Golden Eaglet - Junior Citizen

 

            As part of the requirements for this badge, I have earned my first aid badge, as well as I am studying for my Drivers Ed, test. These two have helped me meet the first two requirements.

            Because I am working on the 1934 badge, there was no way to “call” 911. Instead you would find your nearest station. But sometimes that would be too far away, so in case of an emergency, you would either find your parent, or the first aid kit. If neither of those are readily available, find the nearest adult, or neighbor. If you were lost in a city, you would go into the closest shop and ask the clerk where the nearest fire station is located. Why you would ask for the fire station, is because there are more of those in a city than a police station, so there would be a better chance you would be closer to one of those.

             Because I am studying for my drivers test, I now pay more attention to where I am going in the car, and can now help direct where the police station, fire station, library, City Hall, nearest park, nearest Skate Park, and two different churches are. As well as where the nearest Baskin Robins is.

            As I am homeschooled, I have no “school health services” except for what my parents pay.

            My community puts the trash in the bins and a commercial service comes and picks it up to take it to the dump. However in 1934, that would have not been the case. I’m not sure how they would have disposed of their trash, but that is how I dispose of my trash.

            In my community to protect trees and wildlife, we plant and mulch trees every so often on different days of service. And protecting wildlife can be as easy as not picking or stepping on wildflowers, hunting or hurting animals, as well as not polluting streams as well as not littering.

Golden Eaglet - First Aid

I have been trained in First Aid and CPR and I can do the following as according to the 1934 badge requirements:

           

- Treat a fainting person

- Bandage a sprained ankle with a triangular bandage

            - Put on a sling

            - Treat a scratch, cut and blister

- Stop bleeding by means of pressure

            - Remove a splinter

- Remove a speck from the eye without rolling back the eyelid

            - Treat a burn

            - Treat poison Ivy

             For the Part II of this badge I had to present that I knew how to do the following:

 

-          How to properly use a triangular bandage

-          Control severe bleeding

-          Transport an injured person

-          Know how to treat a sprain, strain, bruise, nosebleed, choking, insect bite, sunstroke, frostbite

Golden Eaglet - Child Nurse - part 1

As I have worked on the 1934 Merit Badges - a few have forced me to learn a lot of new information.  It has been an educational journey.  Reminding me that badges  are designed to "Educate NOT Decorate".

I thought the Child Nurse badge would be easy for me -- I have been actively watching younger children for 5 years.  With most of my time with kids under age 5.  However, I realized there was still so much to learn.

I also knew that the time I spent before -- would not count toward this badge.  I had a required 24 hours to spend in this role.  It could have been in 2, 3 or 8 hour blocks.  I wanted to do something I hadn't done before - so I went for a 24 hour block of time - including bed time routine, all meals and of course activities, reading, etc.

I am 12 hours into the 24 -- look for the final blog tomorrow (maybe Thursday -- tomorrow I am making two dresses for the dressmaker badge).  Along with a few others (I have 7 other badges finished -- it has been a great experience

Golden Eaglet - Health Winner

This next badge was all about your health and being conscious of how you do everything that might affect your body and how you function.

            The first and second requirements were about posture and sleep. The first I’m not too good at, but completing this requirement brought my attention to how I should sit and stand. Always sit up straight, because it can help with your breathing and it can and will reduce lower back pain as well as neck pain. And sleep is important because without it, no one is functional. I am 16 and I go to bed at 8:00PM almost every night and get roughly 11 hours of sleep. Other girls my age don’t get this much sleep, but everyone in their teens (because they are either growing or are about to) should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night.

            The third and fourth requirements were concerned about the eyes and fresh air. Caring for your eyes is so simple and easy. Lighting is important, such as, when reading, writing or typing even, always have enough light. Especially if you are using a computer, the harsh light if you are in a dark room, can mess up your eyes to where you can’t adjust as quickly as you should to various lighting. And fresh air is also important, something as simple as taking a walk can help with moods and headaches. Playing outdoors is important because its proven that time spent outside can actually help with strengthening your ability to focus and retain information.

            The fifth and sixth requirements were simply about staying clean. Washing hands before and after a meal to wash off dirt and other materials and germs from other activities you’ve done during the day. Washing hands also helps with skin care and nail care. Taking showers regularly can also help with skin, nail and hair health. Taking a shower either every morning or every night, or even every other day is important because personal hygiene is crucial for not only your health, but it can also be a big part about your mood and how you present yourself.

            The last three were about eating right, dressing right and not attending gatherings when one is sick. Eating fruits and vegetables everyday can help with reducing stomachaches, headaches, cramps and it can help with other parts of your body such as carrots help with your eyes and milk helps with your bones and meats with your muscles. It’s important to eat a balance of fruits, veggies, dairy and protein everyday to look, feel and be your best.

            Wearing the right clothing during an activity is important because it can be the difference of either a won game or an injury. Wear close toed shoes with low heals when doing an activity that requires running so that you don’t trip over the ends of your shoes, also so that you don’t break a toe or sprain an ankle. Cut your toenails frequently so they don’t snag on your socks and create infection. Always wear socks when you wear shoes to prevent foot infection, smell and blisters. If you do get a blister, do NOT pick at it, put a band-aid over it and leave it alone for a couple days, then take the band-aid off and then again, leave it alone.

            The last and most important is staying at home when you are ill. Never go to a gathering with people if you know you are sick because you can spread it to other people. Also, stay in bed, don’t run around the house or be near family members because they can get it too. But also make sure, if you can, you open windows to get fresh air when you are sick so you don’t breath in the same germs over and over again in your room or home.     

Golden Eaglet - Wildflower Finder, Tree Finder, Bird Finder, Rambler

Currently, I am working on six different badges.  The rambler badge is actually the equivalent to three merit badges -  my choices are land animal finder, water life finder and gardener.  The badge itself has 11 choices.

They require me to observe and study things I didn't know.  My Land Animal Finder requires me to observe land animals - I am enjoying watching the squirrels.

I think that doing these badges is more science and observation than science classes.  These 6 badges are definitely a years worth of high school Natural Science.

Since I have four elective badges to earn  - several of mine are also options for the Rambler Badge. - The Tree Finder, Bird Finder and Wild Flower Finder.  Mine are based on my interests as well as what my mom could find on ebay.

Watch for more on those badges as I work on this award.