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.]

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"Dawn and I plan on making a sacrifice to the weather gods," Isabel said. "We need a piccolo player. You wouldn't happen to play would you?"

Isabel took his hands and then, in one not so smooth motion, pulled Peter up and on to her back. "Okay, I could probably do this a very short distance. But if I needed to haul you out of the mountains? We might have a problem."

"The piccolo? No, definitely not. Perhaps one of the zombies at Caritas might?"

"We'll have to avoid the mountains then. Or perhaps just make sure not to get hurt in them. I'm good with either one."

"You know? I'm going to have to ask about that. Thank you."

"Personally I'm leaning towards not getting hurt," Isabel said as she carefully set Peter down. "I like the mountains."

"You're most welcome," Peter replied with a grin. "But if that does work out, I'd probably not tell the picnic-goers that their nice weather was paid for by brains."

"I don't hate the mountains," Peter said, rather happy to get his feet back under him. Being carried by a girl was not on his top list of things to do that day. "As long as there aren't any giants or hill-beasts, that is."

"It's going to be such a good party I don't think anyone is going to care," Isabel smiled.

"Giants? Hill-beasts?"

"Evil creatures who took refuge in the mountains where I come from. Running into them usually ends up with injuries. More for them most of the time, but..." Peter shrugged.

"But..." Isabel replied, understanding exactly what he meant.

"It happens as in any battle," he said, soberly. "But it's better to hunt them down and take care of them then allow them to rampage through the country." He shrugged. "And I took this conversation on a turn for the sober. My apologies."

"It's okay," she assured him. "I need to learn things like this. Strategy, tatics, battle planning. It's not the usual high school curriculum."

"That's an interesting choice of phrase," Peter commented. "Why do you need to learn?"

"Part of the whole alien thing? Involves going back and saving the home planet," Isabel explained quietly.

Peter raised an eyebrow. "There's really nothing like being the destined redeemer. Just you by yourself?"

"No, there are three of us," she explained. "My brother Max, who was once king of our planet, Michael his second-in-command and myself. The odds are against us, but not terribly so."

"The odds tend to matter less if you have the people on your side. And the right, of course," Peter said. "That sounds a bit trite, but it's been my experience. Have you been studying for it long?"

"We think the people are on our side. But from what little we've found out, it seems like there are any number of factions fighting amongst themselves." She sighed, "It doesn't sound so different from Earth does it?"

"The scary thing is, we only found out about this last year. So no, we haven't been studying for it."

"Not so different, no," Peter agreed. "So the plan is to try strike hard enough at first to unite several of the factions behind you and Max? If you win one battle, you'll probably be able to get them. After the main fighting is over, you shouldn't have a problem as everyone will coalese behind you at least long enough for you to get your bearings. The problems are going to come about a year into your reign when people realise that 'destiny' doesn't mean that the roads and trading are fixed immediately. Especially if you're still fighting border skirmishs."

Peter realised he was pontificating. Pontificating with the possible indication of experience in the area. He shut his mouth abruptly and said, "I should think that you'll be more than capable by the time you're ready. Do you have intelligence on the system?"

"And obviously you've been studying for a long time," Isabel said, her eyebrow raised. "I guess I don't need classes, I can just sit and talk to you."

"We don't have much of a plan at the moment. The crash...it really messed things up. The ones that were supposed to teach us and guide us wound up dead, or they betrayed us," she said grimly, remembering Nacedo and Tess. She sighed, trying to shake off the memories. "Max and Michael are trying to find out more, and I've done some research here. But we're still pretty much in the dark on a lot of things." Isabel bit her lip and gave a wry half smile. "Then there's the little matter of getting there. Our way back? Went back in March."

Peter shrugged, slightly abashed. "I've been helping deal with a slightly similar situation for a bit of time now. It's one of those things that stick with you."

"That's less than useful," Peter said slowly. "Especially the way back part. No reason to hope they're simply gathering knowledge or something and shall be back with a heap of new intelligence?" He seemed less than sanguine about the answer to that question. If that had been the plan, they would have told their leaders. "Do any of the other students from off this planet know about yours?"

"It's a sensible plan. One I'll have to keep in mind if we're ever in a position to do something."

Isabel shook her head. "No, and it's better for all if she doesn't come back. Things happened," she said shortly, not willing to burden Peter with the nightmare that was her last trip home. "I've asked, but no one does. I think the planet is tucked somewhere in some godforsaken corner of the universe. I've found some information in Special Collections in the library. But it's hard to know what to believe."

Peter nodded, acknowledging the skip over probably painful details. "If there's anything I ever can do," he said, sketching a bow. "My sword is at your service." He grinned ruefully. "In a manner of speaking, I suppose since I doubt your people still use swords."

"I'm starting to believe I should take everyone up on their offers of help," Isabel said with a small smile. "I think it would be a small but very formidable army." She held up her hands, "No swords, just these."

"It's not a bad idea," Peter said. "I've not been here for long, of course, but I don't there's much that Fandom students couldn't take care of." He raised an eyebrow. "Everyone on your planet has your powers?"

"That's another one of those questions that I'm really don't know the right answer to," Isabel said with a shrug. "The three of us have a basic set of powers, things we can all do. But then each of us has a power that's pretty unique. As for everyone else, I'm just not sure."

"Nothing like going into battle with absolutely no information, hmm?" Peter said, making a face.

"I'm trying to look at the bright side," she said with a wry smile. "This way I have nothing concrete to be worried about other then the unknown. Which is always worse then reality. And that made sense in my head."

First Aid, Workshop 6, 6/27/06

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