The Mary Sue
‘It was so disheartening’: Seattle woman’s roommate has medical emergency. None…
A Seattle woman shares her shock after emergency medical services didn’t know what a copper IUD was after calling for help for her roommate.
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Emergency Responders Unfamiliar with IUDs During Medical Crisis in Seattle
Seattle, WA - A recent incident in Seattle has brought to light a concerning knowledge gap among emergency first responders regarding common women's health devices. A local resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted a distressing experience where her roommate suffered severe complications following the insertion of a copper IUD, necessitating an emergency call to 911. According to the resident, her roommate was experiencing extreme pain, numbness, tingling in her extremities, and vomiting, leading to a rapid decline in her condition. Upon calling 911, the resident was reportedly met with confusion from the dispatcher regarding the nature of an IUD. The situation escalated when both fire department personnel and paramedics arrived at the scene, none of whom, according to the resident, seemed to understand what an IUD was. “I had to explain what a copper IUD was to the 911 operator, and then again to the firefighters and paramedics who arrived,” the resident stated, expressing profound disbelief and frustration. “They asked if she had ‘taken it out yet.’ It was disheartening to realize how uninformed they were about something so common.” This incident raises serious questions about the comprehensive medical training provided to emergency services personnel, particularly concerning reproductive health and devices. Medical professionals emphasize that IUDs are a widely used form of birth control, and a lack of awareness among first responders could potentially compromise timely and appropriate care during critical emergencies. The roommate was eventually transported to the emergency room, and her condition remains unknown.
