Summary of calls for January 10-24:
There were 2 calls for people with high blood pressure, one accompanied by hyperglycemia. Very often these two go hand in hand. These patients were taken to the hospital in Cihuatlan for evaluation and treatment.
There were 2 calls for motorcycle accidents, but both calls were from the same patient. He had complications in his healing and needed to be returned to the hospital.
We transported one child to Guanajuato at the request of officials in La Huerta. He had had surgery for appendicitus and there were complications that only a specialist in Guanajuato could remedy. We took him to that doctor.
Two calls were for problems with breathing. We evaluated the patients and transported one to the hospital for further treatment. Often breathing problems are part of a bigger problem like high blood pressure or heart problems. At times, the issue is dehydration.
One patient was transported to Cihuatlan for severe pain caused by a testicular hernia.
One call was for a car accident. The car flipped on the carretera. Another ambulance arrived at the scene at the same time, but we were unable to save the driver. He was dead when we arrived. In a case like this, we are required not to touch the body and to wait for the coroner to arrive, which can take many hours.
Finally, there were 3 scorpion stings. Two of these patients were transported to a clinic in Melaque where we knew antivenom was available. The other was monitored by the team for danger signs, but the patient didn’t need antivenom.
These patients ranged in age from 83 years old to 7 years old, and each was evaluated according to their needs and transported to the best option for further evaluation and treatment.
Now our ambulance team has been trained in scorpion sting procedure and antivenom administration, which we have here. We are searching for more to purchase, but it is in short supply because the need is great. Thanks to the generous donations to the antivenom fund, we can afford to buy more and to offer it to our patients at no cost.
We are able to keep the ambulance running and to pay the team and give them further training opportunities because of the donations from the community. For example, right now, we have two team members who attend a school in Autlan every Saturday to increase their knowledge. The class lasts for 18 months at a cost of $700 pesos each month for each person. We also use the donations for uniforms and other medical supplies not provided by La Huerta.
It takes a village to keep a service like this in operation. Please give generously to our fund. Donations can be make at the Galeria de La Manzanilla, at Cafe du Calcetin, and at La Manzanilla Homes at Maria Assuncion # 26 and at our joint fundraiser with Peluditos on February 5. We also have an Intercam account for which I’m happy to provide instructions for international transfers.
Further information about the February 5 fundraiser is available in La Manzanilla Life and on the message board!