A short while ago, Hubs and I took a trip to Utah to see my son and his family. The last time I was there, I slipped on ice and face planted on my son’s concrete porch. Damage? Raccoon eyes, a fat nose and seven stitches.
My daughter warned me not to fall on my face this time. I bought crampons for my shoes so I wouldn’t slip on ice, despite the forecast for good weather. So what happened? I fell on the back of my head.
In the Salt Lake City airport, I stepped onto an old escalator with narrow steps and a speed rivaling the Daytona 500, holding on to two carry-ons. My foot got caught under one and I slid sideways, leaning up against the side of the escalator. When I got to the bottom, I fell back, cracking my head on an escalator step. PAIN!
I recall my husband yelling at someone to push the button and turn off the escalator, then many hands helped me to a standing position. I touched the back of my head and my hand came away thoroughly bloody. I thought, What a stupid thing for me to do, then reached into my bag and pulled out a wad of paper toweling (I always carry paper toweling) and pressed it to the back of my head. After thirty minutes of waiting for the required paramedic visit and pressing on the cut, the blood stopped flowing. And I could tell the nice guy with the stretcher that I was alert x 5, had fallen on the hardest part of my skull, my eyesight was fine and I only had a mild headache. I also told him I had had my EMT license. He left.
The bump on my head grew to the size of a tangerine, and I bled a little more into a towel on my pillowcase that night but slept well. But I am happy to report my diagnosis was correct  – all I have at this point is a one-inch scab in my scalp.
Now my daughter tells me not to fall on my face or the back of my head. And take an elevator instead of an escalator. Which I did, on the way back.
Here is the charmer we got to spend time with in Utah:
P.S. She is a water baby and swims like a fish.
I’m sure the visit was worth it, despite the accident. Your granddaughter is beautiful. There are places where it seems that no matter what we do, something always happens. The elevator sounds quite dangerous, so I suspect you weren’t the first victim either. It’s good to know it wasn’t anything serious and you had a nice holiday. I knocked the back of my head recently as well, but thankfully there was no bleeding, although I had a nice bump on my head for a couple of days. The head bleeds so much! Take care, Noelle! (And I’m sure your daughter will keep reminding you to take care as well!)
It’s a little funny and a little scary, too. I’m so glad it was not more serious. On another note, your granddaughter is precious and must have been a joy to be with.
She is a delight and leaves us laughing a lot. Very active! And loves her Disney Princess dresses. She knows all the words to songs from Frozen!
Ice, escalators, etc. It seems like there is always something dangerous lurking out there. Glad it turned out to be any more serious than it was.
Thanks, Pete. So crampons and elevators for me from now on. I learned that I am not a 20 year old, except in my mind!
Oh dear – that was quite an ordeal. Very glad to hear you are OK and could enjoy the visit with your granddaughter.
Oh Noelle, you poor thing. I hope your granddaughter helped to look after you.
Thank you, Olga! You be careful, too. I am much more careful now with where I place my feet!
Thank you, Takami. My granddaughter made it worth it!
I learned to remember I am not 20 years old and need to take precautions. My granddaughter was great medicine!
That little charmer is worth a few bumps on the head!
Oh no! I’m so sorry you suffered another fall, but the little charmer is adorable!
Thanks, Jan. It was quite the experience, but I’m just fine and so enjoyed watching my granddaughter dance and sing to the songs from Frozen!
She absolutely is, Rebecca. Thanks for stopping by!
“I appreciate the detailed explanation, very helpful!”
Well, I’m glad you told us all about it, we all learn… not to use escalators! Keep safe 🙂
Always take the elevator!
Tech dae I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.
I’m so glad that all you suffered was a bloody cut and some embarrassment, Noelle. It could have been so much worse. Next time you travel to Utah you have to wear your crampons and a bicycle helmet! Take care. <3
I like the idea of a bicycle helmet but even better, avoid the escalators and take the elevator!
Yes, that would help too. 🙂 Just don’t get trapped in the door!
What a lovely thought. I should write about my adventures in SLC. Including nearly freezing to death in – 9 degrees in the mountains (my son rescued me with hot chocolate).
What a wonderful son. 🙂
He’s a good man and father!
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Oh, my, Noelle. Always something, isn’t it? Hope you’re ok. My shoe got stuck once in between the steps of an escalator, so I had to pull my foot out of the shoe and leave it until they came to turn the thing off. Scary world out there, I tell you.
I’m so glad it didn’t trap your foot, Sylvia. Or you wouldn’t be running. All I have left of the event is a one inch scar in my scalp. It healed on its own, no stitches. Elevators for me from now on. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m sorry that I missed this post, Noelle. You must have published it the same day that I last visited. Horsefeathers! You’ve been having a rough time. That sounds about like me. I hope you’ve healed now. Big hugs.
Yup, I’m all better. The bump resolved in about two weeks, and the cut healed. I have about a one inch scar that is a bit tender and itches! But all’s good. Thanks for checking on me!
Sorry to hear about your accident and it reminded me of the fact that as we get older, the things we used to take for grated need a little more attention, such as hopping onto a escalator. These days I make point of exercising to keep the balance and flexibility I once took for granted in my twenties and thirties.
Absolutely, Kevin. This escalator was a challenge I shouldn’t have taken. Elevators are my new means of getting between floors with baggage!
Oh no, and ouch ouch ouch! I’m really glad you didn’t get a concussion – I have unfortunately had several due to hits on the back of my head (not by a person, or an escalator, no worries) and it takes a long while to recover. You are obviously hard-headed, but also well loved by your adorable granddaughter. <3
She is adorable! And I fell on my occipital bone which I tell my anatomy students is the hardest and thickest bone in the skull. Thanks for stopping by! So you were lucky the hit was to the back of your head!
Yes, but my ‘knock on the back of my head’ was hard enough to knock my brain around. Let’s both of us stay careful, diligent, and think of helmets for our future. 🙂
I did have a slight headache, which went away by the next day. I did monitor myself for a concussion! You must have had one!
Oh my, I am so glad that worked out. My mother fell on an escalator with much worse injuries. Darling grand!
Oh dear. Elevators for us from now on! Slower but safer!
The homeopathic Traumeel ointment (red cap, I think) is amAzing for bumps and bruises of any order. Stay safe!
Thanks. I also use an ointment used for cow’s udders!