slim44

The Sunday after the burn, I worked the medical tent at station 3 from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. I expected a fairly quiet day. Boy, was I wrong. It turned out to be one of the busiest shifts in the week.  Our team of two doctors, 2 nurses, 2 EMTs, 2 medical assistants, and a radio dispatch chief saw over 60 patients in the eight hour span, mostly treating dehydration issues, lacerations from artists taking down installations, camps, and art cars, blisters, and the dreaded “playa foot” from too much exposure to the alkaline dust. The station was only equipped to handle basic life support services.  All advanced life support was directed to Reno Emergency Medical Services Association (REMSA) at center camp. However, the biggest stories of the day were:

1. Falls: Female patient, in her 20s, injures her neck after falling 5-6 feet from a burning bike ramp, somewhere near 4:00. The camp is a wild group known for their Black Sabbath Sunday brunches and hardcore lifestyle.  Mohawks, tattoos, black leather, and scowls are the norm in this camp. Luckily the patient’s camp is located near the Emergency Services Department at 6:00. Within three minutes of the radio call, ESD was at the site to assess the situation and transport her to the REMSA tent at Center Camp.  She was probably flown to Reno for more advanced life support measures.

2. Dehydration and exposure: Man, 50-ish, falls asleep for two hours in midday sun on the playa. He comes into the camp shivering uncontrollably, his lips parched, his entire body sunburned.  The doctors cool his body which is in shock by placing wet cool towels on his body. The man cannot tolerate ice water, because the body needs to cool gradually. When an EMT applied an ice water towel, the man flinched and shook.  Eventually, he was transported to REMSA at center camp for advanced life support. 

3. Overdose: Man, tripping on drugs, needs to be restrained on the playa. He runs around naked, sits on the playa, defecates, and then proceeds to eat his waste.  It takes a team of dedicated EMTs to strap him down and take him to REMSA to receive advanced treatment.

All I can saw about that last story is “Eeew, that’s gross.” Kids—don’t let this happen to you.