her vehicle went onto the sidewalk, under the Passaic Street train trestle and struck a light post, traffic light and large flower pot.
The car came close to striking a man walking under the trestle who was heading to work at Walmart.
The vehicle then sped through an intersection before crashing into two vehicles waiting at the traffic light and finally coming to a stop.
Authorities say the woman's seatbelt saved her life and she only suffered minor leg injuries in the crash.
The pedestrian who narrowly escaped serious injuries spoke out on Thursday and said he considers himself very lucky.
"I heard the car and it went like ehhh... I saw it and I thought it was going to cross and it was coming to me," Warlin Almanzar said.
Almanzar got off a few stops early to grab food -- something he doesn't typically do.
"I had my empanadas in my hand, I just threw it and ran away," he said.’
You can’t escape from TROME, buddy.
2) Off Duty Pilot Dies As Qatar Airways Airbus A350 Diverts To Dubai
‘Qatar Airways flight QR579 to Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) was diverted to Dubai International Airport (DXB) on Wednesday following the death of a senior off-duty pilot traveling onboard.’
‘The Airbus A350-900 (A7-ALM) departing New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) on August 16 was diverted to Dubai, citing a medical emergency less than half an hour before its expected arrival in Doha.
As the Times of India reported, the pilot, a 51-year-old senior officer at Qatar Airways, fell ill during the flight and was later declared dead. Speaking to the news outlet, a colleague expressed shock at the pilot’s death.’
‘The pilot is noted for his extensive aviation experience, having previously worked with Alliance Air before moving on to SpiceJet in 2005, operating the carrier’s inaugural service from New Delhi to Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD). In 2022 he joined Qatar Airways, serving onboard the carrier’s Boeing 777 fleet.’
3) Newport community rallies in support of boys soccer player who died after practice
‘In less than 24 hours, the Newport community has raised over $16,000 in support for the family of Yael “Santi” Felix-Trejo, a Newport High School sophomore who died on Monday night after falling ill at a boys soccer practice.’
‘“Manuel Felix-Bartolo and Maria Felix Trejo are active members in our community helping others whenever they can,” reads the GoFundMe started by Jessica Arnsdorf, the cheerleading coach at Newport. “Unfortunately, this last Monday the unthinkable happened and they lost their son Santi to an unexpected medical emergency. Santi was a beloved son, brother, friend, teammate, and community member.”’
4) Mom leaps into action when man goes into cardiac arrest behind the wheel at Eden Prairie park
‘EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – A quick-thinking mother was honored this week for helping save a man's life earlier in the summer.
Duane Hookom was leaving a city of Eden Prairie event in June at Nesbitt Preserve Park.
"Got in my car, was going drive away," Hookom said. "I don't remember anything else, and then Molly showed up."
Molly Menton was at the event with her kids and neighbors and saw Hookom slumped over his steering wheel, slowly moving toward their group. She knew right away he was having a medical emergency.
As many heroes tend to say afterward, Menton says she didn't think much about what she did next.
"Opened the passenger door and I guess made kind of a quick decision," Menton said. "Instead of trying to put my foot on the brake, just because the car was in motion, I thought it would be easier if I put my hands on the brake, so then just kind of dove in [laughs]!"’
Epic.
‘Lucky for everyone, emergency personnel happened to be at the event. They ran to treat Hookom as Menton held tight to the brake.
Hookom was in full cardiac arrest. Eden Prairie Police Chief Matt Sackett says responders administered AED shocks and CPR for three minutes.’
Well, she saved him, and maybe saved other people by diving into that car. What a move! A true hero. They gave her an award.
‘Hookom wants his experience to be a reminder to pay attention to your body and take the signs seriously.’
It would be so epic if she had started talking about the shots instead.
Ah, those pesky double leg amputations.
5) Louisville basketball great Wesley Cox has both legs amputated amid health issues
‘LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One of the best players in University of Louisville basketball history, Wesley Cox, recently experienced a medical emergency.
Cox was forced to have both of his legs amputated below the knee due to an infection and poor circulation.’
