Health and Safety
The past two or three days, I've been brushing up on my first aid knowledge and considering (still just considering!) the idea of enrolling in a month-long program for training as a nurse's assistant.
In 2008, I was out with some ham friends contructing a tall antenna with hard plastic pipes and guy wires. At one point, the assembly fell and one of our friends got his hand cut by some of the material. I was at a loss for what to do. Thankfully, our injured friend was a medic and despite the pain, he immediately applied pressure to the spot and called on me to give him aid. He told me to retrieve a certain bag, find inside medical supplies, and directed me to exactly what was needed. I can't even remember now what I did, but I remember that feeling of panic, calm, responsibility, and attention as I followed each order to help him treat his hand.
In 2009, I was taking a lunch break from a full day at work on the local schooner. There were lots of other folks out for the races that day and the marina eating area was very crowded. Suddenly, an older gentleman stumbled backwards and fell onto the ground. Again, I was at a loss for what to do and looked around to see if anyone else would help. Some people did, in particular one gentleman who talked to the man and helped him. After that incident, I was very anxious. What would I have done if I had been the only person around? Should we call 911? Should we use a landline or cell phone to make the call?
In 2011, I finally registered for a first aid class. I was very excited about all that I learned, but felt as though I was still not prepared to act in the case of an emergency. I still feel as though my knowledge of the human body isn't enough to have the confidence to make strong decisions in preserving it - or even mundane decisions. So, this week, I started to gather information. I got the Red Cross' manual on First Aid, some basic first aid equipment, checked in with my office's wellness center for info, found a talk about nutrition and meal planning, visited my doctor to get my knee checked out & x-rayed (as it has been giving me trouble recently), found a manual about family caregiving, read the memoirs of a WWI Red Cross nurse, and plan to chat with one or two nurses during the next week.
It's interesting that I've been thinking so much about the care of the body these days. Ever since I started preparing my message on Mark 4:35-41 I've been overtaken with an interest in the chemistry of Creation, the information in DNA and the process of DNA--RNA transcription, physical health, and a desire to become more aware of the Holy Spirit. I wonder if Paul's words to the Corinthians have any relation to these things? "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own..." 1 Corinthians 6:19 God has created all these physical things and His good and precise laws preserve Creation. Yet I've often ignored His wonders, have ignored my own physical health, and have ignored the safety of others. I want to be a person who "loves her neighbor as herself." Maybe more experience in health care is one way that I can do that? I'm not sure if I have the stomach for it but we'll see how far God allows me to pursue this interest.
"Blessed be Your glorious name,
Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
You alone are the Lord;
You have made heaven,
The heaven of heavens, with all their host,
The earth and everything on it,
The seas and all that is in them,
And You preserve them all.
The host of heaven worships You." Nehemiah 9:5b-6
In 2008, I was out with some ham friends contructing a tall antenna with hard plastic pipes and guy wires. At one point, the assembly fell and one of our friends got his hand cut by some of the material. I was at a loss for what to do. Thankfully, our injured friend was a medic and despite the pain, he immediately applied pressure to the spot and called on me to give him aid. He told me to retrieve a certain bag, find inside medical supplies, and directed me to exactly what was needed. I can't even remember now what I did, but I remember that feeling of panic, calm, responsibility, and attention as I followed each order to help him treat his hand.
In 2009, I was taking a lunch break from a full day at work on the local schooner. There were lots of other folks out for the races that day and the marina eating area was very crowded. Suddenly, an older gentleman stumbled backwards and fell onto the ground. Again, I was at a loss for what to do and looked around to see if anyone else would help. Some people did, in particular one gentleman who talked to the man and helped him. After that incident, I was very anxious. What would I have done if I had been the only person around? Should we call 911? Should we use a landline or cell phone to make the call?
In 2011, I finally registered for a first aid class. I was very excited about all that I learned, but felt as though I was still not prepared to act in the case of an emergency. I still feel as though my knowledge of the human body isn't enough to have the confidence to make strong decisions in preserving it - or even mundane decisions. So, this week, I started to gather information. I got the Red Cross' manual on First Aid, some basic first aid equipment, checked in with my office's wellness center for info, found a talk about nutrition and meal planning, visited my doctor to get my knee checked out & x-rayed (as it has been giving me trouble recently), found a manual about family caregiving, read the memoirs of a WWI Red Cross nurse, and plan to chat with one or two nurses during the next week.
It's interesting that I've been thinking so much about the care of the body these days. Ever since I started preparing my message on Mark 4:35-41 I've been overtaken with an interest in the chemistry of Creation, the information in DNA and the process of DNA--RNA transcription, physical health, and a desire to become more aware of the Holy Spirit. I wonder if Paul's words to the Corinthians have any relation to these things? "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own..." 1 Corinthians 6:19 God has created all these physical things and His good and precise laws preserve Creation. Yet I've often ignored His wonders, have ignored my own physical health, and have ignored the safety of others. I want to be a person who "loves her neighbor as herself." Maybe more experience in health care is one way that I can do that? I'm not sure if I have the stomach for it but we'll see how far God allows me to pursue this interest.
"Blessed be Your glorious name,
Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
You alone are the Lord;
You have made heaven,
The heaven of heavens, with all their host,
The earth and everything on it,
The seas and all that is in them,
And You preserve them all.
The host of heaven worships You." Nehemiah 9:5b-6