back, with an embarrassing story

So the other day I'm working in the peds ER, doing all sorts of peds-ER-related things... which mostly involve reassuring parents, and wondering why they bring non-emergencies to the Emergency Room where they have to wait 5 hours, instead of to their pediatrician where they have to wait maybe 45 minutes.  The world is full of mysteries.

But SOME Emergency Room visits are legit, such as the small child I saw next with a big deep nasty-looking cut.  Ouch.  Definitely needed stitches.  So the attending and the ER tech (both guys, which is vaguely pertinent) and I get everything ready, numb the kid up, and set about repairing skin.

ATTENDING:

[pulling back skin flap] Whew, this is a deep one.

EMILY:

[holding child's extremity still so attending can work]

Wow, it is. Yikes.

CHILD'S MOTHER:

[turns slightly pale and quietly leaves the room]

ATTENDING:

[begins to squirt sterile water under skin flap to clean it]

CHILD'S WOUND:

[begins oozing copious amounts of blood]

CHILD'S OLDER BROTHER:

[turns slightly pale and quietly leaves the room]

EMILY'S THOUGHTS:

...Is it getting hot in here?

ATTENDING:

[lines up skin and prepares to suture]

EMILY'S THOUGHTS:

...Um, okay.  Feeling kinda woozy.  This is not good.

CHILD'S FATHER:

[stoically watches from a corner of the room, arms folded]

ATTENDING:

[lifting skin flap once more and dabbing away blood]

Oooh.  I think that might be the bone we can see in there.  Or the tendon at least.

ER TECH:

[peers calmly at wound, shaking head in sympathy for child]

EMILY:

[also peers at wound, genuinely interested]

EMILY'S THOUGHTS:

Wow, that's kinda cool.  I mean, not for the kid, but... OKAY, WHY AM I FEELING DIZZY?!  BLOOD DOES NOT BOTHER ME!!

ATTENDING:

[begins suturing]

EMILY'S THOUGHTS:

What the heck, body?!  You can't go all vasovagal on me now!

CHILD'S FATHER:

[continues to stoically observe]

EMILY:

[surreptitiously leans on table in an attempt to recover without being noticed]

EMILY'S THOUGHTS:

Must.  Not.  Be.  Nauseous.

ATTENDING:

[wields needle-holder with expertise]

EMILY'S THOUGHTS:

Okay, fine.  I give up.  You win this time, autonomic nervous system.  I shake my fist at you!  ...Only not literally, because that would be weird right now.

EMILY:

[pulling off sterile gloves, sheepishly]

I um... this is kind of embarrassing, but I think I need to go sit down for a minute.

ATTENDING:

[looks at her mildly]

ER TECH:

[with mild concern]

You are looking a little pale.

EMILY:

[halfway out the door, almost running]

I'm really sorry!!

EMILY'S THOUGHTS:

Wow.  I am super-lame.  And apparently, super-girly... and not in a good way.