Certified to SAVE LIVES

THE TALE OF MY STANDARD FIRST AID/CPR CERTIFICATION:

Before I'm able to start clinical practice next semester, I need to be certified in First Aid. Makes sense, right? So me and 2 of my girlfriends signed up to get certified this past weekend, after months of putting it off.

I'll admit I went in with a pretty bad attitude. I remember doing this course 3 years ago (expires after 3 yrs - hence me taking it again) and it being incredibly grueling... the hours dragging past. So I expected the same thing again. Instead, I ended up learning SO much and actually having a lot of fun.

Three Factors Made It Bearable -->

1)Our instructor, Justin, had an amazing sense of humor. I can't stress how much a difference that makes

2)I was with friends, so we talked and joked and went to Logan's Pub for dinners afterwards because another friend from our program works there.

3)We had TONS of practice. For every hour that our instructor talked, we spent an hour practicing the skill... so out of the 16 hours of the course, 8 of those hours were spent doing the skills. This is how it worked: After a morning of Justin teaching, we had lunch then came back and broke into partners. One of the people in the pair would leave the room, and the other would stay and Justin would set them up with some kind of elaborate injury or medical emergency. He had a whole box of fake blood, skin with bones coming out of it, harmful objects, etc, etc, etc. So when the other half of the class came back into the room, the room was filled with people all suffering from various horrifying injuries, and they had to find their partner, find out what was wrong with them, and then act appropriately. It was actually kind of stressful at times, but more than anything I had a lot of fun with it.

So, this weekend I: had hypothermia, an allergic reaction to a bug bite, slit my wrists, got knocked unconscious by a piece of cement, and got second degree burns on my hands. I also saved the life of someone: having a diabetic seizure, hit my a car with their intestines hanging out, with heat stroke, with a broken leg including deadly bleeding, and suffering from a stroke.

It was like dressing up for Halloween! He painted our faces, supplied us with fancy wounds and extravagant costumes, along with imaginative, long stories about how we ended up the way we did. It was admittedly a little over-the-top... but it made it so much more enjoyable and realistic.

Afterwards, I actually feel confident in my abilities to help someone in an emergency... or for something more minor. Turned out well I think.

There was something that bothered me though. Something Justin said again and again is, "... until a health professional takes over." Now, in most 911 emergencies, it's going to be a paramedic that's first on the scene... but after the ambulance gets them to the hospital, or after the first aider drives the individual to the hospital, the care of that person will be in my hands. Unlike everyone else in the class, I can't take comfort in knowing the help is on the way and afterwards I won't have to deal with it anymore. It takes the ambulance 4-8 minutes to get there in most urban areas. Instead, I'm the one the injured person is being handed over to. That was kind of shocking to realize... but the longer I let the thought sit in my mind, the more I like the idea of it. I like that I will be trained to handle things like that, I love that I will be saving people's lives for a living. What could be better?!

Back to my old romping grounds

Today, after I dissected an eyeball in Biology, my nursing class held a health fair at a local school. Now, it was up to the students to find a place to hold the fair, and to figure out the time, etc. We called around to schools, rec centers, and other hot spots in the community... and it turned out that Lambrick Park Secondary was our best option. My old high school!

Our class of 30 broke into four teams, each with a different health focus. My group did body image, and the other groups did sexual health, drugs/alcohol, and hand washing. We spent the whole afternoon at the school, and had six grade 9 classes come to walk through our stations. It was a lot of fun, and I saw many kids I've known since they were just toddlers. It was surreal seeing them so grown up and 'cool'. I was also able to talk so some of my old teachers and share with them what I've been up to for the last couple years since I graduated.

When I first walked into the school I felt anxious and unhappy about having to be in a place I had loathed for 4 years... but upon leaving 3 hours later, I felt quite content and at peace. I'm glad we ended up at Lambrick, it was the best place for me to be. It made me remember that not everything about that place was awful... I have some good memories too :)

A quote or two I like

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." -Kahlil Gibran

"Does a man know any gospel truth aright till he knows it by experience? Is not this the reason why God’s servants are made to pass through so many trials, that they may really learn many truths not otherwise to be apprehended? Do we learn much in sunny weather? Do we not profit most in stormy times? Have you not found it so that your sick-bed, your bereavement, your depression of spirit, has instructed you in many matters which tranquillity and delight have never whispered to you? I suppose we ought: to learn as much by joy as by sorrow, and I hope that many of my Lord’s better servants do so; but, alas! others of us do not; affliction has to be called in to whip the lesson into us." -C.H. Spurgeon

In my own experience, I've found this to be true. Makes me think.

