Embed Notice

Story time.

I was getting my hair cut today in our local 4 chair barber shop. I was just finishing up when one of the barbers frantically asked another to call 911. I looked over and saw a customer slumped over in the chair, apparently passed out. I jumped up and went over to assess him, and got on with the 911 operator. Male, mid-50s (?), unresponsive, shallow breathing and low respiration rate, weak distal pulse, sweating profusely. I'm thinking stroke or seizure. Starts minor convulsion, looks like he's going to puke. I ran through some stroke dagnostics once he came back around, and he looked ok. Paramedics were on the way. We made a good handoff and he is under their care.

While I was assessing I noticed the ballcap we was clutching - a #MAGA hat. Did this make any difference in the care I was providing? Not in the slightest. During the episode I think I even just ignored it so I could work.

The guy needed help. Just like when fighting a wildland fire in some MAGA-infused area, it made no difference in what I did for him. I still cared for this guy, and said goodbye and wished him well when I left. It doesnt matter what bullshit he believes. He is a fellow human who needed help.

I tell this story not to give myself accolades or to ask for thanks. I tell it because this is the #America that I want to live in. One in which we respect each other's dignity as human beings and help each other when needed.

And I worry that we'll never have that America again...