Squaretable Seminars

You were trained in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation:
A horde of kids jumped off the bus and jostled for attention,
First you assess the situation; look around and make sure
excited to have a weekend away from their parents’ control.
there is no immediate danger for the victim or for yourself.
You split them into groups by age and sex, put a check

Then approach the victim and tap their shoulder to check
next to their names on a clipboard. A few needed resuscitation
for consciousness. Have someone call 911 and situate yourself
from the long bus ride, a little sugar to keep their attention.
next to the victim. Tilt the head back, being careful to control
There was a big difference in ages, but you weren’t too sure

the movement, and look, listen, and feel to be sure
who’d been through more. They looked around to check
of any breathing or a pulse. Seal your mouths and control
which group their friends were in. A quick resuscitation
two breaths into their lungs. You need to pay attention
of order pulled them into various activities. You patted yourself

to whether they go in. If there is no pulse, calm yourself
on the back for your keen organizational skills, sure
and proceed to chest compressions. Focus your attention
the week would be a breeze. You glanced at each check
on your hands, locked on their chest. This resuscitation
on their med sheets and found out that your ability to control

effort depends on thirty compressions you control
these kids would make or break their week. You kept to yourself
1 ½ - 2 inches downward. You cycle the resuscitation
the details of who came from a family of abuse, sure
with two breaths (but with the new rules you don’t check
everyone already knew, but you wanted to prevent the wrong attention

for a pulse every 2 minutes anymore). Your attention
for those with depression or parents with drug or alcohol control
stays on the cycle until help arrives, EMS check
issues. The bullying, threats, and fights you would deal with yourself,
in and take over, or you can’t continue. Make sure
unless someone wrote a suicide note this year. The resuscitation

your attention is on the status of the victim and yourself.
of childhood under control was the goal for the week, for sure.

But what box do you check when they don’t respond to resuscitation?


© Hannah Walleser