Test Your Awareness: Do The Test

No, this isn't some screamer or prank, just try the test.

10 things only a douchebag would buy.

No, really...10 things only a douchebag would buy.

Public reations to a bunch of 7 year olds...

Today I went and gave a speech to Mazzy's 1st grade class. It was kind of arranged by her, since she said that she wanted me to go talk to them. So I went with a jump kit and some extra stuff and went to talk. My instructor for my Intermediate class let me borrow his skeleton (named Johnny) and then I took extra gloves and bandages. Mazzy introduced me to the class, she did seem a little embarrassed at first but she warmed up to the kids after she told them what I did. So I started with talking about 9-1-1 and when they should call and what they need to know, address, name, etc. I talked a bit about bicycle safety and whatnot. Then I went on to my speech about the skeleton and talked about the lungs and heart and handed out stethoscopes and BP cuffs for the kids to play with. One girl volunteered to be the "victim" of a broken arm so I splinted her with a SAM splint. Another boy had a head injury and he got his head wrapped with a bunch of bandages. Then I opened the floor for questions for the kids. I was stumped by a few of them, those kids are clever:

"What is a bruise?"

"How do we grow?"

"How do we heal from cuts?"

"How do we grow?"

"How do we talk?"

"Where are my lungs?"

"Do you shock people like on TV?"

"What happens when you lose all of your blood?"

"What happens if a car runs over you?"

"What happens when you lose most of your blood?"

"Why does my nose bleed?"

"Did you take anyone in your ambulance today?"

"What are the blue lines in my wrist?"

Thankfully, no kids asked about penises or vaginas, which was surprising since 2 kids have OB/GYNs for parents.

Mazzy wanted to add a bit to the post, so here is her bit: "Today was special to me and Daddy. And it was awesome. It was very very cool. I learned how bruises happen."

It was an exciting little end to my day. It was a bit a rough start, we lost one of our fire department's lieutenants to cancer this morning. He was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago with liver cancer and finally succumbed today. It was a rough time not having him around, he was the lynch pin to our FD. I really only knew him from a professional standpoint, but these past few weeks have really taught me how much he touched those around our community. I'm adding a link to his blog on Caring Bridges. His wife hasn't updated it yet regarding his passing, and I will be adding a link to his obituary soon.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/timmurphy1

Hope things are going well for everyone else out there in blog land.

PS for flyingvan - my boss wasn't too keen on us taking the rig out to California for a road trip. Maybe I'll buy the old one when we get a new one and use it for an RV.