La Cruz Roja

Hey everyone! A work team is here from Princeville, IL and I spent yesterday with the group, working as a medical translator. (Way out of my comfort zone!) We went to a school in the morning and brushed teeth and then in the afternoon, some of the workers from the Cruz Roja came over for medical training. The Cruz Roja is run by volunteers and is Mexico's ambulance service. Most of the volunteers and young and barely trained. We did basic CPR and trauma training. (Actually, all the CVE workers were trained in CPR also and how to use a defibulator. So, if you should need revived, I may be able to help you, but probably call your local hospital instead of waiting for me to get there. Plus, I don't really ever want to have to shock someone's heart back into beating!) Anyhow, during the afternoon translating/training session, I think my brain was fried. At one point, I was supposed to translate, "And then when the blood coagulates..." Yeah right.;) I can't even spell or say it in English

Today we had a mock disaster in which we practiced what we would do in an emergency and the Cruz Roja came to practice what they would do in an emergency. The two "victims" pretended they fell off a roof. They were both Americans and needed someone to translate. The ambulance made it in six minutes, with sirens blaring. The kids all watched as the Cruz Roja workers treated the situation as an actual accident and loaded up the victims and drove away. It was interesting to be a part of a mock disaster, and hopefully it is something we will never have to do for real.

Please pray specifically that my Spanish would increase by leaps and bounds by the day. Actually, please pray that for the whole team here. Thanks so much!