I Need a Medic!!

My boys are involved in a boyscout type of group, and today was my day to teach. I chose first aid, so we could earn that badge before we tackled hiking, camping POCKET KNIFE, or any of those other important badges that require you to know first aid, in case of an emergency.

I have to say the moms and dads that volunteer to help are so wonderful! And today I was so grateful for them! We started off great. I told them all about the Good Samaritan story Jesus told in the bible. I wanted them to understand how important helping each other is. I had them sit on the grass (making sure there were no ants first, this IS FL) in the sun to keep warm, since it was chilly today. Thinking I was being so thoughtful by doing this, I started to read. They all started to grumble about being hot. I continue to read, being moved myself by this Samaritan's generosity, when one of our boys gets bored and starts to "mow" the grass with his hands, flinging dry grass bits into all the other boy's eyes. Now, as many of you know, I have children with challenges, and I know first hand that boys can get distracted and become motivated to do such things, when pressed to sit too long. So I begin to read like the micro machine man (if you were old enough during the eighties, then you know this man) and continue to add in "OK, now we're going to have to use first aid right here if you don't quit throwing the grass around" and "sit still, we're going to have smashed fingers if you step on someone"

Finally after what felt like (I guess) to the boys, reading the entire New Testament, we head over to the tables to stencil a cross onto our first aid bags. Now mind you, I spent allot time prepping for this craft, (of course if you know me, then you know all the prep took place less than 24 hours prior, but it happened none the less) and I had all the stencils clipped to the bags ahead of time to save these boys from having to figure it out. By the time I finished handing out the bags, the first few boys were already trying to play with the clothes pins and clip them to their lips and each other! Time to get out the bright red ACRYLIC paint...

Most of the boys did really well! I was very proud of them, and the neatness was VERY unexpected! On to the first aid session. My wonderful parent helpers took the painted bags and moved them so they could dry. And we head over to the next station. I start to explain about bandaging and tourniquets, and one of the nursery moms come around the corner with my precious baby covered in slobber and sobbing. Ahhh separation anxiety. Gotta love it! Bless the mom's heart, she felt so terrible for my little bundle of slobbery sweetness. So what choice did I have, but to take her. But there was no one else to teach the class, so I continue, while holding my now, happy, drooly baby. (I wanted to use the strip of fabric to wipe her little face, and I would have too, had it not been attached to a little boy's arm! It is at this moment, that one of our little guys falls mouth first into the picnic table, and blood is oozing out of his lip and chin! (OK, truce! I honestly really don't know much about first aid, so I was like, "OK, we really can't put a band aid on that, so I guess we better get some ice and get his mom") It is also at this time, that I look over and all the paint covered First Aid bags are blowing off the tables on to the mulch covered ground.

I continue to show them how to wrap a limb and explain why it's important(you know, slow the blood flow and elevate the limb), and then let them all have a go at it. I really don't know what I was expecting, but I turn around and out of all these little boys, about 75% of them are trying to A-either wrap them around their partner's head, like a mummy, or B-wrap them around their own necks! My own son says, "hey mom, I'm stopping the blood flow!" as he has this thing twisted around his neck. (I am still holding the baby, by the way)

I direct them back to the field, to get some of this energy out, by doing a relay race. They were to wrap their team mate's arm and then bring them back (like the good Samaritan helped the poor guy on the road), and so on, until they finished. Thinking they all have this understood, I yell on your mark....etc.

I look over, I have team #1 ALL running to the other side, and team #2 trying to follow directions, or at least what they believed were the right directions. And the dad helping us is laughing along with myself and another mom. He says, "I don't think I even understand" It is at this moment that I realize my directions weren't clear, and didn't make any sense! Not even a little. I dismiss the boys to have free play, and it's immediately Lord of the Flies up in there! Arguing who's smarter and stronger. So "Back over the field!" I say. We play duck duck goose (big boy style, "super fast!" I say It was great, until my own son goes crashing into the ground face first. So Major headache for the rest of the day! "OK pudding for everyone!" I yell, and the screaming mob of minimen race back to the picnic tables. It is the best thing I could have done, to bring peace among the savages. (If any of you reading this, are a parent of one of these precious boys, I do apologize, please do not take offense! I truly love each one of these dear sweet children, but two of them ARE mine, and I know first hand how wild and um "energetic" boys can get!)

After ALL of this, it was so lovely to see these young men settle down, and begin to make cards and pack Christmas boxes for children in Haiti. I saw the care they put into each box, and I was proud.

As for me teaching, I'm not sure how much these little ones actually absorbed today, or how much I even got out there for them to grasp. Our first aid class was full of scrapes, bumps and even cuts, and not once did we get to dress the wounds or ice the bruises, but my prayer is the scripture we read will find a place in their hearts, and they will put into action the spirit of generosity.

After today, I don't think I will attempt the Pocket Knife badge!