Yesterday, I talked about research and how it can provide plot ideas. But, even if it doesn’t generate new ideas, getting it right is essential. I recently wrote a book about a bush pilot who crashes a plane in the Alaskan wilderness.(Expect the Sunrise). I wanted one of the survivors to have an injury that would force the group to leave the crash site, and yet not kill her. So it had to be potentially life-threatening. So…I gave her a head injury.

Here’s the rough draft: (In Andee’s pov)
Being a bush pilot was only half her life. “I went to EMT school and in the summer I live in Iowa and work for a local hospital.” She glanced at Sarah laying in arm’s reach. “She was my college roomie for a while. And we work together on our SAR team.”

Mac followed her gaze. “You seem close. I’m sorry. Do you know why hasn’t she woken up?”
Andee shook her head. “I’m worried that she might have gone into shock after the crash. She might have woken, briefly, then with the blood rushing to our heads while we were hanging upside down, it might have put increased pressure on her cranium. Moving her, and the flux of pressure might have shut her body down. And, the fact that we’re at such a high altitude doesn’t help. I’m hoping when we get lower, maybe she’ll pull out of it.” She touched Sarah’s forehead, found it hot and closed her eyes.

Now, because I’m NOT an EMT, I called in reinforcements. I have a wonderful reader/friend who gives me firefighting/emt type advice when I need it, and when I posed my problem to him, we had a lengthy conversation:

She has got to have a visual wound of some sort or a large discolored area or bump that has swelled up – the concussion area. Did you take into consideration the pulmonary edema? That would seriously complicate a concussion (a concussion is basically the brain bruised and swelling).

I think the best way to achieve what you want is NOT to be specific with the wound/wounds details. She has a concussion (brain bruise/ cerebral edema) and she’s out till the swelling goes down. That way she’s out for 3 days, and can “wake up” at the most convent time. SO, for them to want to get her off the mountain? COLD. It kills. Frostbite. What is the altitude? they can ALL or just her, have altitude sickness. Pulmonary Edema (your own fluid/blood fills up your lungs and you drown when it fills up in your lungs) is VERY serious and usually FATAL if not treated immediately and getting the pt down to a MUCH lower altitude fast. She can get it from a lung injury as well.

Ah, great advice!

Here is the scene AFTER I took Olaf’s great advice:

Being a bush pilot was only half her life. “In the summer I live in Iowa and work for a local hospital. I’m getting trained as a paramedic.” She glanced at Sarah, lying within arm’s reach. “She was my college roomie for a while, and we work together on our SAR team.”

Mac followed her gaze. “You seem close. I’m sorry. Do you know why she hasn’t woken up?”
Andee shook her head. “I’m worried that she might have had a large concussion after the crash. She might have woken briefly. Then with the blood rushing to our heads while we were hanging upside down, it might have increased the pressure in her brain. Moving her and the flux of pressure might have complicated her condition. And the fact that we’re at such a high altitude doesn’t help. You don’t have to be in the death zone to get altitude sickness or pulmonary edema. I’m hoping when we get lower, her body will readjust and she’ll pull out of it.” She touched Sarah’s forehead, found it hot, and closed her eyes.

So, what did I learn?
1. ASK! My friends and readers are my biggest assets! They are always there to give me information and help me get it right. It never ever hurts to ask, esp. with the caveat – “I want to get it right!”
2. If you have to change the plot a little to work the research, it’s worth it. The LAST thing you want is a reader saying, “Oh, that is SO WRONG.” and throw the book across the room. (Like I do every time I hear Sean Connery murder the Russian language on the Hunt for Red October! Arrgh!)

Research matters. Do it! *grin*