Have you ever been in a building when a fire alarm went off for no obvious reason - and they say it's not just a drill? I can't recall that I have - until today...
Today, in the early afternoon, I had a vaccination appointment booked at my primary health care centre downtown. It was a sunny and crisp autumn day, so I was able to walk there - a nice walk along the river. I arrived in good time; and as they now practice online booking (rather than just "drop in"), there was no long queue. My number to register at the reception desk came up almost immediately. But just as I opened my mouth to state what I was there for, and intending to show my ID - a noisy alarm went off...
There was a second or two of general surprise and confusion... And then we were told that it was the fire alarm, and that it was not a planned fire drill. Everyone (both staff and patients) had to vacate the premises immediately, and go out into the street to await further info.
There was no sign or smell of fire or smoke in the reception area - but it's a large building with several floors. As the autumn vaccination period has just started, the waiting room was full of patients; but we all left rather unhurriedly. At first we just gathered just outside the entrance, feeling confused - but were then told that we had to go down to the street/sidewalk down below.
Sirens were heard, and soon a fire engine arrived, but it drove round to the back of the building, so we could not see what went on from there. I also forgot to check the time, so I really have no trustworthy concept of how long we waited. Probably not as long as it seemed! But I suppose I wasn't the only one starting to wonder whether to stay or to just leave, and re-book an appointment for another day... But then, suddenly, we were told (without further explanation) that it was "OK"; and we could all go back in.
I also didn't have to sit very long in the waiting room before my name was called. I didn't check the time then either, but I think I probably got my jabs pretty much around the time when I was supposed to.
For several years now I've had double vaccinations, against seasonal flu + covid. This year, they had changed the recommendations here a bit; and I found myself no longer "necessarily" recommended this year's covid jab at all - but instead, besides the flu one, one against pneumococci. So that's the two I got now (and both for free). (I can add the covid one later - but getting all three at once neither felt right for myself, nor was that recommended by the nurse.)
Back home (I walked back as well) I sat down in my TV chair with a cup of tea to watch an episode of a TV-series on Netflix... No doubt nodded off for a while... And when I woke up, that was with a suspicion that the ending I then had a glimpse of probably belonged to a different episode! ;)
Remains to be seen if my reactions tomorrow go beyond feeling a bit sore around the injection places in both arms. (As I've never had the pneumococci one before, not quite sure what to expect.) I have absolutely nothing "booked" for tomorrow though, so am free to take that day as it comes...
Wow, fire alarms are no fun to go through! I have had one in my apartment building in the middle of the night, and started to evacuate, then didn’t; and the second time it happened I didn’t even bother getting coat and purse. I don’t think that was particularly wise of me. I have had 2 pneumonicocal shots, and don’t remember whether they hurt or not…but the flu shot did this year. Hope you feel ok tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, "it only hurts when I move" - so mostly keeping rather still today... ;) Also kind of generally tired anyway. But no fever or feeling really bad. So I expect I'll survive!! ;) - Were both those alarms where you live now? And did you get any explanations afterwards? ... Nothing in our local newspaper today about the alarm at the HCC yesterday, so I suppose it can't have been anything serious. One still gets curious as to what triggered it, though!
DeleteI asked other residents the next day of the first mid-night alarm. Some didn't even remember it had happened. Burnt toast was the only answer given. When I asked the landlady she had the standard answer, "it's only happened twice since I worked her, and I've been here 5 years." Of course she goes home at 4. Cooking causes of course are to be expected. There are also some little canisters in the range hoods that are supposed to spray if there is a grease fire. I know there's a big extinguisher in the hall outside my door, but I doubt that I could even hold it, let alone put out a fire with it. I'm more upset that I have to go down 4 flights of stairs, and then back up afterward, whenever I do evacuate the building!
DeleteOh and I'm so sorry you are having vaccine pains. Glad no fever at least.
DeleteNo worse side effects than expected with the vaccines, Barbara, so nothing to worry about. Hope you won't have to deal with too many fire alarms!!
DeleteWe were in a hotel once, in Norway, when the fire alarm sounded. We traipsed down to Reception, but it was a false alarm. Not so much exciting as irritating!
ReplyDeleteI hope your arms are not too sore.
Janice, just rather normal tenderness, I think. It was mostly with the vaccine new to me that I wasn't sure what to expect. But both injection spots have felt very similar today - I'm not even sure which arm got what....
DeleteYes I have had that happen to me many times over the years, usually it's been something like an alarm going off accidentally, good on you for getting your jabs, I get mine every year too, last year I got the whooping cough jab as well which helped me get over the 90 day cough/influenza a alot easier, have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I think I've been getting the flu jab every autumn for 25 years now! I was told that the new one against pneumococci won't have to be repeated, though. As for whooping cough, I've been told I had that (the disease, not the vaccine) before I turned 1 years old... and it delayed my attempts at learning to walk with a few months!!
DeleteI have never had to evacuate for any reason which is fine with me. I'll take my excitement through books and movies. I forgot my pneumonia vaccine two years now, I'd better mark my calendar for it next year! I always get the flu and covid on the same day.
ReplyDeleteRiver, I was told I won't have to repeat the pneumococci vaccine. But perhaps there are different kinds?
DeleteWhat an experience!! And still you had your jab at more or less the originally scheduled time - that's the most amazing thing about it :-D
ReplyDeleteMaybe you remember that my Mum, sister and I were at a concert in the summer when the fire alarm (also a real one) sounded in the middle of an aria, and we all had to leave the palace theatre and gather in the courtyard, where we got talking to the artists. That was an unforgettable experience, too.
Meike, I didn't really note the exact time at any point in the chain of events, but I think I arrived about 20 min before my appointed time... And we probably weren't out in the street waiting for more than around 15-20 min either, even if it felt longer...
ReplyDeleteI had my first pneumococci last year and it was the same as the flu shot. Hope yours is too.... wow, that would be scary and I would want to leave to, glad it was ok and you were not forced to wait for hours
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