Many years ago I got a call from the school principal to see if anybody could come take our son home at the end of the school day. "He fell at recess and hit his head on the asphalt and has been thowing up ever since" "It's okay we let hm sleep in the nurses office". "We just don't want him to ride the bus and get sick on there".
Between the mad bull roar and the constant stream of profanity I think he figured out I was a "LITTLE UPSET". "Call 911 NOW!!! I'll meet you at the hospital".
The Sheriff threw me his keys and I put the hammer down, running code 3.
I got to the hospital and my wife is sitting in the check in area crying holding my kid while the girl at the desk and the school principal argue over who is going to pay!!!! Seems he decied they didn't need an ambulance and called the wife at home to come get Ian to transport him.
I took one look, turned to the receptionist and YELLED "We need a trauma team NOW"!!!!! It only took once, and the look in my eyes.
Then I listened to the principals story and hit the SOB as hard as I've ever hit anybody in my life.
9 days in the ICU with the side of his skull removed, yeah that was lots of fun.
If they had waited he would have been dead. I'm just glad they were worried about the school bus. To quote the wife "When I heard your boots come thudding down the hall, I knew somebody was finally in charge".
Principal was dismissed, school nurse was fired, teacher was fired every teacher in the school district was required to take Advanced Red Cross First Aide. Geez, every rookie cop knows how to spot blunt head trauma and the signs, why not the school teachers.
Get a teaching certificate in Idaho and you will now be required to have Advanced Red Cross First Aide BEFORE your license can be issued.
I understand money doesn't solve everything but we did bankrupt the school district, to get their attention. Then when the changes were made, we gave the money back except for the money to pay the hospital, doctors and voc re-hab people.
Ian is fine and the scar only shows when he cuts his hair short.
Do not down play or discount "a bump on the head". Get medical treatment immeadiately.
Best case, nothing is wrong. Worst case, something is terribly wrong and you save somebodies life.
It still scares me when I see the scar.
Ross W THomas
Great Basin Ranch
Owyhee County, ID
