Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread

[EricHiggin]

SvennoJ said:

Corona got me today, in a roundabout way :(

I went out cycling, 83.5 km route, about 3.5 hours. I made it 66.5 km, 2 hours 45 minutes in back on an all too familiar home stretch with a good tail wind going a bit over 30 kph. I zoned out going back and forth in my head whether to send the kids back to school or not, the survey must be returned by Sunday. Sunk in my thoughts about current cases, school measures or lack of, risks, more and more people pulling out, the pm doesn't even feel its safe to send his kids back etc.

I remember seeing the advance stop sign, no recollection of seeing the actual stop sign nor slowing down at all. Suddenly I was on top of the intersection, red pickup truck coming from my left slamming on the brakes. It's too late for me to start braking, I stand up trying to speed up and outrun the car. I cleared the car but my back wheel did not. The pickup truck hits the back of my wheel, my bike gets thrown to the right I fly off, still going over 30 kph, land on my right side roll / slide over my back and end on my left side.

Impossible to miss a big red truck coming from the left here, but I did.

There was stuff growing in the field but not high enough to obscure a pickup truck. And although I don't always come to a complete stop there I always slow down to a near stop since the right side view is obstructed by trees. No clue how I did not see that truck coming or why I kept going full speed.

I stay down for a bit, notice a lot of blood on my right arm, left hand covered as well, but at least nothing feels broken and never lost consciousness nor got the wind knocked out of me. I get up to look at my bike, back wheel all bent, inoperable. The guy yells at me I blew through the stop sign, I said sorry while standing there bleeding. He asks if I need the police, I think I'm fine. Then he looks at his bumper, finds a scratch and decides to call them anyway. Meanwhile, heat, exhaustion, dehydration plus adrenaline kick in, so I drag my bike off the road and lay down in the grass face down to cool down.

Another car pulls up, turns out to be two nurses (lab techs) from McMaster (hospital in Hamilton) what are the odds on a normally abandoned road in the middle of nowhere... They check me out, while someone from the house at the corner provides a towel to apply pressure to my elbow which is still bleeding. The nurse calls my wife for me to let her know I'm all right but not coming home in time... They get some water as well to wash some of the blood off to see where it's coming from, just a cut on my elbow, doesn't seem too serious. I'm a bit light headed but otherwise fine, just the heat and rush wearing off. I'm not allowed to move anymore in case of neck injury.

Police arrive first then, fire and rescue and ambulance. I don't think it's all necessary but the ball has started rolling, procedure ensues. Back board, neck brace, vitals check, into the ambulance. I'm all calm on the way to the hospital, vitals are fine, pulse actually dropped to 57 but strong. (Just setting off alarms below 60) I get an IV needle inserted just in case. Unfortunately the ambulance from the county I just came from showed up first so I'm getting ferried back to Woodstock lol. Better anyway since no covid-19 cases there. They ask me for covid-19 exposure in the ambulance (they were all wearing full protective gear), told them we've been isolating since my wife is immunocompromised. They give me a mask for in the ER to protect my wife.

I spend a couple hours in the ER in a separate room, mostly waiting for the doctor to come check me over. Mostly ok except a badly strained / bruised muscle in my right thigh (he was sure it couldn't be broken since I moved my bike after), bad road rash all around and a cut in my arm. No stitches needed, bandaged, 3 tylenol and a toradol injection for my leg and a tetanus shot to be sure. Prescription for naproxen to keep the inflammation/swelling in my right leg down and I was clear to go. The bed was a bit bloodied from me laying on it yuck. Bleeding clears wounds out :) (They said it all looked pretty clean, didn't need irrigation or anything, just clean at home)

All they needed from me btw was my name and date of birth. I didn't have any ID on me or anything, all in the system. Universal healthcare is very efficient. I probably will get a bill send home for the ambulance ride, which is just CAD 45 co-pay. Could be more, but at max a few hundred. Meanwhile the police had already delivered my damaged bike and dented helmet home. The hospital called my wife to come pick me up (She wasn't allowed to come sooner to see me, covid rules, no visitors allowed) I walked outside with my mask on, skipping the ER waiting room (plenty people waiting there all with masks) safer outside. Walked slowly that is, my right leg is frigging sore.

Dunno if I'll get a ticket for running the stop sign, doesn't matter, I deserve one. Stupid. Lesson learned, stop mulling things over, pay attention to the road in front of you. I've been noticing more often lately that some parts are a complete blank, like how did I get here already. Too much stress dealing with all this crap. My bike needs a new back wheel at least, hopefully the frame isn't bend. I'll be feeling it tomorrow and for a while to come. Cleaning out all the road rash in the shower was the highlight of my day lol.

Eff this year.


Back to the numbers

Ontario’s Health Minister Christine Elliott stated on Thursday that the province is confirming 76 cases of the novel coronavirus but says that number is missing information due to an issue with their Integrated Public Health Information System.

Bleh, well those that did get recorded have the same positivity rate as yesterday so still averaging a bit above 100 a day. Couple more cases confirmed in Brant County, so good thing I ended up in Woodstock.

The locals around here bring up cyclists quite often. There's plenty of trails on and off road in this area, and there are way more cyclists than just a decade ago, but because of the nature and lack of vehicular traffic, it's detrimental to the cyclists because they get lackadaisical. Same with drivers in general, especially the one's who see it as an opportunity to speed or race because police are beyond rare here. I've had more than a few close calls over the years while driving and it's made me pay much more attention myself when driving and cycling. The cities may be congested, but at least it keeps the cyclists more aware.

Unfortunate you took a spill but it sounds as if you avoided tragedy that could've been much much worse. Thankfully not. All while pondering safety, though not your own. Has got to make you think. For all the thought we put into safety, no matter what, we're always going to be in danger if we expose ourselves in any way. Just can't escape illness and/or injury. It comes for everyone eventually, in one way or another. You either run and hide forever or face the consequences when they happen and can't be entirely avoided. Just gotta be thankful and reflect if you're one of the lucky one's.

I'd suggest taking up aviation perhaps, though that has it's own dangers if you leave the ground.