I am a merchandiser and I was at a Wal-Mart today. When I was finished my work a store employee asked me to take the cardboard to the compactor and because he was very busy and I’m a nice gal I said sure. When I got there they had me flatten the cardboard so I began to flatten all 50 boxes. I told them I was new and had never done this before and was there anything I should do or not do or watch out for and they said no. There was a Wal-Mart employee flattening cardboard and he was right in front of the compactor with his big cart. He finished and turned the compactor on. I immediately felt awful and went dizzy and almost passed out. When the machine turned off a minute later the guy walked away and I saw on the bottom of the compactor in huge writing "warning persons with pacemakers must keep away 50 feet with compactor is turned on". I told the staff I have a pacemaker and they all freaked out. Needless to say I phoned the pacemaker clinic. My heart rate was at 85 for over an hour. It didn’t go any higher or lower. The clinic said that the big magnet in the compactor had reset my pacemaker. I only pace less than 1% of the time(thankfully). Soooo, I had to take the rest of the day off work, drive to the other side of town and have my pacemaker reset. I’m a little ticked off cuz I asked if there was anything I had to watch out for around the compactor and they all said no. Perhaps I need to get pacemaker tattooed on my forehead, lol!

Sigh, just another day in my life

Paula

 

 

hi long time no see. glad you are okay. i know it seems you know it all and then bam! yes you might feel ticked off but i think that people honestly forget and it isn't on purpose for sure.i am again glad you are okay hugs jessie

 

I know just what you mean, we have a baler at work, and I stay several feet away from it and kick the boxes over to it, then another team member will kindly take care of them for me. Of course I had used it a lot prior to pacemaker implant so was familiar with the danger to pacemakers. I am glad you made it thru the ordeal ok. I haven't been close to it while it was running, but we have new ppl now who do not know yet that I have one, so I will have to be careful.

 

Gald you are ok.
That company need a good talikng too.
Its a good job you are <1%
I`m pacing <1% too...

 

I am sorry to hear that happened but I am glad you are ok. I have never had that experience with anything like that. Hopefully I don't. Since to you we all know not to go near any compactors when they are on.

Becky

 

How stupid is it to put the warning on the bottom of the compactor. It should be where anyone could see it.

I am so worried now about the things I come into contact with that could inadvertently affect my pm because of the lack of proper labelling.

 

at120uk Nice to meet someone who paces less than 1% like me! Welcome to the 1%er club! We can be the outlaw biker part of the pacemaker club, lol! I already have a harley so I fit in already!

Paula

heartu, it is stupid the warning is on the bottom, I agree

 

1%er Outlaw Bikers in the UK.........don't make me laugh.......ooops to late...........ROFL........

 

there must be outlaw bikers in the UK. They just have really nice manners and British accents. I picture them like the Sons of Anarchy but with accents

 

pawgles, I seen the uk behind the 120 and jumped to conclusions, my error.........then I seen that your up in Canada.....what kind of Harley you on in your bio photo??

I was a 1%er at one time, right after I got out the army, decided it wasn't going to be rich that route and quit....parked my bike about 15 years ago after way too many close calls down here in south florida....broke both wrists one time after hitting 3 sets of railroad tracks in the snow...up north....front tire came down sideways at the third set of tracks and got stuck between the street and railroad tracks, hands slipped under clutch and brake levers , throttle grip went into my stomach and the bike flipped, we (me and the bike) landed about 50 feet down the street and kept on sliding on the snow for another couple hundred feet, had no helmet on.....(wife said thats whats wrong with me now.....not the heart)...used my elbows to get up, and some guy stopped and helped me stand the bike up, I used my forearms to walk the bike home about 2 blocks away.....talk about pain....I was to broke to go get cast so I used duct tape for casts, now both wrists are crooked, should have had them set correctly but I was a 1%er , remember, we felt no pain....good luck and keep ridin'......sorry to hear about the compactor incident.......

 

in the pic was an '04 Sportster. I now ride an 02 Fatboy.

Ouch with the accident!

Paula

 

Hi Paula! I also work for a large retailer (target) and I did not know of the potential issue with the compactor. Thank you for sharing! I am paced 30/100 so your post is very valuable to me! I typically only open it but not operate it. Now I know to stay clear from it while it is operating! I am glad you are "ok"! Thanks for sharing!

Heidi

 

I just appreciate this, especially you're last line!

I used be a CSM at Walmart, so I can relate! I have to say....I am SOOOOO glad I never had to work the trash compactor! hahahahahha! Thanks for the story and info! he he Yeah...sometimes people just don't think...."hmmm...they may have an implanted device" "I should warn them not to touch or get near" lol.

Cheers :-)
Jenny

 

My first post here. I feel somewhat awkward cause I joined to learn more about pm since my mother just got hers 2 days ago. I want to understand and see if it's common or unusual whatever symptoms she may talk to me about.

Am happy your experience with the compactor didn't turn out to be as grave as it could have been. But as I read all here now know the danger it is to use a compactor at work.. you must communicate this to the general managers or higher and request warning signs be put at the entrance of the room where there is any type of machine that could affect a person with a pm.
In doing this you could be saving someone that awful situation or their lives.