... and I don't know what I can do to help.
Let me explain a little. She had a little four wheeler accident and nearly broke her neck. She is in a neck brace and just got home from the hospital. She is a bit small and I'm afraid she'll get pushed around and such in our cruel middle school world. She said that she is getting to school after assembly and dismissal so she can miss most of the morning crowd, because if she gets pushed around, she could be paralyzed forever from the neck down. (By the way, C2 took the brunt of the damage.)
I really want to know how to help, even though she insisted that she didn't need any. Please please PLEASE give me suggestions to make her more comfortable for however long she is recovering!
2006-10-10 14:19:08 · 6 answers · asked by Leafy 6 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Oh, yes, and we are in a trailer school, not a conventional school. Our school got blasted away by Katrina. Any things that I might need to know should something spring up? Our nurse is a five minute walk or a two minute run away, and we walk in the sun and on pavement. Wooden ramps that are particularly slippery in the rain lead to our classrooms. Any other thoughts, given the school conditions?
Oh, and Orinoco? Good answer!
2006-10-10 14:32:07 · update #1
Firstly I think you need to respect her wishes that she doesn't want your help so don't try to physically get in there and help her unless it is REALLY obvious she is struggling. If you did and you got in her way and she tripped over you and broke her neck BADLY and got paralysed, I'm sure you couldn't live with that.
Secondly you can learn what there is to know about the first aid she might need. Essentially she if she was to fall and hurt her neck she would need someone to take charge and hold her head still - keep the chin straight and head in line with the shoulders so she is facing straight ahead compared with her body. And she would need other people to go and get an ambulance.
Hopefully her hard collar would be enough to do the job, but be aware of this. Learn mouth to mouth. If her cord goes at C2 level she will not be able to breath.
It is a big ask to give mouth to mouth these days. You have no idea what this complete stranger might be carrying. (I was called down to the Emergency Department a few months back to sort out a guy who was thrashing about confused with something obviously wrong with his brain so we wound up paralysing and intubating him - I was about 10-12 inches from his mouth as I intubated him and STILL I get a call next day saying to come and get a dose of antibiotics. It turned out he had meningococcal meningitis and was confused from that.)
Thirdly you can help indirectly by "shepherding" her - if you can see trouble brewing you can try to head it off. Very difficult stuff in the crowded fast paced environment of the school corridor. And if you do it too aggressively she may resent you becoming her "big sis" or "mom" in front of everyone.
Talk it over with her. I'm sure she will appreciate your concern.
2006-10-10 14:25:15 · answer #1 · answered by Orinoco 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
going earlier is a good idea, she should ask to be dissmissed 5 minutes before the end of each class to avoid all the people also. and she should hang out (at lunch or whenever) where there are not a lot of people pushing each other and all that. otherwise she should just stay home until she is recovered.
2006-10-10 21:27:48 · answer #2 · answered by fukuoka 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Walk with her in the halls and just make sure no one hits into her/ pushs her. Also she should be able to get a late pass to class or leave early from class pass from the nurse if she has a doctors note.
2006-10-10 21:22:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
When I was in HS a girl was in a car accident. Everybody was very nice and helpful to her, even the nasty kids. People won't bother people who are injured unless they're real lowlifes.
2006-10-10 21:22:54 · answer #4 · answered by littleblondemohawk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
talk to your friend or even the school nurse. Maybe she can convince her to take bettr care of yourself. if she agrees then you will b a hero! Good luck
2006-10-11 21:58:25 · answer #5 · answered by Mallieyia 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
KEEP HER AT HOME UNTILL HER RECOVERY ALLOWS HER THE REGULAR BUMPS THE WORLD HAS. AND CONSULT A NEUROLIGIST AND NECK?BACK SPECIALIST
2006-10-10 21:33:25 · answer #6 · answered by phillyboy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