SniperAngel

Day Three.

We had a written examination in First Aid. Not bluffing but I really wasn’t able to review because Oprah was there. And considering I have to wake up 4:45am everyday is very stressful for me so I wasn’t able to even scan my notes for a moment. It would be embarassing if I’ll fail the exam because I’m nurse and majority are caregivers so knowledge wise, I should have an edge.

And that edge paid off. I got the highest score in the set.

Day Five.

What the hell are these dummies up to? they have a built-in clicker to check the effectiveness of the chest compressions. When my class number was called, I performed the standard procedures and by the time I was about to give compressions, it won’t click. Sweatdrops slowly flush down from my forehead down to my cheek and lands to the dummy’s chest. And then I found out I need to lower my pressure point a bit. I got an average rating.

Hell Day.

Graduation Day is up. We had the test in Basic Life Support and this time I was able to review. The results weren’t released but my instructor said I got a good grade.

After lunch time, there will be a Mass Casualty Incident Simulation. There will be a realistic simulation of injured persons around the vicinity. The highest position for the simulation is the Incident Commander. He will manage 80% of the simulation, from Rescuer Directives to Logistics.

Wearing a shabby farmer suit I wasn’t even expecting that my name will be filling the nominees.But unfortunately, James was there. And I won by accumulating more than 60% of the votes.

Looking at the title alone gives me this panicky feeling. This will be a huge responsibility. And yeah in my current physique lots of trainees underestimated my ability as a leader. As the BGM started, I leaped towards the exit of the headquarters, little did I know this is like an Amazing Race with clues. And I wasn’t expecting that the NHQ Personnel Mam Cynthia will throw me a question. I lost my focus but still manage to answer her.

You know that feeling everyone’s yelling at you, some are crying for help as blood spurts from their abdomen. Resident Evil, I know. But this will leave you out of control, and based on my experience I tend to lose that control for quite sometime.

Simulation ended. “Good job everyone! You passed the simulation.” Oh thank God. As I sit near the fence I started not to feel any part of my body, and I started shaking constantly. I was very very very exhausted. Running around the vicinity, yelling for rescuers, warding off outsiders and such. Plus the pressure that if you fail, the batch fails.

One of my instructors told me it is normal to be lost sometimes in the actual field because you’ll face countless dilemmas and mixed emotions especially if someone in danger is a relative or an acquaintance. But she told me I should be strong.

Awarding Ceremony.

As the Certificate of Attendance we’re piled, the Red Cross recognizes excellent trainees and effective rescuers with the Clover Merit. It is a cute bi-metal pin. An instructor told us that there will be nine to receive such merit for this season. I’m not expecting it will be me because I am panicky and easily distracted.

As names are called suddenly out of the silence wandering in my mind, “Our Incident Commander, James Aquino!” My classmates are cheering for me. Oh wow I got a clover? It is a very exciting and fulfilling experience. Despite the panic and exhaustion, it was all worth it.