My Kmart Old Injury Headache
I bear the scars of many injuries from my years at Kmart, most of them emotional. Most people have nightmares about monsters and gruesome deaths — I have nightmares about Kmart. I also have a physical injury that also didn’t left a scar but quite a lot of pain.
About fiteen or sixteen years ago, I as working two retail jobs in order to make rent and my student loan payments. One of those two jobs was (as you’ve probably guessed) at the Sporting Goods department at the local Kmart. I was exhausted and business was slow. When I could, I slipped upstairs to the stock room for a nap. (We had piles of sleping bags back then.
And idiot me managed strike the back of my head against a steel shelf.
Sometimes months go by in between reminders, but every now and then the pain in the back of my head flares to remind my of my own stupidity — and to never work at a Kmart again, even if it means certain death.
What I Should Have Done
Because I was sleeping on the job (literally), I never reported my injury. (Back in my youth, I wasn’t nearly as good a liar as I am today. “Rena, how’d you manage to strike the back of your head against a steel shelf?” “Um, getting up from my knees thanking God that I was able to get a job at Kmart.” Naaah — I don’t think it would’ve worked, either.)
However, I was young and stupid. If you get your head clonked at work REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY. And then, depending on how bad you feel, get your superivor or human resources person to call an ambulance. In the meantime, treat as a concussion.
Sometimes, it takes time for the symptoms of a head injury to develop. Fortunately for me, my future painful flare-ups in the back of my back could be managed with over the counter medication.
When you do get a minor head injury like a blow to the back of your head with a Kmart steel shelf, let someone you trust know about your injury. At the time, my then boyfriend was able to keep an eye on me. Signs that you don’t just have a minor blow to the head inlude still having the head pains after six weeks, your symptoms get worse a few days later, you have trouble talking or are more easily confused than usual.
Ice bags and cold packs are great ways to help turn down the pain into a dull roar. If over the counter medication isn’t helping, than that’s another sign that’s it’s time to go see a doctor. Don’t self-medicate with alcohol, because that leads to other health care risks. Also, if you get drunk, you could fall and hit your head again. Your employer definately won’t cover that, especially not Kmart.
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