Ol Danny Boy

I get along splendidly with my Relational Practice teacher, who upon learning that I was a closet artist, referred me to Danny Gregory's website (found here). I'm now in awe of this man. Check him out!

VIHA fails... yet again.

My nursing class is all abuzz due to a certain news article released yesterday by the Times Colonist. Read it here, then the rest of this post will make sense :).

There were a few years when I volunteered for a homeless outreach downtown called CARTS every Friday night. It was a major part of my life for such a long time and one of the best things I've ever done for myself... but also one of the most terrifying. For the most part, the people I worked with were kind and thankful and lovely, but for the few hours we spent near the needle exchange, I was always nervous of the stumbling, muttering, often violent clientele. It was during my time working there that I realized the benefit of the program on the community. The needle exchange in Victoria was closed a couple years ago, with promises of opening a better one in the near future. Now granted, the old location had turned into a pretty nasty place... but this was because of almost zero funding and lack of knowledge on how to run such a facility. The safe injection site in Vancouver's Eastside, InSite, is truly amazing! The programs they run, and advances they've made, have had an incredible impact on the Downtown Eastside, a pretty famous neighborhood for the injection drug use and prostitution in the area.

I don't know how you feel about these facilities, and I'm not even 100% sure myself. I do feel that the pros outweigh the cons... but there are still many cons.

Recently I had to write a paper on safe injection sites for my Composition class, and I was assigned the Pro point of view. I've posted it below because I think it's a fairly good argument, however I was trying to win a debate and I don't feel as strongly about the topic as the paper makes it seem. So don't hate me! haha! But PLEASE let me know what you think, and what you're stance is on this issue.

North America’s first safe injection facility, InSite, was opened in Vancouver in 2003, and was greeted by a storm of controversy. Those opposed to such sites argue forcefully that providing addicts with a place to use drugs is encouraging their behavior, and lessens the likelihood of recovery. Increasingly common diseases and infections, such as HIV/AIDS is another worry for those against these facilities. They assert that if intravenous drugs are a main cause of these health problems, then the government should not be providing users with the means to spread them. Still others fear the effect safe injection sites will have on the neighborhoods in which they are established, claiming there will be an increase in violence and crime in the area. Addicts driven by addiction will often go to extreme lengths to feed their habit. These are certainly valid concerns, however, safe injections sites have been proven to do far more good than harm. When considering the pros and cons of safe injections sites, the positive effects these facilities have on the community safety, disease risk, and recovery rate must be considered.

While those against safe injection spots hold that they are a risk to the community, these programs, in fact, do quite the opposite. In a survey of 1,082 injection drug users, 71% reported that because of safe injection sites, they were not shooting up outside, and 56% said they were no longer disposing of dirty needles unsafely (Winnipeg Free Press, 2006). We must look at the big picture. While it is true that the existence of such sites do attract users to one particular location, the negative effects on the community of an open drug scene are very much reduced. By providing a place for drug addicts to go, the rest of the area is made much safer. Addicts no longer hang out outside of local businesses, or leave their used needles in children’s playgrounds, a danger I am sure we would all like to see diminished. Also, with these junkies more localized in just one place, they are more easily monitored by health professionals who can provide help in emergencies, and by the police who are able prevent acts of violence. The provision of kits containing needles, etc, decreases the amount of crime in a given area, as users are not as likely to be forced to go to extreme lengths to get money for materials. Clearly, the result of having safe places to use drugs is having a positive effect on communities.

