fandomhigh | First Aid II, Danger Shop, Tuesday Morning

Elliot is scratching at some small pink bumps on her arms and ankle as she waits for the class to file in, but she makes herself stop when they're there.

"Hey. So if any of you were total idiots, like your teacher, and went on a hike this weekend without insect repellent, you might be learning that one of the many joys of summer in what used to be a swamp is mosquitoes. So, y'know, I decided to tie the session to the season and talk about animal and insect bites this week.

Mosquito bites are just insanely annoying, they won't really do anything. Well, unless you scratch them into an infection. Here's a good handout on insect bites. With a bee sting, you want to get the stinger out as fast as you can and then apply a cold pack, and give an antihistamine, like benadryl, or apply calamine lotion for itching. And eventually -- possibly after too long, if you're the one with the sting -- it'll go away.

Sometimes you do need to go to the doctor, though. Like, with a sting anywhere in the mouth? Get immediate medical attention or it can cause severe swelling that may block airways. And some people are allergic to bee stings; with them, you'll usually see wheezing or difficulty breathing, tightness in the throat or chest, swelling of the lips, dizziness or fainting or nausea or vomiting. They need medical care; inject them with an epi-pen if they carry one, but otherwise get them to the hospital ASAP.

And, of course, some people might think an insect bite is easy next to a bite from a dog, cat, or other mammal. Here's a handout about that. Basically, what you want to do with an animal bite is: Calm and reassure the person, but glove up or wash hands thoroughly before attending to the wound, and wash your hands afterwards as well. If the bite is not bleeding severely, wash the wound thoroughly with mild soap and running water for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, cover the bite with antibiotic ointment and a clean dressing. If the bite is actively bleeding, apply direct pressure with a clean, dry cloth until the bleeding subsides. Elevate the area of the bite. If the bite is on the hand or fingers, or on any other sensitive area, like the face or genitals, they need medical care. Over the next 24 to 48 hours, observe the bite for signs of infection (increasing skin redness, swelling, and pain). If the bite becomes infected, call the doctor or take the person to an emergency facility. And ditto if you do not know for sure the animal is rabies-free. Because foaming at the mouth? Not as much fun as it might sound."

Elliot smiled at her class. "I've been really nice to the Danger Shop all week, so I think the simulators are working again. Get out there and treat some fake victims. Pair up or work in threes if you want."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I wondered. Were you in Special Collections in the Library?"

Seras shook her head.

"No. It just...fell of the shelf in All and Sundries on Saturday evening. And then there was a flash of light, and the next thing I know, I'm in...in the book."

In a harem's bath. Trying against insurmountable odds to argue that she was perfectly capable of scrubbing herself, thank you so very much.

"Hunh. What book was it? And how did you get out?" Parker cocked her head. "It's not the most unlikely thing I've heard here, but it is *new*, I'll give it that."

"1001 Arabian Nights," replied Seras, "I...I ended up being owed a favor by someone in the book and I asked that they find a way to send me home."

Parker's eyebrows went up. "Ohhh. That kind of outfit. Much is explained." She facepalmed. "That had to be fairly frightening. I'm glad you made it back, though. And do I want to know who it was that got you home?"

"It was...jarring, at first. But, I think Fandom prepares you to...hit the ground running, so to speak."

She shrugged.

"A prince or something. I knocked over his wine glass at this banquet they made everyone from the women's quarters go to. Lucky for me, the wine'd been poisoned. And, he started babbling on about kismet and repaying me."

Seras made a face.

"He had other ideas of how to best return the favour, but I soon convinced him that sending me home was the best option."

"I can imagine. Let me guess, jewels, silks, and him on a platter?" Parker made a face. "But at least you didn't end up turned into anything. That happens a lot in those stories. So, you came back to Fandom in a harem costume?" She shook her head, smiling a little. "Better than almost getting burnt at the stake, I guess."

Seras laughed at Parker's face.

"Something like that," she said, "And yeah, that was a bonus. I did get to ride a flying carpet, though."

She tilted her head.

"Did someone nearly get burnt at the steak here?"

"Oooo. Magic carpet-- there's something to make the trip worthwhile." She rolled her eyes. "Zero when locker-diving back in first semester, got lost in Locker 327 in the middle of Medieval England, and nearly got burnt as a witch. She came back smelling like barbeque and sans shoes. Nearly gave me a *heart* attack. It's off-limits for that kind of exploration now, but it manages to get a least one student a semester anyway.""

"Oh right. Nadia disappeared into it a month or so ago. Never did find out just what had happened to her."

"She came back with a very cool flapper costume. But it's a very random luck-of-the-draw thing, I think. Wings got sucked in and had to fight giant rodents. Not exactly my thing." Parker shuddered. "But yes, Radio strikes again. The level of accuracy depends on how slow a news day it is, and how drunk our fabulous dj's are."

Seras sighed.

"So there's no hope of a retraction?"

Parker boggled at her. "I seriously doubt it, unless the truth is more titillating than the reported rumor. Which, let's face it, means you would've had to bring back the prince, naked, in order for them to bother. You could *try*, I suppose, with Bridge or Archie, or one of the more forgiving types, but they might not be allowed. I don't know how the Radio station works. I just always assume the worst." She paused, thinking. "You could complain to Barbossa directly, on his Radio day? But that may not work out the way your want it too."

Seras sighed.

"Urgh. Forget it. It was just jarring, that's all. I mean, it's one thing to have shrubs watching your every move. It's another to have them making things up about you."

"You are, sadly, in large and good company. Give it two days, and no one will remember. Seriously. Someone will get drunk, someone will kiss the wrong person--" She made a face. "--or ~~someone will turn into a mermaid~~ some weird bit of magic will kick in. C'est la vie, around here."

"Mm. To Fandom," said Seras.

Then, she realised she hadn't anything to toast with. Ah well.

First Aid II, Danger Shop, Tuesday Morning

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1

Re: General Class Stuff, First Aid, 8/1