Lessons Learned

Often in life most lessons we learn are from mistakes or experiences. These lessons come from our most recent experience when our son was hit by a car while riding his bike.

Yes, he had a helmet, reflector vest, thick clothing, and forehead light. Yes, he clearly was visible. Was he riding with a buddy? No. Was he in or on the bike path? No. There was not one. He was on the shoulder. He simply was not seen until it was too late

The biggest issue for our 15 year old son is the fact that he has something called (ITP) or Chronic Refractive Thrombocytopenic Purpura and (POTS) or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. ITP is a blood disorder that prevents clotting because he is lacking a healthy amount of platelets within his blood stream. You and I have 400,000 or more platelets per microliter of blood, he only has about 20,000. This is 0.05% of the normal healthy amount of platelets needed for clotting for cuts and bruises. Simply explained, POTS means if he goes from lying or sitting to standing very quickly, he is very likely to pass out.

Normally biking is a safe activity. Bike crashes are not. Bike and car crashes. As I discovered, this makes this mom have to work very hard to not freak out and lose her mind.

What are the biggest lessons learned?

When a child has grown up with a medical disorder they know about the disorder. When this same child is involved in an accident, all knowledge and ability to offer any explanation disappears with the adrenalin and the accident.

What my son was UNABLE to do:

·         Verbally give mother’s cell phone (although he could dial it)

·         Give his address

·         Give his grandparents names (we live with them)

·         Identify where his father is deployed

·         Properly identify and explain his medical disorders

·         Give the names and doses of medication

·         Describe clearly what happened

What was he ABLE to do:

·         State his name and date of birth

·         Ask to call mom

·         Follow directions

·         Remain laying until the police and EMT’s arrived

·         Follow the basic on scene neurological exam

Had I not been able to speak with the EMT’s, an office, or arrive before his transport left, he would have been taken to the local hospital without a trauma bay or the ability to assess pediatric trauma cases. Had this situation been any worse for him, my not being able to enforce the importance of his arrival in a trauma ASAP could have proved fatal due to his extremely low platelets.

Until further notice he will now carry a laminated card with him at all times that will have on one side contact information. The other side will have his diagnosis and medication/dose list. We are ordering a medic alert bracelet that will simply read, “See laminated card.”

Why see laminated card? I have learned that spelling out ITP or POTS will not fit on a bracelet, and most EMT’s do not learn about either of these conditions during training. Therefore wasted space.

Instead, use a generic saying, add the laminated card where we can spell out:

ITP-chronic blood and clotting disorder, severe low platelets

POTS-syncope/fainting disorder

Meds

********

********

EMT’s will understand both of these in just a few words. Then if they need the full diagnosis they will get that at the hospital when time is available to ask detailed questions.