Fun with Needles

The Army can be a funny place sometimes. Exhibit A: this week we had mandatory Combat Lifesaver (CLS) re-certification. CLS is a 40 hour class that you can take that is kind of a middle ground between the medical skills you learn in basic training and then the full fledged medic course. To me, re-certification implies that you have the original certification and are just brushing up on your skills. Not so fast my friend. This is the Army where normal rules of common sense don't always apply. Everyone would take the re-cert.

SSG Johnson and I were somewhat perturbed as we were the only soldiers in the S1 that didn't have the original class. It really wouldn't be a big deal, but the capstone of the class involved giving (and getting) an IV. I for one didn't really want to jab a needle into one of buddies unless it was actually necessary. After much arguing and complaining, we resigned ourselves to our fate and went to the class with a heavy heart.

After a few hours of training on various topics like rescue breathing, tourniquets, and CPR, we were on to the IV. We got 5 minutes of training via an example stick and were released to do it on our own. SSG Johnson ordered me to go first. I actually wasn't all that nervous, partly due to the medic that was helping me out.

Prepping the site.

In goes the needle.

Success!!

One thumb up, one thumb down.

All in all, it went pretty well. I got the needle in on the first try without having to dig around. We then switched spots and it was my turn. SSG Johnson did a fine job, it was actually much better then most of the times I've been stuck to donate blood, party because we were probably more careful then a nurse that does it 100 times a day.

The posting on the blog may be a little sporadic here. The post computer nazis blocked our blogs again on the gov't network. This has happened twice before and they have relented in the face of much crying from the joes. However it has been almost a week now and no signs of them turning us back on. I am trying to turn on the post by email feature so that should help some.