An elderly gentleman came in to have his blood drawn. No problem. However, doctor also ordered some urine tests and he said he just went before coming in to the lab.
He asked where the water station is so he can have a couple glasses of water which might help him pee sooner. I guided him to the drinking station at the corner and even showed him where the disposable cups are. After that, I went back to the lab because there was a whole lineup of patients who need drawn.
I went back out to get the next patient when I heard this voice behind me saying, “Sir, I think you are out of water.”
I turned around to help and found that he has been trying to get water from an alcohol rinse dispenser!! He had a cup sitting underneath the dispenser, and the cup is a third full of alcohol foam!
Thank God he didn’t drink any of it yet! That would have been a trip to the ER. Trying my best not to laugh and embarass the kind old gentleman, I threw his cup away and gave him a full cup of ice cold water. “Here, I bet this will taste better than what you got earlier.”, I said.
He was extremely grateful for his cup of non-alcoholic water 🙂
Submitted by:
Ronald Smith
Medical Technologist
Alabama, USA
