"Mom!" you yell down the stairs. "Where's my math book? I've gotta have it and I can't find it and the bus is coming! Please come help me . . . it's an emergency!"

Sound familiar? Losing something can really seem like an emergency sometimes. Usually, though, it's a problem you can solve by slowing down to think things through. Then you'll remember that your math book just got shoved under the bed. Problem solved!

But what about a medical emergency? Would you know what to do (and what not to do) then?

Quick Thinking: What Would You Do?
Liz and her little brother Jamie are out for a walk. Jamie decides to race ahead down a very steep hill. He's running pretty fast when he suddenly trips. Over and over he falls, rolling down the hill at high speed until he's sprawled out on the sidewalk at the bottom.

Liz rushes to her brother's side, hoping that he's OK. Then she sees some blood on the pavement. And Jamie isn't moving at all. Liz isn't even sure that he's breathing. How can she tell? What should she do?

It's scary to think about someone getting hurt. But the truth is that accidents can and do happen. Whether you're being careless or careful, anyone can become involved in a medical emergency. Sometimes, kids are the ones who get hurt. But there's also a chance that you will be the one who needs to handle the emergency for someone else - another kid or even an adult who is in trouble. You can be the one who makes a difference.

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