My dad just died a few minutes ago, and the paramedics left a mess hidden under his bed.

3 years ago by popemichael to c/mildlyinfuriating

My father just died in his sleep. He had passed by the time the paramedics arrived.

They still did their best, which I am very grateful for, but they even an entire trash bag full of used instruments that were stuffed under the bed for some reason

I'm glad that I found it sooner over later but it's mildly infuriating that they just discarded their medical waste under his bed.

(NSFW some blood)

I've been taking care of him for over 5 years and it's made things a lot harder for me, seeing all of that all over.

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Remy685 18 points 3 years ago

It's likely that it was kicked under the bed by accident. Cardiac arrests are one of the most stressful calls a paramedic can run. The fact that it was bagged up at all means that were trying to keep the scene neat as they worked.

But once they terminated resuscitation efforts the call switches to documentation, paperwork, medical examiner notifications, dealing with an upset family who may have trouble processing or accepting the death. They probably just lost track of it at that point.

If you don't feel comfortable touching it, there are cleanup services that will remove it. My agency doesn't have a special way of disposing it, it just goes in the regular trash (except for sharps or course, but I don't see any in your picture, and I hope they wouldn't leave those around).

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retrieval4558 3 points 3 years ago

I'm a paramedic and echo these sentiments (especially about the sharps).

Sorry for your loss OP

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popemichael 2 points 3 years ago

That's excellent to know. I was about to ask about the best way to dispose of it. I can handle it now that the shock of it all has gotten milder

So long as I don't need to call a biohazard team, and I can just clean the blood up, then I'll be able to do it.

Do you have a good way to get a blood stain out of a rug

Oxyclean or peroxide like they say in the documentaries?

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xxcarpaii 5 points 3 years ago

Dab and press, don't rub. Dawn in cold water first dabbed on and soaked up with a towel, then hydrogen peroxide the same way for what's left had always worked for me.

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