Bloody boot prints

     You ever have one of those call where you end up tracking blood into the ER? Had one recently. We got the call for a laceration. Could be something crazy or it could be nothing. Well on this call, it was most certainly something crazy. Well, crazy may be a bad word to describe this call, but none the less, it was an interesting situation.
     As my partner and I pull up on scene to a collection of PD and FD vehicles, we hear what I can only describe as "ruckus" and "Hootenanny" coming from the open door of where our pt is located. I use those terms in hopes it paints a better picture of the scene. For those of you that have not figured it out yet, we are very much in red neck territory. Oh and before I go any further, you don't have to live on 100 acres of farm land that more deer stands, "shine stills", and meth labs than people to be in red neck territory. Red neck territory is anywhere one who fits this description sets up shop and plants their rebel flag. So it could very well be in the middle of a trendy part of town, the burbs, or a rural area. At any rate, "abandon all hope ye who enter in" should have been on the door. Anyway, as I digress...
     The Appalachian American melee that is going down in front of me is actually in the middle of a pool of blood. There is also blood everywhere! The floor of the kitchen, living room, and all over clothes. Looked like the set of an amateur horror film. And of course this particular individual didn't want to go to the hospital. Of course. Who would want to leave a 1/5th of their circulating blood volume on the floor unattended? Whatever...
     So after a phone call to medical control, a set of handcuffs, and an excellent bandaging job by the FD (good job as always guys), we are off to the hospital. Just FYI, the phone call to med control was not for the handcuffs. I left out the details of the call on purpose. Anyway, an IV is placed and a fluid bolus is given. The pt at this point is telling dirty jokes and being very much the social butterfly. However, as soon as you ask him about his medical history and what happened, the mood changes and he turns away. Ugh!
     Upon arrival to the ER the doc asks if the bleeding was arterial or venous and if there was what appeared to be "spurting" patterns on the wall. Answer to the question was "no". So I give report, hand off care and go to finish my paperwork. However, as I walk out of the pt's room I notice bloody foot prints on the floor. Those foot prints belonged to me. I tracked blood, mud, and whatnot all over the ER. You have to admit that a bloody foot print is a eerie sight to see. Especially when it is yours. At least the blood wasn't mine.