Another source provides this detail:
‘Wesley Cox went to the emergency room about a year ago for an irregular heartbeat. A medical emergency forced the University of Louisville Athletics Hall of Famer to have both legs amputated below the knee in the days since.’ [Emphasis added]
Wesley Cox is 68 years old.
6) Off-Duty EMTs, Police Save Heart Attack Victim At Toms River Gym
‘TOMS RIVER, NJ - Four off-duty first responders performed lifesaving measures on a man who suffered a heart attack while exercising at a Toms River gym, police said.’
‘At the scene, two off-duty EMTs - Dylan Tortorelli and Josh Menack - who were working out at the time were found performing CPR on the victim.
Two-off duty Toms River police officers, Alex Van Lew and Charlie Grainger, both of whom were also in the gym at the time of the incident, used an automated external defibrillator to revive the man.
The patient awakened moments later; Silverton First Aid and RWJ Paramedics responded and transported him to Brick Hospital for further treatment where he was later released, police said.’
7) In rare case, man's brain starts to bleed following tooth extraction at the dentist
‘In an unusual case, a man's trip to the dentist indirectly triggered bleeding in his brain and led to him being diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder.
Half an hour after having two teeth extracted, the man in Australia, who was in his late 60s, suddenly felt dizzy and started throwing up. His vision was distorted to the point where he saw objects as if they'd been rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise.
Soon after, he went to the emergency department, where doctors determined that he had high blood pressure and his eyes were flickering to the left. He also walked unsteadily and kept falling to the right. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed that the lower left half of his brain was bleeding — a condition known as intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). ’
‘However, prior to the man's unusual case, there'd been only three other reports of people developing ICH after visiting the dentist. In the new case, published Aug. 2 in the journal BMJ Case Reports, doctors believe the man's ICH was likely triggered by a sudden increase in blood pressure following his dental procedure.
There was, however, one more part of the puzzle to decipher.’
There sure was.
‘To pinpoint the cause of the white matter disease, the case report authors analyzed the man's DNA and found that he had a mutation in a gene called NOTCH3, which is associated with a rare, inherited disease that causes the walls of blood vessels to thicken, reducing the flow of blood through the brain. This condition is known as cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).’
Oh. Swing and a miss, boys.
8) South Carolina inmate dies four days after being found unresponsive: Sheriff
‘A Lancaster County inmate died Thursday, Aug. 17, four days after being found unresponsive in his cell, the sheriff’s office reported.
James Richard Horton, 44, was discovered Sunday on his bed at the Lancaster County Detention Center. He shared a cell with two other inmates.
The sheriff’s office said corrections personnel immediately began providing emergency aid as Lancaster County Emergency Medical Services personnel were summoned. EMS had reportedly just left the detention center on an unrelated matter and quickly returned. ’
‘EMS treated Horton and transported him to a medical facility, where he was admitted for treatment. He remained under hospital care until he died at approximately 11 a.m. Thursday, the sheriff’s office said. ’
‘The cause of Horton’s medical condition is unknown. The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office is scheduling an autopsy, and the circumstances surrounding the death will be investigated by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the coroner’s office. ’
‘No other inmates allegedly reported to corrections staff that Horton was experiencing a medical emergency. He did not appear to have any physical injuries when he was discovered.’
9) Person dies after medical emergency, prompting Elk Grove police presence
‘ELK GROVE, Calif. — A person died Thursday after having a medical emergency, prompting a response from Elk Grove police.
The body can be seen along Elk Grove-Florin Road. First responders tried CPR on the person, but it did not work, the Elk Grove Police Department said.
Roads near where the body is are closed.’
10) Large number of emergency vehicles attend incident in Dads Wood
‘A LARGE number of emergency service personnel attended to an incident at a Harlow housing development near the town.
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called just after 12pm (Wed) to a medical emergency in Dads Wood in Harlow.’
‘“An adult man was transported by road to the Princess Alexandra Hospital for treatment.”’
Adieu
Sure seems to be be a lot of "rare" conditions going around these days....