Why would an EMT say a person could probably "use" stitches in their head but they'd rather not

[Maraya1969]

put them in as long as you didn't mess with your head.

That is what Zimmerman just said, "She said I could use stitches but she'd rather not put them in as long as I didn't mess with my head. She didn't have to put stitches in right away.

This was from a video after the night of the shooting during the day when he was explaining he version of the events at the apartment complex.

That makes no sense to me. Are stitches inherently dangerous and one should only get them if absolutely necessary? And when ever do they say that you might need stitches in the future, (after your wound begins to heal)?


I think it is going to be easy to shoot holes in this man's statements.

Edit: I'll just stick this in here. Some conservative I know said that Zimmerman is Jewish and liberal and voted for Obama so that makes it self defense because he wouldn't have gone stalking a kid just because he was black. Pardon the stupidity of the statement but if anyone knows what Zimmerman's religion is I would love to know. I know that on Breitbart Zimmerman's brothers said that Zimmerman voted for Obama but that is worth nothing.

[ZombieHorde]

1. I don't know, but the EMT could probably shed some light on that. nt

[elleng]

3. I think I heard her,

or another on the job, say it wasn't necessary at all, very small 'cuts.' Last week testified. Could be wrong about role of the person who testified, but definitely a professional. Seems that Z misunderstood.

[arcane1]

4. How does one get small cuts when their head is being repeatedly bached onto concrete?

One would expect bruises and abrasions, no?

[elleng]

8. Here's pic I found:

[DesertFlower]

14. there would have been serious injuries

to his head -- not small cuts.

[Honeycombe8]

21. Does it matter whether his head was bashed into concrete or TM just hit his head once into the

ground?

A witness testified that he saw TM having GZ down on the ground, pummeling him with two arms, martial arts style. That is not bashing GZ's head in the ground, but does it matter?

Clearly, the back of his head got hit some way. I don't think it matters whether it was bashed repeatedly, bashed once, hit once, or his head bounced into the ground as TM pummeled him.

[ThePhilosopher04]

30. Those are what we in the south call "bobos" ...

those ARE NOT significant cuts, caused by violent trauma.

[unblock]

20. direct bashes into the concrete, yes; if the head were moved horizontally while on the concrete,

that could cause small cuts.

if you buy that zimmerman was on the ground getting hits to the head, he could have caused this to himself by trying to dodge blows by moving his head side-to-side; or it could have been caused by a blow that pushed his head sideways across the concrete.

i'm assuming the concrete was not particularly smooth.

[avebury]

2. Zimmerman if full of BS.

When I got a gash in my head years ago, it was not a matter of choice, I went to the ER and got the stitches.

I wonder if the Prosecution will call the EMT person.

[DJ13]

5. The EMT was on the stand last week

She said going to the ER was up to Zimmerman and the PD.

[avebury]

6. Her testimony does not appear to jive

with Zimmerman's story.

[monmouth3]

7. What.the.hell. does voting for Obama or not have to do with anything?????

[avebury]

11. Waht on earth does your answer have to

do with the discussion thread?

[monmouth3]

15. Last sentence of the OP...

I'll just stick this in here. Some conservative I know said that Zimmerman is Jewish and liberal and voted for Obama so that makes it self defense because he wouldn't have gone stalking a kid just because he was black. Pardon the stupidity of the statement but if anyone knows what Zimmerman's religion is I would love to know. I know that on Breitbart Zimmerman's brothers said that Zimmerman voted for Obama but that is worth nothing.

[Systematic Chaos]

22. Put your discussion points in a place in the thread where they make sense.

You should have responded to the OP with this, and not just some random post in the thread.

Not trying to be rude, just pointing out that far less people -- including myself -- would have been scratching their heads over your post had it been a direct reply to the OP.

[DJ13]

10. She didnt seem to think his little abrasions on the head were serious

[Zoeisright]

33. Which means he wasn't seriously injured.

[premium]

17. It is a matter of choice,

if you are fully conscious you most certainly do have the choice to refuse any medical treatment. Of course, the medical personnel will try to convince you otherwise, failing that, they'll make you sign an AMA and send you on their merry way.

[Maraya1969]

23. The difference here is Zimmerman said that the EMT said he could probably use stitches but she

would rather not do them. It makes no sense. If you need stitches you need stitches. And why would an EMT say that it would be preferable to not do the stitches that you probably need.

His story is just all convoluted.

