The Daring Book for Girls - Andrea J. Buchanan [102]
Eventually the sides will begin to flatten and the inner pith will peek through.
Once the sides are flat the ring is close at hand. Just smooth the top and bottom, and rub the inside smooth with a stick.
If you don’t want to make the pit into a ring, you can plant it. Clean the pit and place it in a plastic bag in the back of the refrigerator. In late September, plant it five inches down in healthy soil. In Spring, if you are very lucky—and in the right temperate zone—the peach tree will grow, slowly. Water and fertilize, and in two or three years, the tree might bear fruit.
First Aid
FIRST AID is basic care in the event of illness, accident, or injury that can be performed by anyone until professional medical treatment is given. It was a concept first put into practice by the Knights Hospitaller, who came up with the term “first aid” and founded the Order of St. John in the 11th century to train knights in the treatment of common battlefield injuries. In a life of adventure, accidents are bound to happen, and a daring girl needs to know about first aid—even if she never plans to be injured in battle.
The information below is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Taking a first aid class will provide even more in-depth instruction. But there are definitely actions you can take to help in the event of injury, and below are some tips and techniques to keep in mind.
REMEMBER YOUR ABCs
When accidents happen, sometimes the first casualty is plain old common sense. It’s easy to panic and forget about what’s important, but these mnemonics can help you remember what to do. Mnemonic devices are formulas, usually in the form of rhymes, phrases, or acronyms, to help you remember things. Some of the most familiar mnemonics in first aid are: the three Ps and the three Bs; the ABCs and CPR; and RICE.
The Three Ps
(Preserve life; Prevent further injury; Promote recovery)
Remembering the Three Ps helps you keep in mind what your goal is in responding to an accident or injury: making sure the person stays alive, ensuring that nothing is done to further injure the person, and taking action to help the person get better.
The Three Bs
(Breathing; Bleeding; Bones)
The Three Bs remind a first-aid responder of what is most important to check when a person is injured, and the order of importance in treating: Is the person breathing? Is the person bleeding? Are there any broken bones?
ABCs
The ABCs stand for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation, and remembering this helps remind you to check that an injured person has a clear airway passage (isn’t choking), is able to breathe, and has a pulse. Open the airway by lifting the person’s chin with your fingers, gently titling their head back. Listen for breathing sounds, look for a rise and fall of the chest, and feel for breathing movement. Check for a pulse by placing two fingers on the person’s neck between the voicebox and the muscle on the side of the neck. If a person is not breathing and does not have a pulse, call 911 and begin CPR.
CPR
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a procedure performed on people whose heart or breathing has stopped. Once you have checked the ABCs, if a person is unresponsive, call 911. Begin CPR on an adult by pinching the person’s nose as you give two breaths into their mouth. Using two fingers, check the person’s pulse at the carotid artery (the neck, just under the jaw, between the voice box and the muscle on the side of the neck) for 5-10 seconds. If there is no pulse, make sure the person is on their back, then place your hands one on top of the other on the lower half of the chest. Press down to give 15 compressions, about one every second. Give two more breaths, pinching the nose and breathing directly into the person’s mouth. Continue 15 compressions with 2 breaths for 4 cycles. After one minute, recheck pulse and breathing. If the person has regained a pulse, discontinue compressions. If the person is still not breathing, continue giving a breath every 5 seconds until