Along with worrying about the danger to the community, those opposed to government funded injection sites fear the spread of disease, however the reverse is true. Often lacking in money and driven by desperation, junkies will re-use needles or perform sex acts for drug money, but a safe environment providing clean equipment helps to prevent these blood borne diseases from spreading. HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, the diseases of most notable concern, are both transmitted through body fluids. Therefore using a needle previously used by an infected person can be deadly, as his or her blood is coming in contact with the blood of someone who is uninfected. The job of safe injection programs is to provide new needles to drug users in an attempt to prevent the spread of these sicknesses is such a manner. They also educate their clients about how diseases, such as AIDS, are spread and what they can do to prevent contracting them. Pamphlets and educational videos are available, teaching how vaginal, oral, and anal sex are all possible mediums for infection, and condoms are available for those who need them. Dr. Evan Wood, one of the chief people involved in the study mentioned above, said, “HIV rates have also come down in the drug-riddled Downtown Eastside [of Vancouver] since InSite opened. That means health-care costs have been reduced because it costs taxpayers $250,000 to treat each person infected with the virus” (Winnipeg Free Press, 2006). Drug addicts who are educated and properly equipped are much less likely to contract an infectious disease than their peers who are without such a refuge.

There are those who think providing a safe place to for addicts to use drugs is like giving them permission to continue their addiction; however the availability of health care and support in these facilities increases the probability for recovery. The study conducted by Dr. Evan Wood found that out of the 1,082 addicts surveyed, 75% claimed the safe injection facility had positively changed their injecting behavior (Winnipeg Free Press, 2006). Instead of being out on the street alone and without resources, intravenous drug users find help and support in government safe injection programs. To some, it is a beacon of hope in a desperate time. Centers for safe drug injections do not merely hand out needles, but also provide services such as free health care, counseling, and group therapy for those looking for a way out of their addiction. There is also residential treatment available, where those in recovery find safe and protected living arrangements that are substance-free. This treatment is intensive (about 28-50 days long) and is aimed at reintegrating former addicts into society. While it may be true that drug addicts find using drugs easier with a safe injection site, it is impossible for them to go there and no be offered support and help to get better. When they decided it’s time to step away from their addiction, instead of feeling hopeless and trapped, they know where to go and are provided with the means to achieve their goals. These programs will even help to find recovered addicts homes and jobs when they are ready. The encouragement and provision of these safe injection centers empowers an otherwise hopeless group of people, looked down upon by the rest of society, and gives them the ability to defeat their demons.

It seems clear that safe injection sites are affecting drug users and the communities in which they live for the better. The facilities attract addicts from the surrounding area and keep them in a more centralized location where monitoring their behavior is easier. Here they are also less likely to put others in dangerous situations by leaving their used needles in public areas or lashing out violently at passerbys when under the influence. The assistance these sites provide reduces the spread of disease by teaching practices that reduce risk of infection, as well as medical support in the event of an overdose or other emergency. In addition, the services available to addicts looking to recover are free, easily accessible, and proven to work. Due to a constant lack of funding, such centers are at risk of shutting down. In such an event, “there will be a backlash in Vancouver when we go back to the same patterns of needles in store fronts and people injecting in public in the tourist areas of Gastown that British Columbia will probably not tolerate it for that long” (Winnipeg Free Press, 2006). This is because safe injection sites have become such a necessary part of public health, providing an essential service to intravenous drug addicts, who are otherwise in a hopeless situation.

Sleep deprivation - one of the many joys of college

Due to the ridiculous amount of homework I had due today, I worked from the time I work up yesterday morning, until the time I went to bed... at 5:00 am this morning. Then I got up again at 7:00. I'm not kidding, and I'm exhausted. Except tomorrow I have to do a 30 minute presentation that I'm only half done, and the next day I have a term paper worth 50% of my final mark that's due, and I have only written 4 of the 8 pages I need. This is not to mention my Biology quiz today, Wednesday, and Friday.

Oh, the joys of a college education. This was NOT in the brochure!

I'm so burnt out, I'm ready for Christmas break :(

The therapy of friendship

I have found recently that when one's spirits are low, nothing works to raise them quite so well as the company of friends. At least for a while, anyways.

And I was thinking about the beneficial effect of friendships in relation to my nursing practice. I remember our teacher telling us what she had witnessed: With some patients in a coma, a family member or friend entering the room would have a noticeable effect on their vital signs... even though they were in a nearly vegetative state.

