Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:14:07 -0800
Reply-To: dkidwell <dkidwell**At_Symbol_Here**PRODIGY.NET>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: dkidwell <dkidwell**At_Symbol_Here**PRODIGY.NET>
Subject: Re: Lab Coats for Chemistry Dept.?
Comments: To: DPMCDONALD**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM
In-Reply-To: <9f.5450d3a5.2ef0e270**At_Symbol_Here**aol.com>
Agreed! - On the other side of the coin, I still remember the company holiday party  when an elderly lady (wife of an honored retiree) who, just as she was  arriving, tripped on the edge of the dance floor (laid on top of the carpeted floor, but without enough beveled edges).  She sprawled flat across the dance floor and knocked herself out. The HR manager was right next to her when it happened.

He told me, after, how he had immediately remembered what we had repetitively practiced with the Red Cross trainers (all feeling just a bit silly...)

Hand on victim's (Annie's) shoulder... prod gently. "Are you all right?! Are you all right?!" ... turn to others... "No response! Call 911!".... Check ABCs.

He told me how he had gone right into automatic and his body and voice seemed to remember the pattern before his mind did. [The EMTs came, transported. She was bruised, but otherwise ok]

Dianne Kidwell

DPMCDONALD**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM wrote:
Rob--

Excellent response! It mirrors my experience so completely. More than once
I have seen someone freeze, or do something incredibly stupid when faced with
a serious emergency. Repetitive training is often resented, but good quality
(and, yes, repetitive) training remains the most effective method of training
an individual for the emergency that will occur. I have been in R&D
management for twenty years and taught for eleven. Starting with freshmen (Yes! You
have to wear the goggles all the time!) to the senior researchers (What are the
emergency plans for this reaction?), we incorporate safety and hygiene
planning into everything we do.

Dan

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