Putting the Pieces Together

Today was very exciting for our students. The morning started out with jigsaw puzzles, without seeing what each puzzle would look like when it was completed. As Mrs. Gayle Buie pointed out, the puzzle illustrated the challenges of putting the pieces of the problem together in difficult situations when you don’t have a complete picture.

The students also learned how to take temperatures, read both digital and glass thermometers, and then sterilize their thermometers after use.

Dr. and Mrs. Buie also taught how to take, read, and record proper blood pressure today. We were all amazed as to how fast the students learned their material, especially since only a couple of them had ever taken a proper temperature or blood pressure before. Contrary to the American norm, it was brought to our attention that none of the twenty-one students, nor their families, owned a thermometer. Courtesy of a generous donor, each student received their very own thermometer, blood pressure cuff, and stethoscope today.

Later in the day, the eyes, nose, throat, and their corresponding senses were discussed with the students. Simple tests such as banging bowls and spoons together in different corners of the room demonstrated that for the senses to work at 100% capability, they must work together. They also learned how to take pulse and respiratory rates today. Today’s subjects were all out of the chapter “How to Examine a Sick Person”. All of the students learned how to ask the rights questions and identify the signs and symptoms of their patients.
Rick and Lindsey