Margie's First Ambulance Ride! 9/10/11

Our first mistake was riding our bikes to Iwakuni Station at 12:30 PM on a HOT September Saturday. We both know better . . . (mad dogs and Englishmen???)


Riding across the pedestrian bridge into downtown.


The water is high from a recent typhoon, but it's beautiful today - still pretty warm & humid.


Riding toward the trolley track downtown. The sidewalks have recently been divided for bikes & pedestrians.


Stan on the local train to Hiroshima. It's nice & cool on the train so we had nearly an hour to cool down. We're going to the MOCA - Museum of Contemporary Art today. It's near the streetcar line, but we will have to walk a little ways to get there.


Crossing one of the many rivers in Hiroshima that lead into the Seto Inland Sea.


Inside Hiroshima Station.


Outside Hiroshima Station waiting for our streetcar. We're taking the No. 5 today that goes directly toward Hiroshima Port, instead of winding through the shopping & restaurant area, where we usually go. But we're only going 3 stops.


But I don't think this train runs quite as often - we had to wait about 20 minutes & it was HOT outside.


A little blurry, but after a 10-minute ride (not really enough time to get cool!) we were at our stop. This sign says the MOCA is 500 meters. On the map it looks like there's a beautiful park and several other buildings as well.


Unfortunately, we realized too late that the museum & park were at the top of a small mountain . . . so our 500 meter walk was ALL UPHILL!


Partly up the hill, we found a shortcut - this steep stairway would take us up to the top more quickly - seemed like a good idea. However, about halfway up the stone stairs there was a landing and I realized too late I was overheated. I remembered the symptoms from having a bout of heat stroke from last summer. So I sat down, drank water, and doused myself with water. But I knew it wasn't enough when I began gasping for air. I needed to get somewhere cool NOW, and I couldn't even move!


So Stan entreated some Japanese ladies to call for an ambulance, and a few minutes later, it arrived. They were very kind and stayed with us & fanned me until the ambulance arrived. I felt so bad because they had to carry me down the steps on a stretcher. I remember I kept saying, "Gomenasai!" (sorry) and they were very kind and courteous. It was a surprisingly smooth & level ride down the steps - not what I expected! And it was fabulously COOL inside the ambulance. When I asked Stan to document this event with photos, the paramedics thought this was funny (weird Americans?!?!?)


Here I am being rolled into the hospital.


And here I am in the ER. The nurses were all very kind and professional. I was initially given oxygen, then an IV with fluids, heart monitors for EKG, and internal organs were checked with ultrasound, blood was drawn and I was questioned about medical history and medications. Once I was cooled down & re-hydrated, and my pulse & breathing had returned to normal, I was released - about 2 hours after arrival. Good news: my heart is very strong. Diagnosis: Heat illness leading to hyperventilation.

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