Saving lives

Yesterday was my department's exciting and innovative poster session. Students, faculty and alumni are invited to present a poster (or two or three in some cases) on their research. So I submitted one on my thesis topic as that is an all consuming factor in my life as of late (I am scheduled to defend at the end of April, let's just hope I can be done in time).

It was nearing the end of the session and I was hanging out by a friend's poster that was about using compression only CCR instead of compression and breathing CPR. The thought is that people would be more likely to help someone in need if they only had to do compressions, it is easier to keep straight and not nearly as gross as doing mouth to mouth on a potential vomiting stranger.

Anyway, there was a CCR dummy to test compressions on, and as I am talented in almost everything, I decided to show off my compression skills. Everyone was standing around looking at me in awe when suddenly my old Epidemiology professor popped his head around the back of the poster and exclaimed "What are you doing?!" I informed him that I was "saving this man!". He said: "You are doing it wrong! What about the rescue breathing!?".

Now this was a funny moment because he was also a judge of the poster session so should have looked at all of the posters. It was clear he had not examined this one because the whole point was to get rid of rescue breathing. He did admit to his error and everyone went on to be outraged that my poster didn't win the contest. It must have been because it was so good it wouldn't have been fair to include. I guess I can understand that.

I think overall it was a good day because I demonstrated a thing or two about how to save people made of plastic who only consist of a face and half torso that are in need of chest compressions.

Later that night we had our class improv show. It went incredibly well which was a suprise to me because now there are about 13 people in my class which is HUGE for having a show. But everyone got some quality time on stage and it was really very funny.

Also the Tarheels are in the final four (as I predicted--I have them winning the whole thing), and they play on Saturday!