Water Logging in Moray Firth
Aug. 5th, 2012 08:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_poppySince Healer Stint kindly indicated a desire to read what I'm learning at the seminars I'll be attending in these summer weeks, I'll steal a moment on this Sunday morning to tell you about my studies here on a research platform in the middle of Moray Firth.
This is a beautiful and fascinating outpost in our northern waters. Some of the teams here are studying weather; others, water; others still are studying the marine life in this bay; but I'm here with a group of Healers to learn what can be taught about treating water-related injuries. I only wish I'd had this course before our tournament last year when we asked our champions to brave the bitter waters and hostile creatures of our Hogwarts lake.
In the first week, we treated victims of savage creature attacks, saving a surprising number and easing the trauma of passing in the remaining cases. I refreshed skills that are easily transferable to treating other sorts of trauma than merely aquatic accidents. We've also, of course, been studying the effects of hypothermia and exposure to extreme conditions, collecting data that our instructors, Healer Soddenham and Master Healer Sturgeon, will use in a paper they are writing on the subject.
This week we will be turning our attention to the problem of identifying the line that separates treatable waterlogging from irremediable drowning.
In fact, we had a bit of an unplanned foretaste of that topic when one of the weather wizards washed off the platform in the midst of a hail storm Friday. (The weather has been one of the incidental challenges here--not unexpected, but not insignificant, by any means.) The poor man was beaten nearly to death against the structure before they could retrieve him, and he was severely waterlogged--so much so that we wondered if he could possibly be revived. He was fortunate to have two of the Protectorate's foremost experts at hand to treat him, and we, of course, were privileged to witness firsthand their skilled mediwizardry. I'm pleased to say the fellow is beyond danger now, though he's lost an eye and a forearm to the experience.
The weather report this morning was drear but not dire, so all is well.
This is a beautiful and fascinating outpost in our northern waters. Some of the teams here are studying weather; others, water; others still are studying the marine life in this bay; but I'm here with a group of Healers to learn what can be taught about treating water-related injuries. I only wish I'd had this course before our tournament last year when we asked our champions to brave the bitter waters and hostile creatures of our Hogwarts lake.
In the first week, we treated victims of savage creature attacks, saving a surprising number and easing the trauma of passing in the remaining cases. I refreshed skills that are easily transferable to treating other sorts of trauma than merely aquatic accidents. We've also, of course, been studying the effects of hypothermia and exposure to extreme conditions, collecting data that our instructors, Healer Soddenham and Master Healer Sturgeon, will use in a paper they are writing on the subject.
This week we will be turning our attention to the problem of identifying the line that separates treatable waterlogging from irremediable drowning.
In fact, we had a bit of an unplanned foretaste of that topic when one of the weather wizards washed off the platform in the midst of a hail storm Friday. (The weather has been one of the incidental challenges here--not unexpected, but not insignificant, by any means.) The poor man was beaten nearly to death against the structure before they could retrieve him, and he was severely waterlogged--so much so that we wondered if he could possibly be revived. He was fortunate to have two of the Protectorate's foremost experts at hand to treat him, and we, of course, were privileged to witness firsthand their skilled mediwizardry. I'm pleased to say the fellow is beyond danger now, though he's lost an eye and a forearm to the experience.
The weather report this morning was drear but not dire, so all is well.
Re: Private message to Poppy
Date: 2012-08-05 11:55 pm (UTC)The social pieces, well. I'm doing better with that sort of thing now I've begun to get a grasp of who's who, and gotten a bit better at ducking the more obnoxious personal questions (lately, 'My, you've kept his attention a long time" followed promptly by "But he still hasn't made any step in a more permanent direction now, has he?" There is nothing one can say to that that is at all useful.) But we were there until about two in the morning making the necessary pleasantries.
Leicester's going well enough, given Madame Umbridge sticking her nose into everything, and the instructors all having their own strong opinions about various matters. Our Miss Perks has had quite a few questions for me about that series of Muggle control exercises I think I mentioned to you, and I have been unable to be as reassuring as I wish I could be, but
manysome things are out of my hands there.They had a rather exhausting challenge this morning (I missed most of that, as I just couldn't get moving fast enough after last night), a lengthy session this afternoon about preparedness (which did have quite a few useful pieces), and they actually have the evening off.
But pardon - you mention Strangeweale. Is that Marston, or his father? I've got a meeting with the oversight board tomorrow (Marston Strangeweale, Latimer Caldwell,, and Bagnold Whitacre. I'm not looking forward to it in the slightest, but we need to talk about Darius Warrington, and a few other matters.)
I do hope your next round is at least less potentially risky, even if it still sounds miserably damp. The rain's backed off a little both in New London and in Leicester, which after the camping trip is much appreciated by all.concerned.
Re: Private message to Poppy
Date: 2012-08-06 12:15 am (UTC)Mine were quite straightforward, really--agreement from our families and a license from the Ministry, followed by a trip to a local practitioner for the basic binding charm.
I confess I'm puzzled about Madam Umbridge's intrusions into your sphere. I should have thought she'd have poked about and grown bored by now. I'm so sorry to hear that she's making such a persistent nuisance of herself. As if you needed anyone else in that category!
As for the Strangeweales, it's Otto--the father--who has taken such an interest in me. One of these days, he's going to fall to dispepsia, but it hasn't happened yet.
Is yours a regular meeting or a special session with the oversight board? I trust there will be nothing to cause you distress this time. You've earned a smoother season.
I'd like to think I'd earned an escape from soaking rains and incessant damp, but it's not to be. I may have grown webbing between my fingers and toes before you see me again. I'm sure it would be an advantage in my current surroundings!
Re: Private message to Poppy
Date: 2012-08-06 04:55 am (UTC)As to Madame Umbridge - what I know is that she's got the ear of the oversight board, they've made it clear I should welcome her input, and I am not foolish enough to argue. Though I am, at this point, so very tired of her. And her advice.
On the meeting itself - well, Darius Warrington continues to struggle with any number of things, and there are some other matters where I've had safety and well-being concerns come up. (Nothing dire, but one does learn to see the places where there might be difficulty.) I hope they'll be reasonable, but of course I've no idea. That'll be some of the afternoon.
(And before you ask, yes, I had trouble getting to sleep. About to go try again. It really is much better when I've more time with Raz.)