The Monday Sidebar…
The cell phone saves the day…
…in the Congo when volunteering British surgeon uses text message instructions to perform a life-saving arm amputation on a young boy who was bitten by a hippopotamus. Seems while general and vascular surgeon David Nott knew that a forequarter amputation was required to save the 16-year-old boy, he’d never actually done one before. Aware that such an operation before was a huge risk, he decided to call in the ‘cavalry’ – that is, he text messaged Professor Meirion Thomas, one of the few British surgeons experienced in such procedures and asked for help. Luckily, his phone was on and he txted back ‘step-by-step instructions on how to do it.’
Meanwhile, in the United States, the cell phone again saves the day….
…when a stray .45-caliber bullet hit a 68 year old man in the chest while he was mowing the lawn. Apparently, all that stood between him and the bullet was his cell phone which took the brunt of the force and saved his life. The man survived with some bruising. Sadly the phone didn’t survive.
And a few extra tidbits…
Want to know whether drinking urine good for your health?
Turns out left-handed men earn five per cent more every HOUR than right-handers.
And for some psychiatric patients, life seems like TV.
By the way, never assume that hospitals are safe environments. In the UK, inspectors for the Healthcare Commission found that only five out of 51 hospital trusts pass hygiene test.
