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Original poster

OH has fell down the stairs

219 replies

comeoneileenn · 18/09/2020 23:58

Just moved into our new house today and OH has just gone and fell down the stairs the ambulance has just taken him to hospital.

I've got a job interview tomorrow and everything is still in boxes.

How bad are broken ankles will he still be able to look after the kids while I go?

OP posts:
TitsOutForHarambe · 19/09/2020 05:14

For God's sake, there's some right arses tonight. What's wrong with her calling an ambulance in an emergency? What's so odd about a job interview on a Saturday? You're completely missing the point of the thread and I think you're doing it on purpose just to be arsey.

OP - If it turns out that he definitely has broken his ankles then he won't be able to look after a 2 and 3 year old, because he won't be able to get up and walk around. Is there anyone else who can take them for your job interview? This definitely counts as an emergency, if I was your friend/neighbour I would go out of my way to help in this circumstance. Surely it will only be for a couple of hours.

caughtalightsneeze · 19/09/2020 05:24

I was once berated on a thread for saying that my elderly mother had been taken to hospital by ambulance after a fall. She had a visibly broken hip (her leg was pointing in the wrong direction), and the paramedics were giving her gas and air just to get her moved a few inches onto a stretcher. They were absolutely adamant that trying to get her to hospital without an ambulance would have been dangerous. But some posters insisted that she should have gritted her teeth and walked to the car. She was over 80 and already had poor balance. Trying to hop to the car would have been a recipe for breaking the other leg too. And several years later, she still can't walk properly.

Anyway, my point is that for some posters, ambulances appear to be something that no injury or illness is serious enough to justify. Presumably they think they should be for decorative purposes only.

TW2013 · 19/09/2020 05:46

Look folks let's not worry about the ambulance, I think you forget it was Friday night, Bob will have cleared his tools out so we had the ambulance and his transit on duty last night.

I hope from one person looking after a person with a fractured ankle to another that he is not in too much pain and recovers quickly. Only hairline here, a week in and just beginning to take a few steps with just the boot and no crutches. Remember today he might still have drugs in his system, if he has had a general anaesthetic he will need someone with him all the time and he probably will still be getting used to crutches. I really don't think he will be able to cope alone. Could this be a job for MIL? Or postpone as he might not be fully back in action in terms of childcare for a while.

Ablackrussian · 19/09/2020 05:49

Of course it's not odd to travel by ambulance with a broken foot. Was op supposed to carry him to the car in a fireman's lift whilst holding both toddlers in the other hand?

On Mumsnet, well, Yes! Grin

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/09/2020 05:56

Anyway, my point is that for some posters, ambulances appear to be something that no injury or illness is serious enough to justify. Presumably they think they should be for decorative purposes only.

Basically they're hearses. Unless you're dead, don't call one.

In the real world my paramedic friend gets called for bad dreams. No really. Bad dreams.

Friendsoftheearth · 19/09/2020 06:14

No he can't look at two toddlers, even if he is out of hospital by then. You will need to find someone to care for them for an hour or two, or reschedule the interview. I am sorry op, terrible timing.

PhilCornwall1 · 19/09/2020 06:15

@giantangryrooster

Just asking as a foreigner, given the outrage of the use of ambulances on MN, do you only have one for the whole of Britain?
🤣🤣🤣

Although judging by the amount of responses on threads you see with "POLICE NOW!!!" or "Call 101 Now!!!" or the latest "I'd report them, they are breaking the rules", you'd think the rozzers were parked up on every street corner waiting for a call.

speakout · 19/09/2020 06:18

No he can't look at two toddlers, even if he is out of hospital by then. You will need to find someone to care for them for an hour or two, or reschedule the interview. I am sorry op, terrible timing.

I disagree. It's only for a few hours.

ClickandForget · 19/09/2020 06:19

Not as odd as an ambulance for a broken ankle

Not odd at all. How else would you get to hospital if you have nobody who can carry you? Most people can't walk on a broken ankle.

