The Omaha guide., 1946-10-26

AS l was finishing dinner one
evening, a very agitated woman
called me on the phone.
"Oh, Doctor, she gasped. "my
mother took a bad spell at the
supper table. We're alone in the
house. I can't move her and I don't
know what to do. I've been trying
to locate a doctor for the past
half hour. Will you please come?
My name is Helen Perry and we
live at 40 Tower Street. My bro
ther-in-law, John Adams. gave
me your name.
Cautioning Miss Perry not to
move her mother, I assured her
I would be right over. When I
arrived at the Tower street House
10 minutes later, I found the mo-
Their had suffered a stroke. We
put her to bed with an icebag on
her forehead and hot water bot
ties at her feet, and I gave her
something to make her rest. Then
I turned to the daughter.
Miss Perry was almost in an
hysterical state. 1t was natural
that she should have been alarmed
when her mother was suddenly
unable to lift her head or speak
clearly. But her alarm turned to
panic. because she did not know
where to turn for help.
Miss Perry explained that she
and her mother had moved to our
town only a year ago. They had
not had any sickness requiring q
Doctors attendanceNu until that ever
ing. She had tried in vain t.
reach a married sister by tele
phone. She ran next door. but he.
neighbors were not at home. Fin
ally after a nightmare half hour
of telephoning, she had reached
her brother-in-law at the home of
friends and he had given her my
name. He had been a patient of
mine for a long time.
This incident started me think
ing Of the worry end suffering
people could avoid if they would
prepare in advance for such en-
ergencies. Regardless Of how heal
thy people may be, they should
know how to locate a doctor in
case of sudden illness or accident.
The delay Of half an hour in Mrs.
Perry's case was not too danger
GUS, but in some cases it might
be fatal.
When people move to a new com
munity it does not take them long
to find the grocer. the butcher and
the post office. All too often. how
ever, they neglect finding out
where they can get medical assist
ance in case of need. Finding a
doctor may not be as simple as
finding the grocer, but is is not
too difficult. If a stranger knows
no one in the community who can
recommend a physician, he can
find out where the nearest hos
pital is and ask the hospital to
suggest the names of several doc
tors nearby.
People should realize that they
can always turn to the hospital for
advice in case of sickness or acct
dent. Rather than waste precious
time on home remedies, which
may be all wrong, it is wise to
get in touch with the clinic or
hospital if there is no family or if
he cannot be reached. If the com
munity has no hospital, the local
clergyman who know all the doc
tors, can give you the list.
Another source of help in en-
ergencies is the police station. Po-
lice headquarters will gladly ad-
wise on where to obtain medical
aid and, if necessary, help In get
ting the services of an ambulance
to take the patient to a hospital.
Most families realize the impor-
lance of having a family doctor
when there r young children in
the home. But in a family of adults
the possible need for medical as
sistance is often ignored until the
trouble strikes. 1t is wise for all
families to know a doctor and for
him to know the members Of the
family and their general physical
condition. Then when an emer-
gency arises. the doctor can be
called at once. The patient is then
assured of prompt care, and the
family is shared needless anxiety.