fandomhigh | First Aid, Workshop 6, 6/27/06

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first aid

First Aid, Workshop 6, 6/27/06

Elliot is perched on her desk as the students file in.

"Hey. This is your next to last week. If you're enjoying it, I'll be around next term teaching a more advanced version of this stuff. If you aren't? At least now you know what to do if you ever come across a badger with a dislocated shoulder.

Today we're talking about burns. The severity of a burn depends upon its size, depth and location. Burns are most severe when located on the face, neck, hands, feet and genitals, when they are spread over large parts of the body or when they are combined with other injuries. Burns can lead to pain, infection and shock. They are most serious when the victims are very young or very old.

There are three types of burns, called "degrees." first degree burns are the least severe. They are characterized by redness or discoloration, mild swelling and pain. Overexposure to the sun is a common cause of first degree burns. Second degree burns are more serious. They are deeper than first degree burns, look red or mottled and have blisters. They may also involve loss of fluids through the damaged skin. Third degree burns are usually the most painful because nerve ending are usually intact, despite severe tissue damage. Third degree burns are the deepest. They may look white or charred, extend through all skin layers. With a third degree burns, there might be severe pain -- or no pain at all, if the nerve endings are destroyed.

With a first degree burn, you want to flush it with cool running water, apply moist dressings and bandage loosely. For second or third degree, apply dry dressings and bandage loosely. Do not use water as it may increase risk of shock. And with a second- or third-degree burn, the patient should get to the hospital as fast as you can manage.

There is also such a thing as a chemical burn, like from certain cleaning products. If that's what's going in, remove clothing on which chemicals have spilled and flush the affected area with copious amounts of water for 15 to 30 minutes.

Because it's summer, I'm sure a lot of you will be out at the beach, at least if it ever stops raining. And, blah blah blah, a tan can be pretty, but it's also very dangerous to go out without sun protection. sunburn is one thing. With typical sunburn, just take a cold shower, rub it down with aloe vera or something like that, and take a painkiller if you need it. Watch out for fever, chills or a rash -- those can indicate heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Rest and cold water are the best way to treat those.

So. As usual, there are some fake patients for you to practice on over there. Not too many badgers this time -- I think Danger Shop knew burns wouldn't show up as well on them. One warning, second and third-degree burns are pretty gross, so if you don't think you can handle it go and help somebody with sunburn instead.

Finally, I would like you to know how to carry an injured person by yourselves. Pair up and follow the instructions on this worksheet. Try not to pick someone way outside your weight class and throw out your backs.

[OOC: OCD's up. I'll be very slow to respond between 1:30 and about 10:30 p.m.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yes, because I've heard that threatening people in immense pain is an excellent way of motivating them into giving you the results you're looking for," Peter said. "If you don't mind, sir?" he excused himself to the mime as he reached out to hold his upper arm and hand - in a non-burned location - steady so Parker could wrap the bandages.

Parker made a face, knowing he was right. "Fine. I'm trying, Mr. Mime. Hold still, and this'll be over a lot faster. And you won't have me glaring at you any more. And possibly, someone will give you a lollipop-- though probably not me." She very carefully wound the newest set of bandages around his arm and hand, looser than she had before, and with his arm steadier this time, the blisters didn't break. Parker let out a breath of relief.

Peter masked a grin at her face and just paid attention to the bandaging. "Looks good, I think." He nodded to the mime. "I think you'll be back to miming two-handedly in no time. Just watch out for the barbeque pits maybe?" He looked back at Parker. "A job well done?"

"And thankfully, not just medium well-done." She grinned. "I'm never going to be Florence Nightingale. But at least I can deal with this emergency stuff better after this class."

Peter snickered. "No, I can't quite picture you in the long skirts of a Victorian for some reason. But that's all I'm hoping for too. If there's not a healer around, at least we can keep people from getting worse."

"You will survive to mime another day," Parker told her patient. "Unfortunately, from some perspectives." She grinned and stood up, rolling up the excess bandages. "Thank God for cellphones, helicopters, and modern painkillers. I swear, I'm taking a personal physician anywhere those aren't available."

"Wouldn't it be faster just to become a doctor?" Peter asked, shaking his head at the mental image of a helicopter, doctor, and wardrobe assistant following Parker around. "Then you'd always have one with you."

