What clothes should a frail, catatonic person with bedsores wear to travel to the ER, in cold weather, via ambulance?
She will be outside for 10 or 15 minutes in the stretcher, because the door to the house is set back from the driveway. I worry about exposure to the cold, possibly rain or snow. She cannot dress herself & anything on the sores is uncomfortable.
Paramedics usually carry those shock blankets that look like paper or Mylar but are in fact quite warm.... their compact size before unfurling and light weight makes them ideal for use for emergency equipment.
My mother has been wheeled out without blankets except the ones that I give her to take along. For some reason, the paramedics don't always have adequate blankets in the ambulance. Oftentimes it is just a sheet/blanket like the hospitals have and not very warm. My mother has some PJ pants that are like chenille, very soft, thick and fuzzy but they are synthetic. I always try to have a sweater or jacket for her too - depending on the weather. Sometimes the ambulance itself is just not that warm. We are about 20 - 25 minutes from the hospital. Be sure that anything you send you can stand to lose, although they have been very good with my mother's stuff. We are in Georgia and her robe is not that heavy, maybe your loved ones have heavier robes..
Paramedics move pretty quickly... probably what would feel like 10-15 minutes would be only 2 or 3 minutes. Not enough to make a difference in cold weather. She will do fine.
I totally agree with pamstegman. They have plenty of blankets to keep her warm and she will be taken care of. Most times they will allow you to travel in the ambulance with your mother. I remember traveling with my mother a couple of trips to the hospital.
Paramedics are very good about this. They can move her in her jammies with extra blankets. Bear in mind they monitor vital signs every inch of the way, which is a lot more than you can do in a car.
6 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
ADVERTISEMENT