First Aid...Honduran Style

So I thought it was a good idea for the Grade 11s to learn some First Aid as part of their Health Curriculum before they graduate. I was really excited about this idea because I like to empower people - to be involved in equipping them to feel ready and capable - if and when things happen. So we planned the session for this past Saturday - and at the great hour of 8:00am we met at the school for a day of learning - entirely in Spanish.

(picture is of Mario, Ana Eunice, and Samuel - wrapped in bandage)

We had three volunteers from the Honduran Red Cross come in and teach the course. I use the word teach loosely because it was definately a different experience than I had when I took First Aid. (And yes, I do remember that this is Honduras and I took my in Canada.) I was prepped ahead of time that this was going to be taught the Honduran way. Now none of what I am going to write is meant as critical - it is solely observational (with perhaps some commentary). I am simply trying to explain to you how this country works. So when I use the word teach I mean - it was read straight off the page to the students while they all followed along in the book.

(Juan getting his elbow bandaged by a fully functioning Ricardo)

The learned how to bandage - and then practiced on each other. I have to say it was interesting that while the group practiced the three volunteers sat in the corner - BUT the students did learn. And it was wonderful to see that they were excited about what they were learning and were eager to practice it.

They learned what to do when someone gets burn, bite, stung - when someone has a nosebleed, faints, or hemorrhages.

Oh we also learned the different techniques for carrying injured persons - that was quite fun.

I was in a group - and my Honduran boss was the victim. And for the life of us- I could not lift her off the ground. She is NOT a large person by anymeans - but we simply could not lift her. When we finally got her up - we could only walk for ten feet before we had to stop and switch for someone else. She has a great sense of humour and just laughed at us and herself.

(Melody being carried by Jarman, Arlyn, and Fabiolia)

Looking back I would say that it is exciting that people are getting information about how they can help and have control over situations in which most people feel at a loss for what to do. But I found that most of the information was kind of thrown at them in a haphazard way. 'Here is what you do if...., here is what you do if...." and so on. And you do need to know this - but part of learning information is knowing how to store it - when it is applicable and when it is not. This is also consistant with what I have seen in the classroom: information tends to get memorized and regurgitated. It is not thought about, analyzed, processed, chewed on, - and then stored. And people are struggling to figure out when it applies and where it applies. So I ended up explaining the ABC concept (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) and WHY it is in that order ('Cuz if someone's airway is blocked they definately ain't breathing and so who cares about their circulation) and in class the following Tuesday I walked them through the steps you need to think about when you walk into a situation.

(students attending their victim in the "Situation" part of the course)

All in all - when I asked them if they had fun they said that they did - and that they think I should do this for every Grade 11 class. Great! That makes me happy. They feel as though they learned something and can make a difference. And I got to play a small part in that. If that isn't satisfaction from teaching - I don't know what is!

\manda