In HS A-School we have the opportunity to partake in a long-standing medical practice of using hypodermic needles to help people manage their health. It dates back to the 1800 when the needle is believed to have officially invented. Although the basic design was experimented as early as the 1600’s. The only downside to this practice is that we have to have willing persons to volunteer their veins. Unfortunately, we are those willing volunteers. I have to admit that it has gotten easier. It still hurts when the needle goes in, but when done well it is tolerable.
Like most things I take this as an opportunity to see the bright side of the experience. What builds trust faster than allowing a shipmate to stick you with a needle, knowing they have never done it before? This is probably a trust exercise that no other A-School partakes in. I cannot deny a sense of appreciation … or something like that.
It has gone as well as it can. There have been some challenges and knowing the technique is not exactly being able to perform the technique. A short synopsis would be to take this needle, stick it through he skin, enter a vein and hold it still as you allow blood to flow through the needle in to your container or IV fluid to flow in, then remove it. Sounds easy?, be sure to miss arteries, nerves, tendons and muscles. I found myself apologizing to some shipmates for misses or unintended movement. Fortunately, the learning process goes both ways. Eventually we all learn.
Overall the week has been good. I saw Amy for a wonderful dinner in Oakland; the fog was amazing coming into the bay area, like a solid mass levitating above the bay and draping down to the ground. My friends Marc, Shannon and their beautiful children came up to visit. We had some wonderful sushi at a local restaurant and taught the children a little about racing at Scandia. I have fleet week to look forward to in October and the weeks are going by quickly. It is hard to believe that it has been five weeks since I started A-School. I have made some good friends and met some incredible people. This has been a great opportunity, and it only offers more in the weeks to come.
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