[Chakaconcarne]

9. There can easily be instances....

where one may or may not need stitches. Depends on the location. If it's in a location where there is a lot of movement of the skin, etc. it's safer to get stitches. The head though, could easily go without. He could decide to go with stitches later if the wound isn't closing well. Perfectly reasonable and realistic response on the part of the EMT. Maybe the EMT was just being cost conscious...as most health care providers are these days.

[ksoze]

12. How does who he voted for have anything to do with EMT and stiches?

[Maraya1969]

25. Nothing. I was just trying to merge two posts into one. Not such a good idea as I see now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Zimmerman, from last week testimony,

Was told he should.

He was alert and oriented times four, and as I suspected declined to go to the hospital.

[HappyMe]

16. I have had to have stitches.

They don't give you a choice, they just stitch it up.


How zimmy voted has nothing to do with the case, neither does his religion.

[hfojvt]

26. I just about cut my thumb off with a hand saw

I didn't get any stitches. I didn't even see a doctor.

I bet if I had that he/she would have advised stitches. But clearly I did not need them and should have the choice to not get them.

But you are correct, doctors, nurses and EMTs are often quite bossy, especially if they know there is an insurance company they can milk. You just about have to fight them to have control over your own body.

[HappyMe]

27. If you don't want medical attention

for almost cutting you thumb off, that's your choice.

I needed the stitches, and have no problem leaving stuff like that to medical professionals.

[uppityperson]

32. You always have a choice to refuse treatment and about stitches vs none

it depends on what is cut/injured. Some places and cuts stitches are good, others not so good. Sometimes needed, sometimes not. Sometimes maybe but maybe not.

A small laceration on the scalp you "could use" stitches but easily enough not as it will heal anyway and leaving a scar isn't that big of a deal. If the wound is somewhere where it will gape, pull apart under use, stitches are used to help keep that from happening and let it heal better. Or in a place that might leave a scar that isn't wanted. However, steristrips, butterfly bandages or even superglue are also often used to hold the skin together during healing. Even after some surgeries they are used, though sometimes still they use staples and/or stitches.

Taking the advice of a trained medical person for issues like this is a good idea.

[Gin]

18. The female cop who interviewed him said.....he said he was catholic......

[frazzled]

19. Zimmerman is Catholic (for the record)

In Manassas, where Zimmerman lived in the 1980s and 1990s with his parents and two siblings, neighbors tended to define the family based on their spiritual profile. “Very Catholic .?.?. very religious,” their neighbor Jim Rudzenski recalled Thursday. The children attended All Saints Catholic School on Stonewall Road through the eighth grade before going to Osbourn High School. George became an altar server and evening receptionist at All Saints Catholic Church. The Zimmermans “were known and respected in the community for their dedication and service,” said Robert Cilinski, pastor of All Saints Catholic Church.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-03-22/lifestyle/35446691_1_george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-unarmed-black-teenager

[LittleBlue]

24. I once cut my head as a kid

And just held the wound together until it dried a bit.

Later I went into the doctor at my mother's insistence, and the doctor said normally they would stitch that but it appeared I had put it back together well enough to not bother. It had already healed and was beginning to scab.

[Ilsa]

28. I guess because of his hair,

Even short hair, butterfly bandages wouldn't work.

I can't tell from the picture how long the cut is, or how deep.

I can't see the need for stitches from the picture, though.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

29. The on-scene EMT reported "Mucous Membrane Normal".

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2012/images/05/17/zimmerman.fdems.report.pdf

The EMT report mentioned a laceration but did not indicate that stitches were necessary.

[we can do it]

31. EMTs don't stitch people up. They take them to the ER. TOTAL BULLSHIT !

They also advise people with head injuries to be seen at the ER....(retired FF-Paramedic here)

[2naSalit]

34. My two cents...

I think GZ's story is absolute BS. AND I think that his cop buddies who DIDN'T arrest him may have helped him by oh, say. maybe assisting him with a tiny, harmless bit of bloodshed to help his BS story sound like it might have a shred of validity. Seriously, I think his wounds were inflicted after the fact (arrival of the cops).

I'm basing this on my experience with a couple folks with badges I once knew and after having an incident with someone peering into my windows at 2am one - who was my neighbor - told me, "If that ever happens again, shoot the fucker and call me, I'll help you drag their body inside so we can call it self defense".

Just sayin.. I think that it was just such a friendly assist that caused his "wounds" and the EMT was called in just to cover that part of the BS.