A quick thank you.. to Gloucestershire Police

Anubis_2

I doubt a taxi driver would do it given the disabilities, their insurance wouldn't cover them for such things, if, for example, they attempted to pick the person up off the floor, which in turn cause a sudden dislocation, jerk of movement, taxi driver lets go, and before you know it a bone or two is broken.

blessings3

Sorry lots of diasabled and elderly people use taxis all the time. I have a disablity and am yes vunerable sometimes but would have at least tried a taxi before calling the police

Anubis_2

blessings3 wrote: »

Sorry lots of diasabled and elderly people use taxis all the time. I have a disablity and am yes vunerable sometimes but would have at least tried a taxi before calling the police

Yes they do, I agree. However in the case of being stranded on the floor with a broken wheelchair and unable to move, I don't think a taxi is appropriate.

Lum

Don't forget... stranded on the floor, in the middle of a town centre that's over an hours drive away from home..

Oh, for reference, here's the part that failed:



That plug is supposed to be pushed all the way in, and the bar sticking out with the 3 prongs is supposed to point upwards.

And here's the failed bolt:

Person_one

Lum wrote: »

I know a lot of people, me included, like to have a moan about the police, but today is not one of those days, and it's worth giving thanks and credit where they are due.

So actually, today is one of those days, isn't it?

The police responded perfectly by referring the issue to people better qualified and equipped to handle it, and apparently that means they 'couldn't be bothered' and would have injured your wife if they had?

Next time you need help, why not handle it yourself if you have such contempt for them and their abilities.

Lum

Yes indeed, I posted while not in full possession of the facts, about a difficult situation that was still ongoing.

Why not handle it for myself, when I was informed that "the police are here and came on blues and twos" I was actually on the M4 just approaching the last junction before the Severn bridge... still an hour away from Gloucester. At this point, I turned around, went home and made my original post.

The "can't be bothered" comment filtered down from the ambulance driver, via my partner, and as we later had chance to reflect on the situation it became apparent that actually yes, having an ambulance driver do this job was indeed the best option.

It's easy to criticise from afar when you have no emotional involvement in the situation, less easy to get everything right when you're stuck in the middle of it!

Person_one

Lum wrote: »

Yes indeed, I posted while not in full possession of the facts, about a difficult situation that was still ongoing.

Why not handle it for myself, when I was informed that "the police are here and came on blues and twos" I was actually on the M4 just approaching the last junction before the Severn bridge... still an hour away from Gloucester. At this point, I turned around, went home and made my original post.

The "can't be bothered" comment filtered down from the ambulance driver, via my partner, and as we later had chance to reflect on the situation it became apparent that actually yes, having an ambulance driver do this job was indeed the best option.

It's easy to criticise from afar when you have no emotional involvement in the situation, less easy to get everything right when you're stuck in the middle of it!

I'm glad you've reconsidered your comments.

I take it you now see how your comment that the police would have casually dislocated your wife's shoulders was unfair and inappropriate?

Lum

No, I still think it's a valid risk that a police officer without specialist medical training wouldn't know about Ehlers Dhanlos or hypermobility (still waiting on test results to see which version it actually is!) and thus would be likely to do this.

Hell, I know about them and I still have a damn hard time picking her up after a fall without dislocating something! It's very difficult to avoid.

Seriously, if you do the standard method of pulling someone up by the arms, they will pop out, if you attempt to lift from under the shoulders they will pop out. The only way I've found to do it is to wrap my arms about her upper back and pull towards me and upwards, and I usually end up on my backside when doing it. It also hurts my back like hell.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Lum wrote: »

No, I still think it's a valid risk that a police officer without specialist medical training wouldn't know about Ehlers Dhanlos or hypermobility (still waiting on test results to see which version it actually is!) and thus would be likely to do this.

Hell, I know about them and I still have a damn hard time picking her up after a fall without dislocating something! It's very difficult to avoid.

Seriously, if you do the standard method of pulling someone up by the arms, they will pop out, if you attempt to lift from under the shoulders they will pop out. The only way I've found to do it is to wrap my arms about her upper back and pull towards me and upwards, and I usually end up on my backside when doing it. It also hurts my back like hell.

The ambulance / nurse method is :

- she intertwines her fingers in font and puts them tightly on her belly
- you stand behind her and thread your arms through hers
- then grasp her locked wrists

The act of locking her fingers helps locks her shoulders and that makes a scaffold with which to lift from - its not perfect but its a much safer technique for the lifter and the lifted.

Person_one

Lum wrote: »

No, I still think it's a valid risk that a police officer without specialist medical training wouldn't know about Ehlers Dhanlos or hypermobility (still waiting on test results to see which version it actually is!) and thus would be likely to do this.

No, they would be likely to call an ambulance.