May 2nd - Fluid Therapy

At the end of this course I will have learned a number of things. IV cannulation, chest decompression, needle cric, thrombolytic therapy.

And the ability not to drown.

Because up until now I've considered the concept of being underwater absolutely horrific. Underwater is where dead people are found. Dead, blue, bloated people.

Me? I'll stay pink and fat and dry. Thanks.

But the fact is that I WANT to be able to swim properly, I hate swimming "Like your granny" as someone once put it, my head and face arching out of the water. It's knackering and inefficient and makes going to the pool a bloody chore.

So this week, I decided I was going to conquer it.

Thanks to Stingray and Sensei who've taught me to breathe out through my nose when I submerge, who've shown me how long I CAN stay down there for and have taught me ways to build my confidence without sitting on the bottom of the pool watching the second hand tick by on my watch.

Everything culminated on Thursday night when Midge and Stingray showed me how to hang my feet on the side of the pool and hang upside down in the water. Pinching my nose tight to ensure I didn't irrigate my sinuses with chlorine, I sunk down slowly under the surface and stared around at this alien, wavy, underwater world.

I was fine. Not panicking, quite chilled in fact and highly entertained by how easy everything was.

And that's when I laughed.

See if you're trying not to drown?

Don't laugh underwater.

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Those of you who read my Twitter posts will know that my practical exam results came through and were just fine and dandy, thanks awfully.

So that's nice, too. :)

I have no angst for you, guys. Move right on along.