Some lessons are learned the hard way

 

As it's the third day of my attempt to equal Sarge's Literary Production abilities, my Wife helped when she suggested a topic.  Given that I was searching for exactly that result, I quickly pounced.  So, I give you Lessons learned from a vehicle accident. 

A good and loyal friend, got about 60 miles further before things went south.

Yes, Beans, I know I addressed this subject yesterday. However, as I have recuperated somewhat, my memory has (partially) returned.  Mrs J has been extremely helpful in correcting the things I think happened and the order thereof as well as the things that I remember that never really happened.  Not sure how that happens, I was pretty sure I remembered them.  However...

And my computer just died, bad charging cable. So I’m on my iPad now. No comments on misspelling or other typing mistakez.

ANYHOW! The first lesson is: When you can feel your heart beating very hard and very fast, pull over immediately  and call 911. My thought was to go to the hospital. Didn’t make it a mile closer before I blacked out and things went to hell in a hand-basket.

Second lesson: Tell your wife/passenger what’s going on with your body. It helps if she knows and can tell the medics in the ambulance what the problem is. I was conscious but incoherent. Fortunately we were only a few minutes away from the hospital and its ER.

Third lesson: Buy a watch or mobile phone that has an emergency location function that will alert the rescue folks in the event of an accident with the exact location.  We both had Apple watches and iPhones. That function is built in to them, no input required by you. The Ambulance was on site within 5-10 minutes. I  (later) asked how they responded so fast. They asked if I had any Apple products with us. I replied 2 Apple Watches, an iPad and a Mac laptop. They replied that they had received reports from each

Fourth lesson: In your phone/ipad designate your emergency contacts. The phone will notify them and send them the same map the Rescue team received. 

Fifth lesson: Listen to the ER doctor and follow his advice. He’s “Been there, Done that”. When you’re in the ER with atrial flutter ( heart rate above 155 (AFIB’s top)), time’s a-wasting. As soon as he said my heart rate was 185. I was convinced. Procedure went great. Feel great now, especially looking down at the daisies.

Sixth lesson:  Buy a Ford. Not a sales pitch, but we hit a stone wall at probably 40 MPH, if not faster, the engine compartment was crushed at least halfway to the cab. When we evacuated the vehicle, which might have been a few minutes later due to shock, the doors opened as normal. ( The earlier post said Mrs J couldn’t get out. That was not true, but a combination of my confusion and her wrestling with the side air bag.) The truck was totaled, but the passenger compartment was intact. Since the accident, I’ve heard quite a few people tell very similar stories about Fords.

Seventh lesson: The most important one: WEAR YOUR SEATBELT! I did and although I’ve got cracked vertebrae in my neck and a broken sternum, I’m writing this post in the lobby of our doctor.  Not the easiest place to write so I’m looking forward to Sarge’s next one instead of…….

Peace out y’all!