When life deals you a physical blow

When life deals you a physical blow

We spend our childhoods learning how to take care of ourselves. When involved in an accident or suffering an illness, however, we have to let others take care of us. We’ve listed a few things to remember if a bad day comes.

Embarrassed is better than dead. Don’t be shy about asking (or yelling) for help, even if you feel stupid about tripping over the cat or think that stabbing chest pain is probably just indigestion.

Get thee to the ER. In a true emergency, when minutes matter, head straight for the nearest hospital, no matter where your insurance plan would normally direct you. Most policies cover emergency visits to hospitals outside the plan network. Even if you’re uninsured, federal law requires nearly all hospitals to provide emergency screening examinations and stabilizing treatment.

Allergic to penicillin or latex? Wear a medical-alert necklace or bracelet stating your allergies. Keep a list of current medications in you wallet or purse.

Whose coverage? If your injury happened on the job, tell your employer, pronto. You’ll need to be treated under your employer’s workers’ compensation policy rather than your usual insurance.

Choose hospital advocates. If you’re staying in the hospital, line up your most outspoken friends and family to stay with you. Hospital care varies depending on the quantity and experience of staff, and you may not be able to monitor your own care. Don’t worry; you’ll be able to return the favor someday.

Who’s to blame? The answer may be “no one” or “my own klutziness.” If someone’s carelessness caused your injury, however, save physical evidence as best you can, write down the names and contact info of possible witnesses, and take notes about what happened-before you forget the details.

Brush up on that assertiveness training. Once you are able, don’t take no for an answer when it comes to your care. Studies show that patients who monitor their case and loudly express their needs live longer.

Fend off horror stories. Your injury will inspire others to share their most shocking injury stories. If blood-and-gore tales aren’t the tonic you need, prepare a polite but off-putting phrase such as, “I’d love to hear about that sometime when the medication isn’t making me so queasy.”

Relieve your boredom. Start keeping a journal or recording your thoughts on tape. If you’ve broken a bone, ask for a light-colored cast. That way, you can carry around pens and give friends a chance to show their artistic side.

You are not a freak. Everyone gets injured or sick at some point. In fact, you’ll probably start meeting a surprising number of people with the same condition as you.