You could hear the hockey team coming down the corridor. That was quick, Rick thought, but then saw that two hours had passed. He felt thirsty and reached for his glass. It was empty and so was the big water bottle. The door opened.
“Just in time. Get me some water, will you.”
Andrew smiled, took the glass and leaned into the corridor to call for the coach.
“Do you feel as bad as you look?” asked the coach as he came in the door.
“I feel okay, why?” asked Rick.
“I don’t think I have ever seen anyone look gray before,” said Andrew.
“Don’t give me a hard time, Andy. Maybe I look so bad because you woke me from a deep sleep. Wait until we get on the ice tomorrow, I’ll show you. That soccer game today was nothing.”
“That was yesterday, Rick. That hit has made you confused and delirious,” Andy laughed.
Rick looked confused and started to cough. He stood up and reached for the glass of water. Suddenly his eyes rolled back in his head, his knees buckled, and he slumped over on the bed. As Rick regained consciousness, he coughed and winced from the sharp pain in his left side. He clumsily rolled onto the bed gasping for air. His breathing was fast, heavy and labored, and he could feel his pulse pounding in his temples.
Rick’s father felt his pulse.
“His heart is racing. We need to get him to a hospital, now. I’ll get my car. Andy, get a couple of the guys and carry Rick down to the lobby. I’ll meet you out front. Coach, can you get directions to the local hospital?”
The room was a flurry of activity. In less than 10 minutes the four of them were in the emergency room of the local hospital. When Rick’s father told the attendant that he was a physician, they were immediately admitted and the ER doctor appeared.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Paul Anderson. Someone told me we have a wounded hockey player here. Oh, I know you. You’re the one who took the big hit at the end of the game this evening. It looked pretty bad. I’m surprised you got up. My son was playing on the other team.”
Originally published at http://www.sciencecases.org/hockey/hockey3.asp
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