Last Tuesday, September 13, 2011, I had just finished a session at the Bountiful LDS Temple with my Grandparents and after a great lunch with them at Chuck-A-Rama, I headed over to the Costco within the same parking lot. THOR was being released and I wanted to buy it! After purchasing the movie, I was waiting to give my empty box to a guy who would then exchange it for the real thing within the locked gate (that's where all the expensive stuff is kept). I hadn't been standing there any longer than 10 seconds when I heard a lady yell, "catch him, he's going to fall". I quickly turned my head and saw an elderly gentleman staggering and just as quickly as I had turned, he passed out and fell to his right side. I couldn't get my feet to move fast enough, but soon enough I was at his side and frantically assessing him to make sure he was ok. My first impression was he was sweaty and unconscious. After working with pediatrics for 3+ years, the problems usually associated with the elderly and not with kids have escaped my thoughts,but I found myself frantically recalling them from the recess of my brain. A heart attack was next in my thoughts. The gentleman came to after 10-15 seconds of calling his name and rubbing his arm. I asked him if he knew his name, where he was at, and if he had any pain in his chest or anywhere. His answers were, "Richie" with a smile up at his wife, "at Costco, on the floor", and "no, I just ran out of gas"! I loved this guy, what a cute old man! His wife told him he was on the way to the bathroom, but didn't make it. He also knew the season was "sometime in early fall...September", he said. I was relieved he was alert and despite his Alzheimer's condition his wife said he had, he was correct. I asked a sales associate if they could bring him some water. I assumed he could still be having a heart problem, or the sweat was related to being dehydrated. A policeman was on the scene in minutes as well as an EMS team. I asked if I could stick around to see it all played out. The policeman was very nice, thanked me for my response and said I could stay as long as I liked.
The EMS team performed an EKG, which turned out normal. His blood pressure was low, as expected, 100/49! That alone screams dehydration. His glucose was 122 and all other vitals were normal. The EMS team gave him the option of being taken to the hospital for further evaluation since their skills, tests, and knowledge couldn't explain his episode nor his low blood pressure and sweat. Or he could be taken by his wife to the hospital, which would be Against Medical Advice (AMA). Another option was inserting an IV at the scene and administer some fluids. It was at this time that I left, thankful he was ok. I don't know why these things always happen to me. This was my third response since becoming a nurse. I'm just glad I've been able to be there for these people, at the right time and place.
I went back to the gate, gave my receipt and empty movie box to the guy, who exchanged the case for THOR and I was off. As I left the building, I turned around and took the picture above to show what I had just experienced. A life saved!
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