Thoughts from last night's ER grave shift

(I typed the following around 3:30 am this morning while at work. I'm unable to post it when I type it as my log on at work doesn't have email access; told you I wasn't clinical).

Working in the ER has definitely taught me a few things. I may not be medical, but it doesn't take a nurse or a doctor to realize, observe, or notice a few things here and there. While at work we had four traumas come in that were due to motorcycle accidents. A trauma is something that is considered life threatening, immediate surgery or some type of head injury (usually; I'm sure more requires a trauma, but as I'm not medical, that's just what I know). It always amazes me the motorcycle traumas that are a result of the driver not having had a helmet on. Motorcycles are dangerous anyway, but why do people think they have any chance of surviving any type of accident with their head exposed to the car, the pavement or a tree?

The hardest one I saw tonight was a 21 year old who was a Trauma 1, very severe, who arrived intabated so it didn't look good. I will have no idea if he lives as I will be off shift before the verdict is made. Yes, I've been one who has contemplated/attempted death, but I wanted it to be of my own choice. I wouldn't do something stupid such as drive without a helmet with the chance I was invincible. I know I'm not, but then again, I'm not 21. This doesn't really make sense but it's very hard to see the family of the 21 year old questioning why he didn't have a helmet on when he owns one and now may never leave the hospital.

On a lighter note: loved the patient who is 22, has a 5 year old and a 3 mos. old and the largest breast augmentation I've ever seen. Plus, she weighed around 80 pounds so I'm not sure how she stood up without falling forward. Favorite comment from her son while all three were being triaged: "Mom, when we get home can I go to sleep?" What kind of life do they live?