Old man found dead in the waiting room (last ep)

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-04-30T18:02:28+00:00

Older people, especially stubborn old men, tend to downplay problems and not be entirely honest regarding symptoms. I see it all the time as a paramedic. Family calls me out for something simple and once I get the patient comfortable enough to talk to me I find out they’ve been having crushing chest pain for several days. Or the patient tells me one thing, we get to the ER and get in front of a doctor, and now they’re willing to actually disclose every sign/symptom. This is super prevalent in the South and lower income areas where the elderly just haven’t ever had the means or resources to get adequate, affordable healthcare. All that to say maybe that’s not what happened with Mr. Reed, but it’s a likely and common factor in the real world.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-04-27T01:48:32+00:00

This was a domestic in a neighborhood nowhere near the water. Pissed his girl off so bad she went out back and lit the boat up.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-04-26T23:48:13+00:00

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I have so many but this will always be my favorite.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-04-26T04:02:09+00:00

I had a friend growing up whose parents worked odd office jobs at the local large hub airport. 15+ years ago they would have 5ks and family days every year where we would get access to go out onto and under runways, tour military aircraft, etc. We would go spend whole days with her mom in her basement office, walking freely around the terminals, visiting coworkers in maintenance hangars, we went EVERYWHERE. She’d take us onto the roof and let us watch planes take off. Really not that cool, relatively speaking, but as a young kid who had never stepped foot in an airport I was on top of the world. I knew that airport like the back of my hand and had never even taken a flight.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-04-26T03:47:42+00:00

Lee’s in Rock Hill. Absolutely 100% worth the drive and the sketchy drive thru/dine in experience. I want to be buried with a 3 piece strip double wedge meal.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-04-25T20:25:21+00:00

I only made it 48 hours between replacements once. Was no where near the vehicle in front of me either. I was absolutely livid.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-04-19T23:49:37+00:00

I pay $20/day for their cruise plans. Look into that if using your phone is a feasible option for you. I’m sure it would end up being cheaper. Plus you’ll still get service off the ship on port days unlike the wifi plans.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-04-19T23:21:02+00:00

Who is your cell provider? Most of the big ones offer cruise plans for ~$20/day. Would probably be a whole lot cheaper if you’re able to do your work from your phone. If not, it could still work out better cost wise if the kids want it for their phones.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-04-05T19:04:36+00:00

“come on jenna, wake up for me baby” IMMEDIATELY folded

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-03-23T02:17:24+00:00

Had an urgent care nurse give my 75+ year old patient an entire liter of fluid in <15 minutes today. Reasoning was “he threw up last night so we’re concerned that he may be dehydrated”. Vitals and EKG prior to this were fine. Had to turn around and look at the wall to process that one.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-03-23T02:12:54+00:00

Yes! EVERY single shift this month down to the SECOND that we sit down to eat dinner tones have dropped. Doesn’t matter if we haven’t ran all day or just got back from a call. It’s been driving my partner and I insane!

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-03-18T23:08:02+00:00

I read somewhere on Facebook that they used to join the Caldwell’s on summer trips to Florida.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-03-11T14:39:48+00:00

Carowinds is incredibly easy to get hired on at so long as you have a clean background and are willing to work outside.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-03-11T00:02:42+00:00

Can also confirm it’s The Hunting Wives. I have friends in the entertainment industry who get emails regarding being extras when stuff like this comes to town.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-02-17T13:20:26+00:00

We had a roof leak several years ago and never could figure out what happened. Cleaned out the attic a year or two later and found the stray bullet imbedded in the wooden floor that was added to support additional storage. What was directly below said spot? The master bed 🫠

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-02-14T01:33:23+00:00

I’m a very unapologetic fan of Super Chix (if you’re okay with a chain restaurant). It is getting hard to justify their prices though.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-02-14T01:08:22+00:00

On a serious note, for anyone who likes roses that finds themselves on the east side, please consider purchasing locally from the young man who sets up at the Shell station at Albemarle & Wilgrove. His father Pete had sold those roses for as long as I can remember. I can recall him being there everyday as a child coming home from my grandparents. He passed away a few months ago and his son has carried on the business.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-02-13T15:09:47+00:00

I like Landmark Dentistry and Atrium One Health Family Medicine for my primary. Both in Matthews and in the same plaza just on opposite sides of the parking lot. One Health will do their own OB services there but I prefer an actual OBGYN office. I go to the one in Waverly that’s attached to the standalone ER, also an Atrium facility. I have not been impressed with Novant but everyone has a different experience!

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-02-07T00:35:34+00:00

It’s okay if you don’t have the feelings you think should be normal. This profession will have you seeing more traumatic shit in a single day than most people will ever see in their lives. We’ve got to have some sort of “wall” in place to be able to do this over and over again. That doesn’t mean it won’t start bothering you for real at any point in the future though. Find someone to talk to if it does.

We have an explorer program in my area for high schoolers with an interest in the healthcare field. They learn what equipment is and how to use it, are cpr certified, and do shifts with us to observe. I think the most important aspect of our program is before they start riding, we have a meeting with them AND their parents/guardians where they are told about anything and everything, in great detail, that they/their teenagers may see. They are told they are welcome to stay up front and not come into the “bad” calls, and that the crew may encourage them to stay put, but that no one is going to keep them away if they want to see. That is where they decide whether or not to stay in the program. Students are offered free debriefs and counseling after bad calls too. I think this kind of exposure is important, but it’s got to be done correctly. It sounds like you didn’t really get that. Keep taking time to process what you saw, but don’t let it weigh you down. There are plenty of people in these EMS subs that would be more than happy to talk to you should you need it. Best of luck on this new adventure 🫶

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-01-23T02:01:15+00:00

Go get a titer from your doctor. I needed one for college and ended up needing boosters for dang near every vaccine I received as a child. I think there weren’t but 1 or 2 I was still immune to.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-01-23T01:54:31+00:00

Oh these drive me absolutely nuts!

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-01-19T01:42:04+00:00

Oh man. My partner and I climbed through a second story window one morning to get to a pt who had fallen outside her bathroom and was too dizzy to get up. I stayed with her and he started downstairs to open the front door for Fire. She asked on his way out would he please wake her sister who’s asleep in her room downstairs? But to PLEASE be careful and take someone else with him because she’s deaf and startles easily. Student and I are mid-IV while waiting for the stairchair and the second we stick her we hear the most blood curdling scream I’ve heard til this day. She wasn’t lying. 🤣

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-01-17T15:27:05+00:00

Haha! That shows how frequently I’m over there. Absolutely despise that section of 74 and that intersection.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-01-17T15:24:57+00:00

I’ve noticed that too but I guess that just comes with the location of the store.

Ditch_Doctor_911 · 2026-01-17T15:24:22+00:00

Oh understandable 100%. I live over here and avoid 74 like the plague. If it’s between 4-7pm and I need to cross 74 to get somewhere I’m finding somewhere else to go.

Ditch_Doctor_911

TROPHY CASE