Sick on the road

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by RedSkys, Sep 14, 2010.

  1. RedSkys

    RedSkys Bobtail Member

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    How do truckers deal with becoming very sick while on the road?
     
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  3. Saienga

    Saienga Medium Load Member

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    Generally: park it safely, get in touch with whoever needs to know that the load is going to be late/needs to be repowered, and hunker down until you can drive again.

    The key to your question is "very". Sick? Just work through it. Very sick? there's that fine line that you cross where you begin to be impaired, and safety dictates you stop. Then you're wherever you are, and you nurse yourself as best you can, and maybe shed a tear for your jammies and mom's TLC.

    Or not.

    It's not fun, anyway.
     
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  4. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    You can be truck sick, you can be can't leave the truck stop bathroom sick. In situation number two I usually opt for the hotel. If you are truck sick with a fever and such you really need to not be driving. This will only make it worse and possible could cause you to have an accident. Number three is hospital sick. I have had that happen a couple of times. The first of which I spent a month in the hospital 1600 miles from home. Luckily my wife was driving team with me. Being sick over the road is probably the worst part about trucking! Make sure to get a flu shot, eat healthy and wash your hands all the time. Some good hand sanitizer in the truck helps greatly. Overall we avoided common colds and flu's most of the time I think due to lack of contact with other people. When you do get sick let your DM know right away. This way if it gets worse they can plan ahead to have someone take care of your load in needed. Welcome to trucking!:puke::pukeleft:
     
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  5. fr0sty

    fr0sty Light Load Member

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    Thats why I hate having the flu, and mild hay fever... but I take it like a man, and keep on trucking...
    But the man flu does take me off the road for a day...
    c4ad341d-7a2f-4ddb-a591-e93f527eddac
    1.03.01
     
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  6. RedSkys

    RedSkys Bobtail Member

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    Aug 30, 2010
    Saskatoon, SK
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    Thanks for the responses. I was talking about flu/fever, by the way. It's good to know they don't force you to keep going when you are in that state. Just isn't safe for anyone.
     
  7. Rerun8963

    Rerun8963 Road Train Member

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    get a flu shot every year. when you are at loading docks, you will never know the health of the workers, and you will indeed be with-in thier "sneeze-cough range".

    carry along some generic meds like cough syrup, tylenol, zircam, cough drops, hand sanitizer, etc.

    as mentioned, wash your hands regulatory. when at the truck stops, the "all you can eat buffet", may have "all you can catch germs", thanks to truckers that use the bathroom, and DO NOT wash thier hands before touching the utensils or plates.........this i have personally witnessed...!!!!!

    i was at some truck stop many years ago. i use the restroom, and as i'm washing my hands, some dirty SOB, flushes the toilet, and just walks out.......!! think i used the all you can eat buffet then............NO...........because he walked right up to it and started helping himself.........!! can you say YUCK......????

    an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, when on the road. some may think you are paranoid constantly using hand sanitizer, but hey, you gotta think about you.
     
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  8. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    Couldn't agree more with Rerun! Steer clear of the Botchislism Buffet! This will solve 80% of your problems!:puke::sign11::pukeleft:
     
  9. HFC

    HFC Road Train Member

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    I agree 101 percent.

    I have seen and walked behind drivers that go to the bathroom for Number 1 and Number 2 and don't wash their hands. Then go handle plates, utensils or some type of food, put them down to move onto something else that strikes their fancy.

    It would be a good idea if big pump bottles of hand sanitizer could be spread around the buffet. I normally wash my hands every time I go get a new plate (every helping). However, I have seen drivers NOT get a new plate although they are standing next to the sign that says use a plate every time you visit the buffet line. They read the sign BUT still use the OLD plate.
     
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  10. Kris Pistofferson

    Kris Pistofferson Bobtail Member

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    Ask any doctor or health care professional, washing hands is a big deal, not just for them, but everybody. When I was younger and dumber, I never did wash my hands, then after taking a few college biology classes, I started washing them religiously, and I notice a huge difference in how often I get sick, colds, flu, stomach flu, diarrhea, etc.
     
  11. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    DIARRHEA CHA CHA CHA!!!! :bootyshake: DIARRHEA CHA CHA CHA!!!!
     
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