Traveler's Aid Volunteers Lend a Helping Hand
When Gabriel was brought to the Traveler’s Aid desk, he was visibly stressed and shaking all over. The volunteers immediately sprang into action, getting a chair for him to sit in as they calmly asked questions about his situation.
Gabriel shared that he was struggling with PTSD and really just wanted to get to the VA hospital. The volunteers on duty at the Traveler’s Aid desk called airport police (who ultimately makes the decision on if medics need to be called); they arrived quickly and dispatched for an ambulance. Gabriel was only traveling with a backpack and couldn’t remember why he was in Tampa or where he was going.
While waiting for the paramedics, Gabriel shared that he was also bi-polar and diabetic. They took his vitals and checked his blood sugar and saw his levels were dangerously high. Once the ambulance arrived, they quickly got him hooked up to an IV and on the stretcher. Thankfully, he agreed to go to St. Joseph’s Hospital since it was closer than the VA hospital, and his diabetic episode needed to be addressed quickly. Once Gabriel had left in the ambulance, airport staff thanked the Traveler’s Aid volunteers for quickly calling for support and keeping Gabriel as calm as possible through the entire event.