Friendsoftheearth · 19/09/2020 06:21

I have had broken ankles, and the first few days are very painful, it is hard to get up and get on the crutches and move around.
It would be dangerous to leave the dc, because he won't be able to quickly respond to them - at their age you need to keep your eye on them all of the time. I wouldn't do it, maybe in a week or so once he is getting around a little more easier.

rorosemary · 19/09/2020 06:27

@speakout

No he can't look at two toddlers, even if he is out of hospital by then. You will need to find someone to care for them for an hour or two, or reschedule the interview. I am sorry op, terrible timing.

I disagree. It's only for a few hours.

IF they can operate now. When my dad broke his ankle his surgery kept being pushed back due to other emergency surgeries needing to go first. It can take a while sometimes.
GreySkyClouds · 19/09/2020 06:35

@Thisismytimetoshine

Not as odd as an ambulance for a broken ankle. Of course it's not odd to travel by ambulance with a broken foot. Was op supposed to carry him to the car in a fireman's lift whilst holding both toddlers in the other hand?
😂
rc22 · 19/09/2020 06:36

Ambulance definitely the right thing to do. The ankle could have been damaged more if he was moved badly without the ankle being properly stabilised. They probably started giving him pain relief too.

SonEtLumiere · 19/09/2020 06:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Poppins2016 · 19/09/2020 06:58

@GalaxyCookieCrumble

He broke his ankles falling down the stairs and nothing else?
I fell all the way down my stairs and broke ... absolutely nothing.
PhilCornwall1 · 19/09/2020 07:03
  • I fell all the way down my stairs and broke ... absolutely nothing.*

Me too, top to bottom. Smacked my head a few times, but didn't break anything at all. Head ached a bit after though.

tabulahrasa · 19/09/2020 07:07

I got a taxi to the hospital for my suspected broken ambulance... but that’s only because I was 19, it was in the middle of the street and I was too embarrassed to phone an ambulance, lol... should have though...

Anyway, mine was just a torn tendon, they still kept me in till Monday and when I went home I thought I’d be fine to look after my 2 yr old - it was sore and I wasn’t bearing weight on it (I had crutches) but I figured I could hop.

Obviously, I’d never tried hopping carrying food or the 2 yr old... it’s a lot harder than you’d think, rofl.

So honestly, no, he’ll not be able to...

tabulahrasa · 19/09/2020 07:08

Suspected broken ankle obviously Hmm lol

MinaMurray · 19/09/2020 07:14

Is there anyone else at all available to help out?

I wouldn’t count on your DH being capable of looking after your DC. Even if it’s a simple break and he’s able to be home this morning, it will still be very painful so soon after his fall, and very difficult for him to quickly respond to the DC.

tara66 · 19/09/2020 07:22

Neighbour broken an ankle ski-ing . He had large splints on for some time and 2 crutches. He couldn't use the stairs for 6 weeks weeks and had to be looked after. No question of him looking after kids.

Waitingforthehammertofallll · 19/09/2020 07:24

I broke my ankle quite badly after slipping on black ice about 10 years ago. Was absolute agony, I needed surgery to pin it back together. Definitely not fun. He will need help! It was a while before I was back on my feet. If you explain to your employer they will understand and make alternative arrangements.

RB68 · 19/09/2020 07:25

An ambulance is of course appropriate for a broken ankle, arm or collarbone etc maybe different, but one of the key things is availability of immediate pain relief and the ability to resite any dislocation or mis alignment of bones that might effect blood supply. .

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 19/09/2020 07:27

Hi OP and I hope your OH got his foot sorted. I also don't think he'll be able to look after the kids for your interview - have you got someone who can step in.

On another subject, I'm crying with laughter at the mumsnetter who hopped to hospital with a broken foot Grin

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 19/09/2020 07:37

Of course you call an ambulance when an adult falls down the stairs and breaks their ankle! When my (then) six year old broke his ankle playing sport I carried him quite a way to the car, and the A&E doctor actually asked me how I got him to the hospital and said to call an ambulance If it happened again as it'd be no good me injuring myself too!

CormoranStrike · 19/09/2020 07:39

How is he doing @comeoneileenn

PS I would totally have called an ambulance in this case too.

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