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I Am Thankful For Paramedics

I wanted to see some bushmen art in South Africa. By law, a person needs to hire a guide to prevent vandalism. At the second site, I didn't feel too well. I made a comment to that effect. I sat on a rock as the guide explained the painting. My elbow was on my knee, my head supported by that wrist. I then remember having a very vivid and colourful dream. What I didn't know, that I feinted. Since I was the onpy person on that tour, my guide could delay the tour. I lay down for half-hour, trying to recover. Then more time, more time. My body didn't accept any fluids or food. It came out the way it went in.
The terrain was too tough for a 4x4, would have taken too long. The only alternative is a helicopter. The paramedic diagnosed me through the guide telephonically. They made the call to fly an hour to get me.
Four hours later, the helicopter arrived. I have recovered sufficiently to be able to stand. I met the paramedic on my feet. He took my blood pressure, which was quite low.
The pilot and paramedic took a few minutes to take in the rock art in for themselves, with both of them pulling out their cellphones for a photo. I was OK with that.
I didn't have the confidence to hike out, fearing another relapse. Since the helicopter was there, I decided to use it. Being a bit of an aviation enthusiast, I expected the 6-seater Bell helicopter to be piston powered. Nope, to my delight, it had gas-turbine ("jet engine") engines.
I got into the helicopter with the paramedic fixing an IV in my arm. The guide hiked down as I was flown off the site. In the helicopter, he did a cardiogram, which was fine. They opted to take me to the nearest airfield, instead of flying me to the hospital some 120km away.
At the airfield, I was met by local quasi-ambulance crew. The wife of the guide also came to see me; she was very concerned about my well being.
My accommodation was a subscriber to this private company, quasi-medical, quasi-security business. So, I got a free ride from the airfield to the accommodation sporting a bag of fluids and an IV in my arm.
I persuaded the driver to turn on the red flashing lights as we approached the holiday accommodation down an extremely rough 1km stretch of road.
Hence, I am grateful and have the fullest respect for the paramedics. There was no bill for the helicopter ride: it was covered by the park's insurance.
Miram · 31-35, F
I am very glad you're doing well after that. ❤️ Stories like this are much needed in times health professionals are being demonized in the media.

 
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