The Panic Button

Last night around 3 in the morning everything seemed to be winding down when suddenly we heard shouts erupting from the lobby. I looked around the corner to peer through the doors that lead in to the waiting area. There is a small square of glass on each of these locked doors that allow us to see through. Not only are they locked, but everyone in the ED lobby has to walk through metal detectors before they can enter. (Believe me, I don't practice in "gangsta-land", we just play it safe). I looked through the glass just in time to see a cop come out of nowhere and slam one of the guys causing trouble straight to the ground, and then the place really went crazy.

"PRESS THE BUTTON!!, " I heard one of the nurses say. That's a great idea I thought to myself. It was comforting to know that we had a panic button around for everyone's protection. Then I was a little disheartened when I realized I had no idea where the panic button was.




"PRESS THE BUTTON!!," I shouted to someone else in the hopes that person knew where the button was. Within minutes a storm of hospital and city police had filled the lobby. I was actually impressed at how quickly they responded. I'm usually picking fun at them as they crawl around campus on those stupid segways.

In the end no one was seriously injured. The bad thing was everyone involved in the brawl checked in to be evaluated. I know at some point they will all be claiming police brutality. It was funny to see one cop manhandle one dude to the ground. He slammed his face on the floor and held it there with his hand.

"Bite my hand and I will jack you up!," I heard him say. Pretty funny stuff.

Anyway, lesson of the day: know where the panic button is.