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Thursday, July 5, 2012

Medical training



Yeah, I’ve had medical training. I know when to bleed a patient, when to apply leeches, and when to shake a turtle shell rattle and burn a sage bundle.

Recently it’s come to my attention that my medical training just might be a wee bit out of date.

Seriously, it has been decades since I’ve sat in a formal emergency medicine class. Quite a few of my friends work in EMS. Talking to them has really brought home how some of the thinking about emergency medicine has changed.

Reviewing the new literature would help. The book “Where there is no Doctor,” is darn useful too.

Even so, there is something to be said for actually taking classes. The price is reasonable. It would give me a reason to actually do the studying and practicing. For me, nothing beats learning from people who actually use this stuff.

It’s something to think about as part of living a prepared life. Actually, what you really want is for all the people around you to know this stuff. Convince the people in your life to join you in class. That way there will be someone close by to help you in an emergency.

-Sixbears

13 comments:

  1. At the very least, a class in CPR would be time well spent. Though I understand the newer 'just pump the chest and ignore the breathing part' seems to be the new advice.

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    1. That's one of the new bits that brought home how long it has been since I studied this stuff.

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  2. I carry a small yellow Otterbox case with some basics - disinfectant, self-adhesive wrap, gauze, bandages, band aids, moleskin.. it's amazing how much one small kit can hold. I'd highly advise everyone to carry one. I have a backpack that mine goes in. It goes where I go and gets used and then replenished often as NO ONE seems to carry any basic supplies, depending instead on first responders.

    Recently my elderly mother, attempting to use a grinder (yeah, wtf) took a 3x6 inch patch of skin off her arm. Others around were crying "emergency room!", but it was clear this was a superficial wound, requiring only cleaning and a bandage smeared with ointment and a wrap. Examined it closely with each bandage changing and it healed quick and well.

    In our economics, where basic emergency care has been turned into a for-profit business, emergency room visits are for dire circumstances.

    BriarPatch

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    1. And I burned some sage, having misplaced my rattle.

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    2. I do have basic first aid kits in my home and vehicle.

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  3. I'm due for some updating myself. Maybe I can join you. Are you looking at basic 1st aid/ CPR? Emergency Chakra balancing?

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    1. Let's get together and figure out what would be good to have.

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  4. Had pretty intensive med. training in the Navy, but yeah, that was 20 years ago... I do stay current on first aid/CPR.

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  5. Wow, now that you mention it, it must have 30 or 40 years since my training. My friends and I are getting to the age that we all may need it.

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  6. Make friends with young paramedics. :)

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  7. _Plenty of food for thought here. like most, I could use an up to date bit of training, to say the least!

    Aspirin and bandaids won't cover it anymore!

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    1. A buddy of mine used to say that I only used second aid, not first aid. Most things people would use first aid for I ignored. Still, not a kid anymore.

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