Wednesday night welcome

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Facilitator: Charis
Time: 25 mins; 1800-1825
Actual time:
Learning Objectives:
Materials: Butcher sheets for Hopes/Fears covered in student sticky notes, Goals & Caveats, Ground Rules, Agenda, Trainer Info, Acronyms & Definitions, Strongly Agree/Disagree, 2 Readers

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Introduction

Logistics

Facilitator invites students

to fill out hopes/fears index cards and drop in box.

Facilitator orients students

to the training facilities: Bathrooms, water/coffee/snacks, parking, breaks/smoking, lunch plans.

Security

Facilitator asks

Is anyone in the room affiliated with from media, law enforcement, or state surveillance/enforcement?

Facilitator says

No one with these affiliations is permitted in this training at any time, or allowed to surveil, inform, or report on this training.¹ Street medics and community first-aiders have been subject to surveillance and targeting for as long as we've been around. We've also won awards from federal and state agencies for our work. We oppose all surveillance, undercover reporting, and other shady dealings that undermine trust.

Facilitator says

During this training, if anyone brags about "underground" actions, acts like she has inside information on illegal actions, or encourages you to join her in carrying out illegal actions, please tell a trainer. The person probably just has a fragile ego that needs to be braced with machismo, but might be fishing for somebody to entrap.

Hopes & Fears

Facilitator invites

two volunteers to read.²

Student volunteers

One reads Hopes, one reads Fears.

Intros

Students and trainers

go-round, each sharing name, preferred pronoun, where from, and 10 words about why you're here.

Facilitator

notes what perspectives do not appear to be in the room: racial, economic, gender, age, politics, etc (but beware of assumptions).

About this community first aid training

Facilitator

reads Goals, Caveats, and Ground rules out loud or invites one or two volunteers to read this stuff out loud.³

Goals

• Train excellent community first aiders to have a solid base of knowledge & skills, know their strengths & limits, and know when & how to get help.

• Model street medic values -- fight the power & do no harm, anti-authoritarian & anti-oppressive health care.

• Strengthen community self-determination and inspire you to start local first aid groups.

• Get feedback on this training model (balance between lecture and hands-on practice; strengths and weaknesses of specific trainers).

• Have fun!

Caveats

• We try to balance teaching worst-case scenarios with teaching common problems.

• We don't train you for every situation you'll encounter -- we try to prepare you to think on your feet so you can act responsibly in any situation.

• Real learning happens in real emergencies with the support of a more experienced buddy. This training is just a foundation. If you don't use what you learn, you'll lose it.

Ground rules

Take care of yourself

• This training involves simulated injuries, simulated police brutality, and frank discussions of burn-out, post-traumatic stress, and sexual violence. Know your strengths and limits. Step back or reach out when you need to. Tell others when you don't want them doing something that involves you.

• Lots of hands-on: do only what you are able and willing to do. Let us know what to change so you can participate fully.

• Lots of lecture: let us know if you can't hear or can't concentrate.

• When you feel like you need something, chances are others need it too. This goes for this training (more explanation, more practice) and in the streets (water, sunscreen, rest).

Take care of each other

• Be accountable for your words and actions.

• Respect each other: everyone here has useful knowledge and experience.

• Get clear consent every time you touch someone.

• Be sensitive to messages you get from others and watch for nonverbal cues. Not everyone says "Don't do that" out loud.

• Be aware of your assumptions about other students' gender, race, socioeconomic situation, etc. Respect peoples' gender self-identification by using their chosen pronouns. If you don't remember, ask.

• Pay attention to how much space you take up. Is your voice overbearing, unheard, or well-balanced with the voices of others?

• Maintain confidentiality in this room and in the streets. Tell the world who trained you and what you learned, but don't share other students' personal info outside this room.

Take care of your trainers

• Trust us if it feels like we ask you to practice things you don't know well. By the end of the weekend, you'll be amazed what you can do.

• Help each other out, ask questions -- be engaged and active!

• Tell us if you think we're wrong about something, or if you think we made a mistake (we can screw up and learn like anybody else).

• Don't be late! If we don't start on time, you will miss material or breaks. When we can't answer your question, or you don't get to ask it, write it up down the "What If?" sheet and ask about it during a break.⁴

Take care of patients

• Patient care is an enormous honor and an enormous responsibility.

• Do no harm -- work within your limits and ask for help when you need it.

• Be willing to make mistakes now and help each other learn. Experiment on us, not your real patients.

Agenda and trainers

Facilitator

• Reviews training agenda for the weekend (posted on wall).

• Points out trainer contact info (posted on wall).

Opening preparedness line

Facilitator

⁵

• "I have done first aid."

• "People come to me with their needs."

• "I have a sense for danger: I know when a situation is getting too dangerous for me, and am prepared to get out."

• "I have helped someone else get out of a dangerous situation."

• "I have strategies for dealing with my fear so I can find safety."

• "I have enough understanding, supportive relationships in my life."

Facilitator says

First aid, people's needs, unsafe scenes, fear, and support: these are some of the things we will be practicing this evening.