Level 24.1 – First-Aid

Vocabulary: (paramedic, competitive, siblings, worryingly, administer, blood, Band-Aid, wound, ointment, coagulate, scrape, direct pressure, patient, scrub, firmly, antibiotic, ointment)

Title: First Aid

Larry and Lynn’s neighbor, Larz, had been a paramedic for 25 years. He often told his brothers and sisters exciting stories about his work helping sick and injured people. While Mom was talking to Larz one morning, Larry and Lynn started playing soccer on the lawn. “Remember, you’re the big brother,” Mom reminded Larry.

After letting Lynn score two goals, Larry’s competitive spirit kicked in. When the ball rolled toward the sidewalk, both siblings sprinted after it, with Larry trying to kick the ball one way, and Lynn kicking it the other way. The ball got wedged in between their feet and, in the struggle, Lynn fell backwards onto the sidewalk.

Lynn cried out, and Mom and Larz rushed over. “He knocked me over,” Lynn said, sniffling and showing them a severe scrape on her right elbow. It wasn’t my fault,” Larry said, picking up the ball while looking worryingly at Lynn’s elbow.

Larz helped Lynn stand up, saying, “I have an idea. Let’s have Larry administer the first aid to Lynn; I can show him how we do it in the field.” “Really?” Larry said, looking both nervous and interested. Lynn glared at her big brother. “No way! Don’t touch me!” “I think that’s a great idea!” Mom said. “Let’s go inside.”

In the kitchen, Lynn tugged on Mom’s hand and said, “Can’t you do it, Mom? I like the way you fix things.” “Larry will do a good job, I know it,” Mom said. “While I get the first – aid kit, both of you listen closely to Larz.”

Larz asked Lynn to sit on a tall kitchen stool. “I know it hurts, but I’m going to help Larry fix it. Okay?”

Holding her right elbow up, Lynn nodded slowly but she still did not like the idea of her brother trying to fix her elbow. “Larry, I know you’ve had lots of scrapes, so, what’s the first thing you should do when giving first aid?” Larz asked. Larry frowned. “Um, do I put a Band- Aid on the scrape?”

Larz shook his head. “The first step is to wash your hands well with soap and water; that scrape doesn’t need any more dirt!” At the kitchen sink, Larry squirted some soap on his hands. “Sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song two times while you scrub between every finger and under each fingernail,” Larz instructed.

While Larry was washing and singing, Mom set the supplies on the counter. Larry dried his hands and looked at Larz. “Step two,” Larz said. “Run cool water over the wound to clean the scrape.”

Larry turned on the faucet, looked at Lynn and said, “Hello little girl. I’m Doctor Fixit.” He patted Lynn on the head. “Let’s clean your wound.” Lynn scowled at her brother but stuck her elbow under the tap.

After Larry dried off Lynn’s arm, the scrape was still bleeding. “What now?” he asked Larz. “That’s step three,” Larz said. “Since the wound is still bleeding, you need to hold direct pressure over the scrape until the blood coagulates — that is, until the bleeding slows down.” He handed Larry a clean pad. “To stop the bleeding, gently, but firmly, press this pad down on the scrape.” Larry did as Larz suggested. “Is that okay, Lynn?” he asked, more seriously now.

Lynn pressed her lips together and nodded, avoiding looking at the scrape, since she did not like the sight of blood. Larry looked at Mom. “I’ve got this,” he told her. She gave him a thumbs-up. “I know you do.” “Do you want to know the secret to giving the very best first aid?” Larz whispered to Larry. Larry nodded. “Make the patient laugh,” Larz whispered. “You’re a funny guy, right?”

Larry looked at his sister and tried to think of something funny. “Hey, Lynn, do you remember when I was hiding under a blanket last week, and just as Mom walked into the room, I popped up, and Mom went ‘Aaah!’” Giggling, Lynn said, “Then, I jumped out from behind the TV, and Mom really screamed!” Everybody laughed as Mom mumbled, “I don’t remember it being that funny.”

“Excellent,” Larz said, looking at the scrape. “It looks like the bleeding has stopped, so, we’re ready for the final step. Here’s a Band-Aid with some antibiotic ointment on it.” Larry took the Band-Aid and gently put the white square with the ointment directly on Lynn’s scrape. Finally, he pressed down the sticky parts on either side of the scrape. Larz gave both Lynn and Larry a high-five. “That’s some first-rate first aid.”