I had to wait in the hallway at Harbor View for a wound - was in a gurney in the hallway waiting. Surrounded by junkies and medics. Then when the ambulances dropped off some folks from a big car crash and doctors and gurneys running down the hall and shouting orders it was just like on TV.
After it calmed down a bit the junkie behind me started screaming for some drugs to take care of the pain. Then she wanted to be unstrapped from the gurney.
The medic said something like “You know I can’t do that Helen - especially after you spit on me and tried to claw my eyes out last time. Now calm down or I’ll have to [I can’t recall now - maybe put a muzzle or something on her?]”
Several other medics sounded like they were on familiar terms with their junkie patients waiting in line.
Depending on the station that you work at you get to know the regulars on a first name basis.
Playing possum is very common, but it is usually pretty easy to figure out. One of the easiest ways to tell if you have a faker is to just hold their hand above their face and then let it go. The “pros” will let their hand drop on their face, but it takes a little practice. The newbies will make their hand miss their face. There are a bunch of other tricks of the trade that people like to use, most paramedics can tell you a bunch of their favorites.
Going to the hospital these days is a major pain in the a$$ because they overrun with idiots. It got a lot worse after Obamacare kicked in. Now the deadbeats all feel completely entitled to everything for free all of the time.