Yesterday, a friend called me and said, “I need you to entertain me so I don’t pass out from a possible concussion.” That’s a new one. He’s had concussions before, and he didn’t think he had one, but since he’d hit his  head when he fainted, was dizzy, and laying on the floor with nothing to do, we both figured that until his mom arrived to take him to the doctor, keeping him awake was probably a good idea.

It’d also allow me to monitor him, in case he suddenly stopped sounding coherent or quit responding entirely.

So I swung into action, located various story-jokes about cats and dogs (he’s an animal lover), and proceeded to read (in between laughing and wiping tears from my eyes) until he said it no longer made him dizzy to sit up.

He was fine, but if he hadn’t been, I would have saved his life by entertaining him!

Q&A:

How’d he get the possible concussion? 

He fainted in the laundry room.

How did doing laundry make him faint?

It didn’t. He was doing his laundry in the apt. laundry room and suddenly felt dizzy, hot, nauseated, and splashing water on his face didn’t help. The next thing he knew, he was putting more laundry in the wash machine, but his face hurt because he’d fallen on his glasses and bent them when he fainted.

So then why did he faint? 

He cut his hand on the way to the laundry room.

How did he hurt his hand?

Well he was carrying his laundry basket, with his hand over the top, and not paying attention to the space around his when suddenly his hand hurt. He realized he’d cut it, running into the corner of the case holding the fire extinguisher.

We got to thinking how much odder things would have been if he had lost consciousness, because I live in the U.S. and he lives in Canada, so a 911 call would get me an American emergency dispatch agent. I probably would have called our mutual friend in Toronto, who could dial 911 and get through to Canadian Emergency Dispatch. What a call of confusion that would be…

DISPATCH: 911. What’s your emergency?

TORONTO FRIEND: My friend might have a concussion and just lost consciousness.

DISPATCH: And what is your location?

TORONTO FRIEND: Well, I’m in Toronto, but my friend is in Manitoba.

DISPATCH: Ma’am we only take serious calls.

TORONTO FRIEND: I am serious! My friend hit his head when he passed out a few minutes ago.

DISPATCH: Were you on the phone with him when he passed out?

TORONTO FRIEND: No. He was alone. Are you listening?! He is alone and likely has a concussion! 

DISPATCH: Please stay calm Ma’am. So then he called you from where?

TORONTO FRIEND: He didn’t call me. He called our friend in the U.S.

DISPATCH: So your friend is in the U.S.?

TORONTO FRIEND: No. He’s still in Manitoba, but he called our U.S. friend to keep him entertained and awake until his mom could drive him to the doctor.

I should be on emergency speed dial. Need to stay conscious? Give me a call and I’ll keep you laughing until you are safe!