She checked the girl’s veins and frowned. Dehydrated, Cindy’s veins were poor at best. Still, Taylor had always prided herself on being good at accessing veins and hopefully would hit her mark the first try, despite not having much to work with.
Gathering her supplies, Taylor then cleaned her IV site with an alcohol pad while Jack finished examining Cindy, including rechecking her temperature.
“Still one-oh-five.”
“Is that bad?” Lori asked, wringing her hands as she watched them work on her friend.
“It hasn’t gone up, so that’s a good thing,” Taylor assured her, breathing a sigh of relief when the IV catheter slid into Cindy’s vein perfectly. “Once we get these cold fluids in, her temp should drop.”
If not, they’d put her in the ice tub.
“I feel like I can’t breathe,” Cindy gasped, putting her hand to her chest.
“It’s going to be okay, Cindy.” Jack sounded calm as he continued to assess the girl, watching her closely. “Just take slow, deep breaths.”
Cindy visibly took a deep breath.
As Taylor taped the IV line to Cindy’s left hand, she fought breathing deeply herself as Jack’s voice was so hypnotic.
“Your temperature will start dropping any minute,” Jack assured their patient. “Once that happens, you’ll slowly start feeling better.”
Jack’s soothing voice made Taylor feel better as she grabbed the anti-emetic to go into the IV. Lots better. How could he be so calm when the girl’s situation really could turn dire if what they were doing didn’t work?
“I’m scared,” Cindy admitted, bursting into tears, which caused her friend to also burst into tears.
“Look at me, Cindy.”
The young woman lifted her tearful gaze to Jack’s. He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “It’s okay. You’re okay. We’re doing all the right things to get your temperature down and we’ll keep you here until you’re feeling okay. You’re going to be fine.”
“Phew,” Lori sighed in relief, sniffling as she plopped down onto an empty cot next to Cindy’s. “She’s not the only one who’s scared. I’ve heard about people dying at music events but never thought about it possibly happening to someone I knew. She had me terrified when she started blacking out.”
Taylor leaned forward to inject the medication, but before she could administer it, Cindy’s body tensed. Taylor grabbed for the emesis pan, but lightning fast Jack had it to the woman’s mouth, making it just in time.
“Oh, no,” her friend groaned as Cindy heaved her stomach contents into the pan. “This is bad. I know it is.”
“It’s not uncommon for someone with hyperthermia to throw up.” Taylor injected the anti-emetic into the IV solution. “The nausea should calm down soon, too.”
Fortunately, it did.
Due to the degree of Cindy’s hyperthermia, Taylor stayed with her, closely monitoring her vitals over the next thirty minutes.
Jack came and went as he checked other patients who’d come in for care. Most were minor issues, thank goodness.
As Taylor checked Cindy’s temperature yet again, Jack walked up behind her.
“What is her temp now?”
“Ninety-nine.”
“That’s awesome,” Jack praised, placing his hand on Taylor’s shoulder. “Almost back to normal.”
Relieved at how Cindy was responding to their treatment and wondering at how her own temperature had just spiked at Jack’s innocent touch, Taylor nodded.
He gave her shoulder a squeeze before his hand fell away.
Gracious. Had he felt it, too? The sparks that flew when they touched? Or was she just crazy and imagining things in the midst of patient care?
Cindy finished off her water.