AIBU for continuing to work while a coworker was having a seizure?

[keepnonworkn]

Earlier today while I was at work a coworker collapsed and started having a seizure. Several other coworkers (who were closer to her than I was) rushed over to help. I being farther away looked up to see what was going on. There was a group of 7 or so people surrounding her by that point and moving things out of the way. Someone was already calling for an ambulance. To me it seems like everything was being handed and since we had some tight deadlines to meet for our clients I went back to working while this was going on. After she was taken away in the ambulance one of my other coworkers approached me. She said what I did was wrong and I should have stopped working and tried to help her since there was a crisis. I don't see how me crowding around with all the others would have been any help though. I don't have any medical training and wouldn't have known what else to do except call an ambulance, which someone else was already doing.

My friend recent had a cardiac arrest and ended up in hospital.

If it had happened in the classroom where she was studying, she would have been so happy if people were carrying on working and not paying attention to her. She feels lucky she wasn't around people she knew at the time.

Her situation was being handled (broken ribs after CPR, etc) and she ended up with half her clothes being ripped or cut off for treatment reasons.

She doesn't remember it, but still feels so embarrassed that people saw her half clothed being treated while waiting for the ambulance.

So I don't think OP was being cold, etc.

I think that would seem very bad. You couldn't do anything but should have stopped work

Happened some time ago in our workplace - due to the size/nature of our business we have always have a doctor on-site, who attended. The man sadly didn’t survive. People didn’t crowd around - but out of respect, while the doctor spent 30 minutes trying to resuscitate him, we stopped working and talked quietly amongst ourselves trying to process what was going on (not even knowing at that stage he might die). It seems a bit Larry David to go back to work imho.

Someone had called an ambulance.
I assume at least one of the people attending your colleague was a first aider.
It is quite common for someone having a seizure to lose control of their bladder, and I’m sure your colleague didn’t need additional people witnessing that possibility.
You did nothing wrong. And I hope your colleague is ok.

@TheWurst still convinced that people aren't motivated by how others perceive them? The post above is just one of the many, many posts that are all about how OP seems, looks, appears, comes across, etc. etc. etc.

Oh, I'm not saying that people aren't genuinely concerned as well. But it seems that, to many, that concern is worthless unless it's performed for an audience, no matter how counterproductive the performance.

Your colleague clearly wasn't considering the dignity of your ill colleague, who would no doubt be mortified if the whole office stopped and just watched her have a seizure

There’s a big difference between standing there and staring at the colleague vs not even trying to do anything.

OP said they were trying to move things out of the way - she could have helped move stuff.
She could have stood outside and wait for the ambulance or got a coat and gave it to someone to put under the colleagues head etc.

There are lots of things that she have done to help, without being directly involved with the colleague.

At the very least you would stand up and ask if there’s any way you can help.

Literally carrying on like nothing was happening ‘because you have an important deadline’ is very cold.

I’d have carried on working. People who are being cared for already don’t need an audience. I don’t feel any need to engage in performative ‘caring’. And I expect the first anders to give instructions if they need anything doing.

Yes you could have asked if there was anything to do (open door for ambulance or stand outside to guide them in) BUT was it a first aider that raised this? Really in that situation a first aider will usually take charge directing assistance. If you've no clue and if you don't know what to usefully do demanding back and shutting up isn't the worse!
My.mum had many seizures during my life and I've witnessed others experiencing and performed cpr in other situations, I really wouldn't mind if there's 5 people helping then anyone extra will probably be in the way!
Being pestered with questions isn't always ideal.

Ps
Don't put stuff under the head of a seizure patient unless they are resting post seizure.

Lots of posters are saying about the colleagues dignity and privacy which I agree with - but surely the best thing to do would be to leave the room and actually give her her privacy.

Either help or get out - don’t just do nothing.

In reality no one knows how they're going to react in an emergency situation until it happens. Maybe there's a conversation to be had with your manager? "Sandra had a seizure yesterday, there was a first aider and other people who had things under control so I stayed out the way and carried on working because I know we had some important deadlines to meet. It made me realise that I don't know what to do in an emergency situation, is it possible you could arrange a first aid course?"

@FurryDandelionSeekingMissile - yep because I can only know how I would feel and react and I would be genuinely concerned if this happened. I’d either try to help or leave the room. I would also be too shocked to think clearly enough to just keep on working. I was surprised at what people on here were saying but now I am bemused. Some of the things people claim are “normal” on Mumsnet are ridiculous. In the real world, people tend to have empathy. I can only assume that you are so fixated about people only acting certain ways for others benefit is because you do that yourself?

I have epilepsy and would have been grateful for the fact that people felt they could just leave others to deal with it. TBH, seven is far too many. When I had a seizure in work, the first aiders cleared the room so it was just me and them (three of us in total) while we waited for my husband, after another member of staff had phoned him. I was glad to have been given some privacy.

No, I'm going by the actual words people have typed on this thread.

A minor version of this happened to me this weekend,. Someone tripped on a kerb due to leaves. They fell. I was several people back - we were all leaving a venue. If I had also rushed to help I would have been approximately no 15. What was the point - I dont have 1st aid experience, I am not medically trained, the person was speaking and being helped to their feet. I would be adding nothing. So I walked passed. Sorry if that looked cold. But I would be adding nothing by stopping to effectively gawp. I am with you OP - there is a time and a place to be actively involved. But I would deal with the (nosy?) colleague carefully. Perhaps speak to them and say " I am sorry if i seemed cold, but there was so much help already being given...". Their judgement needs nipping in the bud otherwise their judgement could spread.

My partner has epilepsy and the one thing he hates more than anything is people seeing him have a seizure. As long as there were one or two people making sure your co-worker was safe then you were absolutely right to carry on and ignore what was happening. The person having the seizure would have appreciated you doing that.

I don’t think this is always necessary. Schools have care plans for individuals with medical conditions. I’m wondering if work places have the same logged with first aiders.

@Peashoots a seizure in a person with diagnosed epilepsy is not a medical emergency and in most cases no ambulance or other medical intervention is necessary provided they haven’t injured themselves during the seizure.

I'm epileptic. At work I'd like to be cared for by the minimum number of people (2?) and anyone else who wants to feel involved can just ask others to leave the area to give me privacy. Or make an outward facing circle around me to screen me from view. It's a very vulnerable state to be in around your colleagues, and I'm liable to swear like a trooper while coming round 😳

If people want to gawk and get their moment in the limelight for standing around getting in the way, they can sod off.

Even a first seizure in someone who has never had one before, is rarely classed as a medical emergency - it's very common for everyone to have one in their lives.

And there's many people who have NESs too.

Privacy should have been maintained more than anything else op. If your colleagues say anything else, you could say you checked, all seemed in order then for the sake of dignity, you quietly got on with your work.

Or make an outward facing circle around me to screen me from view.

I think this is a nice idea.

In my job when we have an emergency and there are often lots of staff already on the scene, I will stand outside of the door with my back to it (it’s glass) so I am there if they need me and blocking the view from the outside.
So I’m on hand if I’m needed but without getting in the way and giving their person their privacy.

If I was OP the very least I would have done is leave the room and tell them I am giving them their privacy but to shout if they need me.

People don't want an audience if I had a seizure, just a couple of people to endure their safety, as previously mentioned. I was a cashier years ago, we always called an ambulance even if the person protested they did not need one. Your work could consider sending everybody on a St John's Ambulance course.

*ensure

Oh no I know, but if they weren't doing those things, these are the things I would have done. Most people just stand there with their thumbs up their arse waiting for instruction and loving being in the hub of drama.