Reflections, and problematic things

Discussion and reflection on giving aid at an accident. It didn't seem like a big deal to me. In part it is (as Pygment pointed out) not my first rodeo. I've not been at many serious incidents, thank G-d, but I've aided people in shock (keep them warm, remove constricting items like watch with elastic band), a person having a grand mal seizure (keep them propped on their side in case of vomiting, remove any hard objects from the immediate vicinity), a person with migraine so painful they needed ambulance transport (keep the lights off, keep people quiet, don't touch them more than needed to help them onto the stretcher, ride with them in the ambulance so they have a familiar contact).

In a way this sort of thing plays to my strengths. I have enough knowledge (First Aid, Advanced First Aid) to know the basics (blood, breathing, brains, bones) as well as knowing my limits. Mostly what I want to do is make sure nothing gets worse until the professionals can take over. I also do much better when I'm in a 1:1 interaction than in general. Anyone who's watched me at a party versus having a dinner out with me can tell you about that. I still remember a past gf exclaiming how different I was in person versus in a group. So when there's a person in need I can focus pretty well on helping them, particularly when they're right in front of me.

I also don't tend to freak out in media res. I will freak out beforehand - I get terrible stage fright 24 hours before a show, but when it's time to go on I'm over it. I am used to pushing through, and Just Dealing.

This all reminded me of a line about keeping one's head. I've been known to like problematic things, among them Kipling. Those who know the source of my journal's tag line are likely unsurprised. It's been a while since I read this poem by him, but it's a favorite.

Titled simply "If..."
( poem )