The local blood bank is in need of O negative, it's universal. So I sign up. While they are asking me my entire life history the guy in the next cubicle starts moaning, then throwing up, repeatedly (a lot.) Poor guy was taken away by paramedics just as they say, "Ms. Frost, we're ready for you."
Needless to say this hindered recruiting Gary as a blood donor possibly forever. He saw the whole thing from the lobby in horror.
The strange thing is, the way everyone responded, or didn't. Everyone just keep on doing what they were doing like no one was having a crisis. Kind of odd don't you think?
What a horrible experience. Maybe people didn't react because they thought that since they were at a facility with a lot of nurses, there was nothing for them to do. What did you do? Did the nurses at least help in some way?
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I had my own experience that puts into question my comment above. I went on the train on Tuesday for my first trip out of my house with my crutches. I THOUGHT people would see a person on crutches and give up their seat. I was wrong. Everyone pretended they didn't notice me, which is odd because on any other day, I, being a foreigner, am met with stares. After I swore out loud and began searching for another area that was designated for elderly, pregnant women and cripples like myself, a man stood up and offered me his seat. Then, everyone started noticing that I existed.
Linda
Re: your question, what did I do? Someone seemed to be helping him but I couldn't see for sure at first. Meanwhile, as he was still in distress, the women interviewing me raised her voice to ask questions over the sound of retching. I finally asked if she or someone (professional) should help him. With that she stood up and shouted over the partition asking someone to close the door because of the noise!?!
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think the passengers on the train avoided eye contact? Do they think it's insulting to treat you as a disabled person?
I had an experience last weekend that's a bit similar, only reversed. My friend Cheryl and I were walking in the park and passed this couple. They were standing quite close and, initially, she appeared to be sobbing. So I didn't make eye contact and walked past. Cheryl suggested we stop. She realized that the women wasn't sobbing. She was gasping for air! I offered my inhaler and, voila, she was fine. Can you imagine what she thought of us when we breezed by without stopping? Things aren't always what they seem.
I like to give the benefit of the doubt in a situation like this, but geez, Sue, your clarifications seem so callous that it is hard to find an excuse or reason for the behavior there. It is hard to imagine a blood donor getting involved because anyone's first thought would be that they are in a facility with nurses and nurses could better handle the situation. But if the lady interviewing you didn't react until you said something and then had the reaction that she did, well...I don't know what to say.
ReplyDeleteThe answers to your questions would be so long that it is impossible to get into here. The easiest answer is that the Japanese are experts at avoiding eye contact to have an excuse for getting what they want. IN this case, they wanted to sit in their seat. And since the whole disabled issue is new for me, I don't really know how they generally treat someone who is disabled. And I know you are so sensitive to the right terminology, so I just wanted you to know that I used the word cripple for dramatic effect.
Your story about the park is interesting, and it highlights pretty clearly the dilemma we face when wondering when and whether to step into a situation. Normally, you would not step into a situation like that because there was another person there, and you said they were close together, so it looked like a personal issue being worked out between the two people. It is expected that no one would get involved. Especially if the other person isn't indicating that there is any need for help. It is nice and lucky that your friend noticed the girl's problem.
Linda