We did a parade in Hampton, NJ on Saturday to help celebrate the town's 100th anniversary. It was hot, and muggy, and a long parade, and I made it to the end. Barely. About thirty seconds after taking off my drum I was on my knees going faint. Good thing about having stuff happen to you at a parade is that there is a 99% certainty an ambulance (or ten or twenty) with EMTs will be in the vicinity, very possibly directly in front or in back of you.
I was attended to quickly, and put on a stretcher and taken to the back of an air-conditioned ambulance to get me out of the heat. It didn't take long to figure out it was heat exhaustion, and after about 45 minutes my bp was back up and temp down and I was becoming hugely embarrassed. That's when you know you're feeling better.
And I was glad I got to stick out the rest of the day because it was filled with fun and ended with a spectacular fireworks display. Over the St. Ann's church graveyard, of all places. Seemed a little sacrilegious, but I don't think we were bothering the residents much. Some photos, below.
Pee Ess . . . yes, I will remain better hydrated next parade. I'm also going to stuff about 15 of those sprain/strain ice packs under my shirt.
Waking the Dead:
Hail, Mary:
Now and at The Hour:
Comments