Yet, often in the hospital a nurse or technician will enter a patient's room and ask family members/friends to leave during their assessment... or relatives are forbidden from being in the room during an emergency like a cardiac arrest, etc.

Now, obviously this is due to the fact that someone unused to hospital protocol/situations may just get in the way, or panic, and thus do more damage than good.

However, I'm still convinced there are certain benefits to having a loved one present. It is calming and comforting for someone who is afraid in an unknown situation, to have someone they know and trust there to hold their hand.

I wonder what kind if effect it would have on the mortality rate of major surgeries if a loved one was there the whole time, murmuring sweet words in the ear of their friend. Hm.

Or the recovery rate of those overcoming a grave illness, if their family members were allowed to spend the night with them, cuddled up beside them on the bed.

Just thoughts, they probably require a lot more examination before i make up my mind completely. I did want to share though.

Are Canadians too polite?

Today I was taking a very busy bus to church, and a young man tripped over my foot and almost fell over. He regained his balance, and exclaimed, "I'm so sorry!" to me.

Why was he sorry? It was my foot that tripped him, there's nothing he could do about it!

I'd also like to say Grüße to my German readers! Thank you for taking an interest in me and reading my blog, it's such an honour!!

Blessings,

Brit

You know you're a great teacher when...

Two days ago, on Friday, my whole Biology class took our teacher out for lunch.

There was about 20 of us and after our lab was over at 11:30, we all hopped in each other's cars and drove down to 5th Street Bar and Grill where we spent most of the afternoon, talking and laughing. It was really lovely.

The occasion for all this? Our Biology teacher, Bill, announced last week that his cancer has returned and that he would be going into chemotherapy next week, and thus would no longer be teaching our class. When I heard this news, I was absolutely shattered, as were my classmates.

Bill has been incredible to us this semester, he is one of the most amazing teacher's I've ever had:

First of all, he us utterly brilliant.... he has a PhD in molecular biology and has written several books, he was also part of the team that discovered how a sperm propels itself. He has taught at various prestigious universities, but soon made more money than he could possibly want and retired. He and his wife moved to Victoria, and she got a job as the Head of the Nursing Department at Camosun. It wasn't long before Camosun was short staffed and asked Bill to teach a Biology class. He was growing bored at this point and accepted.

Second, building off the first point, he loves his job. He's not there out of necessity or with research as his main goal. He's there because he loves to teach and he loves the subject. When we met him on the first day of class, we all thought he was a bit crazy because of how passionate he became while talking about the internal structure of a cell (organelles, etc). But over time we grew increasingly fond of this quirky, lovable old man. His teaching style is unique and very effective, I've learnt an incredible amount from him. He's also not an evolutionist, but reminds us often that evolution is only a theory and there are other options to consider. Finally, he teaches us more than the subject matter... he'll usually spend the first half hour of class showing us new research on this or that natural remedy and what it will do. He believes in holistic and natural health, and prevention as opposed to treatment. All this I really appreciate about him.

With heavy hearts all week, knowing Bill was sick and was leaving us, we planned a farewell lunch at 5th Street, and passed around a giant card in which everyone wrote words of encouragement and love and appreciation.

Knowing all this, it's understandable that the news Bill would be with us until the end of the semester because he couldn't get into treatment was met with mixed feelings of joy and concern. He told us Friday. Joy because now we could continue to see him and learn from him daily... concern because we want him in chemo as soon as possible so he can beat this thing!

Regardless, we took him out to lunch anyways and gave him the card and a small gift. He hugged us all and talked excitedly about the material we'd be covering in the next few weeks. He seemed happy to be staying.

Afterwards, back at home, I thought about how it would feel to be a teacher in his position, and have your class take you out to say goodbye. You'd know you were doing something right... and he certainly is.

Something to cheer you up

In the free time I have (sparse though it may be) I've been enjoying following a group called 'Improv Everywhere', which is just a bunch of people that carry out spontaneous public improvisation skits, gags, etc. Mike introduced me. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do, here I'll share some of my favorites: