Advertise here for as little as 40 baht per week
Restaurant & Bakery in Samorphrong
OPEN from 9am - 9pm closed tuesdays
Delicious Home Cooked Western & Thai Food
Breakfasts - Fresh Bread Baked Daily
Free Wi-Fi - Easy Parking
Contact us on 093 139 9655 or food@passportcafehuahin.com
See our menu on passportcafehuahin.com
and our Facebook page Passport-Cafe
Directions: From Hua Hin go north on the Klong (Canal) Road through the traffic lights and turn left at
the blue bridge with the water tower next to it, then immediately right before the 7-11. Follow this road for
approximately 1.5 km and you will find us on the right opposite Tropical Hill.
the surgery
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
It’s one of those days. Dad slumps across the dinner
table clutching his chest, mother is drifting into a
Diabetic coma, daughter is starting to miscarry and
baby is drinking from the drain-cleaner bottle. Keep
calm everybody, let us consider our options and select
the best plan of action!!!
In each of the above scenarios it is important to get to a
hospital Emergency Department ASAP and in Thailand
the logistics in doing so are not easy. Traffic jams may
make getting to the hospital difficult and if you summon
an ambulance it may quadruple the time, as it may have
trouble getting to you, finding your house and getting
back to the hospital..
I loved to ride the ambulances in Canada. We would
get onto a Highway or major city road, ease into the
left lane, put on the lights and siren and then we would
slice through the traffic like a hot knife through butter,
as every other vehicle pulled over to let us pass; it’s not
quite like that in Thailand.
So the first decision is should you call an ambulance
or get their using your own vehicle or a taxi. There are
some situations where it is essential to call for help.
If the patient has had a fall or accident and there is a
fear of bone injury, then the patient needs to be moved
professionally. This is particularly important if there is
any fear of spinal or neck injury.
We think of pain in a negative way but pain does
make sense and tells us how to behave. If the patient
experiences pain on significant movement, then it is
probably best to wait for help. However, in most cases
time is at a premium and the four patients that we
mentioned all need to get to the hospital as soon as
possible. With heart attacks or stroke, if you can get
to an ER in less than an hour your chances of recovery
are very good.
In most western cities the Ambulance service is a
city service and they make the determination which
hospital to take you to, based partly on your preference.
but also on proximity and ER availability. In Bangkok
an occasional look
at medical matters
with Dr Michael Moreton
the Police have ambulances but if you use this service
you may not have a choice on where to go. In Hua Hin
the hospitals have ambulances that are staffed with
well trained personnel. Keep the telephone number
of your hospital of choice in a convenient place. Two
things to do before leaving, grab all the medications
that the patient takes and take them with you to show to
the Doctors. When you are on your way to the hospital,
if it is possible call the ER and tell them that you are
on your way. Don’t tell long stories about the medical
history or your diagnosis, just what the symptoms or
problems are at this moment. This way they can prepare
for your arrival.
An Ex-pat mother showed me something years ago
that I have recommended to many families. She kept
in her laptop a medical history of each member of the
family and details of any medication they were taking.
She added the findings at any health check-up or other
health care visits to her data base. Then, if any member
of the family was taken to hospital she could access
this information and show it to the treating doctor. She
also had each child keep a copy of their medical record
in their back-packs.
Dr Mike, a HH resident, is a not-quite-retired Doctor
who previously plied his trade in Canada, China and
Thailand.
Steaks & Seafood
Hua Hin, Soi 75/1 by the sea
Tel.: 032-512254 or 082-2969627
www.beachcaferestaurant.com
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