"Mmmm... nahh. I'd suck at it. You've probably noticed. The emergency part, the blood, fine. Comfort? Care? Not so much." She cocked an eyebrow at him. "You said healer, not doctor; do they even have doctors, where you're from?"

"I said you could train as a doctor, not actually be one," Peter replied, grinning mischieviously. "They have doctors in Britain, yes, but where I live, not as such, no. Or, at least, not 'wear white coats and carry stethoscope' doctors."

"I already have a helicopter, it's just a matter of paying someone to follow me around." Parker shrugged, then looked intrigued. "Doesn't that scare you? A little?"

"I suppose that would work as well as anything," Peter said. It was his turn to shrug then. "Not really, why should it? If I get killed, at least I was fulfilling my duty."

Parker stared at him. "But what about everything else?" She boggled at him. "I can't imagine being that sanguine about it. And what if you don't get killed, just badly hurt?"

Peter grinned. "I lived during the Blitz. One learns to be a bit fatalistic." He shrugged again. "And if that happens, it happens. Should I run away from my place because I was worried of being hurt?"

"Nooooo." Parker's never run from anything except herself. "I just--" She shook her head, bemused. "I'd be demanding things, safeguards, protections, if I could get away with it. Or trying to make it better, so I didn't have to worry." She smiled wryly. "There's the ulcer talking, again."

"I have safeguards," Peter said with a smile. "I trust the healers at home and I trust those around me. And I do try to make it better. I just focus on things other than the medicine." He looked concerned. "Ulcer? You probably ought not be trying the carries then, I hope?"

"Nah. Raindrop is dormant now. I haven't had an attack in.. a while" Parker said, waving it off. "I just have to be careful. Not unlike you back home, I suppose." She looked thoughtful. "Alanna's a healer, as well as a fighter. I've never thought about who takes care of her, when she's at home."

"Nothing wrong with being careful," Peter replied with a nod. "It certainly beats riding full out into the face of an attacking army. Metaphorically or not." He considered the Alanna situation then nodded again. "I would assume other healers there as well. Her world sounds the a bit like mine though hers seems to have more magic." And the possibility of women knights. Not that he'd say that to Parker and survive.

"She's told me a bit about it. Some of it sounds fine, the rest of it... well. I like my luxuries." Parker grinned. "Including the health care I'm used to. But it is good to know I won't feel freakin' helpless, the next time someone gets hurt."

Peter shook his head, greatly amused. "There are luxuries there as well. Just less along the lines of electronics and more along the lines of silks and furs. Are you thinking of taking Dr. Reid's advanced first aid next term then?"

"She's teaching an advanced course?" Parker looked torn. "I'd definitely like more practice. And more skills. So yes, if it works into my schedule. I don't know what the other courses are, but I've enjoyed this one." She sniffed. "I could get furs." Then she relented. "And then called a baby seal killer, probably. Who needs that."

Peter grinned. "This is where I get to mock you for not listening to the lecture. She said so during it. It will be interesting to see what else is offered though."

"Not a morning person," Parker grumbled, then grinned. "So you'd be taking it too? That'd be cool." She rolled her eyes. "Everyone here at the school should take it, I think. God knows we need it often enough."

"Before next class, I'll have to bang on your door and take you running or something to wake you up," Peter said with a grin. "And yes, I was considering taking it. I've come to enjoy our weekly badger visit." His eyes lit up. "You're so very right. It could be like an introductory course the first week of the term or something. Get everyone acquainted and hopefully prevent anyone getting hurt out of sheer stupidity during the term. Couldn't hurt at least."

"You're evil. Who knew? You *look* so very clean-cut, but inside, you're a rotten, rotten, morning person fiend." Parker nodded decisively. "But yes. At least a weekend course? So people are prepared. Last term, we took them on a tour of the school-- we should've done it this term, too, really. Show them where Locker 327 was, so they could avoid it. Now, we'd include First Aid in the Orientation."

"I'd give you coffee afterwards," Peter said, smiling a bit too sweetly. "Think how nice it would be to be awake in class for once? And I'm sure we could talk Dr. Reid into it. She seems generally enthusiastic."

First Aid, Workshop 6, 6/27/06

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