Important to understand...

Before pushing down on the stapler, make sure your fingers aren't in it.

Trust me on this.

Now you'd think it's a no-brainer, but evidently Lindsey* has never heard that rule.

I was filling out a bit of paperwork when I heard a horrendous shriek from the other side of the room.

And my coworker brought Lindsey, one hand holding the other one out in front of her awkwardly, to me and just... left her with me.
And walked away.

I'm not sure if she is just bothered by the sight of blood or if she just thought I would handle it better, but that was it.

(She is not incompetent, either. She's good with the kids and good at handling most issues, I've worked with her for years, so I'm not sure what the deal was, but I just took charge.)

I grabbed the hysterical, crying, screaming Lindsey by the shoulders.

"Lindsey. Say 'teacup'"

She stopped screaming.

"What?"

"Say teacup."

"Teacup."

"Do you see what you just did there? You stopped the hysteria. Immediately. Good for you. Now, you need to pull the staple out."

(I can't legally remove the staple, it's considered "surgery" and if I removed it and something happened I would get tossed to the wolves.) And the staple was barely in her finger, one teeny little end was just almost not poked in. I think if she had blown on it it would have just come out.

I would have pulled it out if I had to.

But when I told her she had to take it out herself, she started crying again, LOUDLY.

"Lindsey." I reminded her.
And she said, "Oh yeah."

She didn't even have to say teacup, she got control of herself just thinking it.

Any word/combo will work if it's something a person doesn't use often. Raspberry. Chocolate Soda. Chicken liver. Dog shoes.

But derailing that train is important when you're trying to help a kid. They can't respond appropriately when they're hysterical, and they can't take charge of themselves, either.

Although I don't always articulate it, part of what I try to do with kids is make sure they are learning skills to take care of themselves.

To use an overused term, empower them.

They need to feel competent and capable and getting her to stop screaming hysterically over a teeny little hole in her finger wasn't really all that difficult. :)

I showed her the shape of the staple, explained that it was barely in her finger at all, and that if she grabbed 'here' and pulled 'this way' it would come right out.

Of course I was right.
Sent her to the bathroom to wash with soap and water and gave her a bandage for it when she came back.

But that makes three accident reports this week. When my usual average is one per school year. But anything that leaves a mark on a child must be documented for obvious reasons. And I don't take chances with possible legal issues.

Of course they were what I consider minor incidents and if it were my own children I wouldn't even blink. Just kid injuries. Head bonks and skinned knees.

So I don't feel bad about it, I just feel.. funny. Because it is unusual for me to have to do the accident report thing.