Irony

[CommaHolly]

Yesterday I spent about 12 hours at Tampa General Hospital waiting for a friend who was having day surgery. We had to be there at 6am for a 9am surgery (that was 3 hours late starting), and we didn't leave until after 6pm.

Tampa General Hospital is a completely "tobacco Free campus".

OK,,,,,,,I'm a rule follower,,,,,,,I can't help it, it's just my nature.

Once my friend was in surgery, I wandered down to find someplace to vape,,,,,,,

my first thought,,,,,,,ask the security guard nicely.

"Excuse me, sir,,,,,,,,,,I understand there's no smoking here at TGH, but are we allowed to use electronic cigarettes?"

"No Maam, I'm sorry. No tobacco products whatsoever. You are, however, allowed to use nicotine gum and patches"

blank smile on my face,,,,,,,,

"Well, my e-liquid contains no nicotine at all, sir,,,,,,I vape 0mg nicotine"

"I'm sorry, Maam,,,,,,,,no tobacco products at all."

"That's my point,,,,,,,,,,there's no tobacco IN this,,,,,,there's a closer relationship to gums and patches to tobacco products than there is to this,,,,,,,,,,"

"I'm sorry, Maam, you still can't smoke it."



way too many people floating around to even THINK about trying to sneak a couple vapes somewhere,,,,,,,,

I tried walking 6 blocks or so in either direction, and I was still on the TGH premises.

I gave up and grabbed a few vapes in the bathroom,,,,,,,,not my normal style, but I thought the whole thing was ridiculous.



who do I write to at the hospital about this ridiculousness??

 

[joeybear]

You're a better person than I am. When my mom was in the hospital, I smoked right outside the doors and when confronted by security, I didn't say anything. With vaping, I'd be more steadfast as long as I was outside.

 

[Danbrooks2k]

I used to haul patients to Tampa gen when I worked for TransCare and Pinellas county EMS... But I just jump in the front of the ambulance and vape away... they have some pretty ridiculous security there...

Just go down to the sidewalk or vape in a bathroom if ever in that situation again.

 

[CommaHolly]

I used to haul patients to Tampa gen when I worked for TransCare and Pinellas county EMS... But I just jump in the front of the ambulance and vape away... they have some pretty ridiculous security there...

Just go down to the sidewalk or vape in a bathroom if ever in that situation again.

yeah, there were signs all over the sidewalks, though,,,,

seriouisly, I swear, there were signs every 4 feet!

 

[WillyZee]

I don't think there is much you can do to change this until society on a whole learns about and accepts vaping.

In a hospital setting there would be many patients who are forced off nicotine and would be upset and confused why some could vape and others cannot.

They would have no way of knowing if your vape contains nicotine, other than your word.

unfortunately ... Hospitals may never allow vaping ... no matter how many letters were sent.

I hope your friend is recovering well.

 

[Robino1]

USF Health News » Jim Burkhart takes helm as Tampa General Hospital CEO

https://www.tgh.org/contact.htm

That should get you started. You can't fix stupid though.

 

[CommaHolly]

thanks Robin,,,,,,,

you're all probably right though,,,,,,

 

[Fulgurant]

Yep, gotta love hospitals these days. Banning vaping on the premises -- heck, banning smoking on outdoor premises -- is the very opposite of humane treatment of the sick and their depressed friends and relatives. But hey, who cares about bedside manner?

 

[wonner]

I just can see some guy breaking out a pipe with some other substance in it.

"No officer, there is no nicotine in here."

 

[exnihilo]

Meh. Their house, their rules. I like to follow my own adage, "everything's allowed until you get caught."

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[diggyb]

The irony is that hospitals pump the same thing through their air systems that is in most people's vapes.

I wouldn't have asked - I just would have found somewhere inconspicuous to do it. An empty hallway, bathroom, etc...

 

[diggyb]

Men. Their house, their rules. I like to follow my own adage, "everything's allowed until you get caught."

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

Or my personal favorite - "It's easier to ask forgiveness than for permission."

 

[hazarada]

how is that story ironic?

 

[Fulgurant]

how is that story ironic?

It's, uh, like a black fly in your chardonnay?

(I think Comma referred to the hospital's policy of not allowing e-cigs on the basis that they're tobacco products, even though they allow patches and gum -- which have the same type and similar amounts of tobacco extract in them as any e-cig [nicotine extracted from tobacco]. And she wasn't even using nicotine e-juice, so her particular e-cig is less a tobacco product than the supposedly non-tobacco products the hospital approves. Does all of the above make for irony? Honestly I'm not sure. Seems close enough, though.)

 

[generic mutant]

how is that story ironic?

Though I actually think the story is ironic, you still get a 'like' for the avatar.

 

[Ld3441]

I have been to TGH and security there is crazier than I have seen anywhere! When I smoked, I walked down the sidewalk away from the hospital a good 2 blocks and was told I couldn't smoke there. After that, I always made sure to light one when I got in my car in their garage. The garage is no smoking too but they are certainly not going to tell me what I can do in my own car!

This is not the same at all hospitals. My daughter had surgery 2 weeks ago and I was shocked they allowed us to vape. I even had a nurse asking about it because her mom is a smoker.

 

[EvilZoe]

I have been to TGH and security there is crazier than I have seen anywhere! When I smoked, I walked down the sidewalk away from the hospital a good 2 blocks and was told I couldn't smoke there. After that, I always made sure to light one when I got in my car in their garage. The garage is no smoking too but they are certainly not going to tell me what I can do in my own car!

This is not the same at all hospitals. My daughter had surgery 2 weeks ago and I was shocked they allowed us to vape. I even had a nurse asking about it because her mom is a smoker.

They can and will tell you you can't vape or smoke in your car if they see you. Most hospital campuses that have banned smoking say you can't do it in your car.

Personally, I'd be a complete rebel and do it, anyway, but no one ever accused me of having any sense or being less than an ..........lol

 

[nicetucu]

I have to have day surgery as well to fix a Inguinal hernia. If it's not allowed I will just stealth it or go to the washroom. I should look up the hospital policy right now lol. So I'm prepared.

 

[hazarada]

Does all of the above make for irony? Honestly I'm not sure. Seems close enough, though.)

It makes it hypocritical but not ironic. Irony would require a related backlash of some sort. For instance, if the security guard suddenly fell ill after telling her "no tobacco products" and the only cure was tobacco products then that would be ironic.

 

[generic mutant]

I don't know. I think there's irony in there somewhere.

They're singling out the thing that there is an increasing amount of evidence may be the best option to get you off the ciggies for attention because it looks most like the ciggies.

That's dumb *and* ironic, a winning combination.