1 . Acupuncture (针灸) is a traditional Chinese medical practice of treating various physical and mental conditions. It won respect and interest in the United States after New York Times reporter James Reston visited China with President Nixon and needed an operation.

Chinese doctors used acupuncture on James after surgery (外科手术) to reduce his pain, and his recovery was quick. Curious about this, James was allowed to watch surgery on patients who received acupuncture for anesthesia (麻醉). Patients talked with their doctors during the operation and then walked back to their rooms on their own.

Acupuncture left James such a deep impression that he wrote a front-page article in New York Times about his operation upon returning to the United States. “A leading medical expert sent by Premier Zhou Enlai removed my appendix (阑尾). I was awake in the whole process.”

The National Institutes of Health began to organize some of their top doctors to visit China to investigate acupuncture and its possible functions in western medicine. With years going by, acupuncture has become popular across the world with magical effect.

3 . Growing up in a small village in southern Ghana, Osci Boateng watched many of his family members and neighbors struggle to access basic health care. In many regions of the country, it can take hours to get to the nearest hospital. Boateng said many people lost their lives due to preventable or treatable diseases. His grandmother and aunt were among them.

Feeling an urgent call to help, Boateng decided he would make it his life’s mission to bring health care to remote communities in Ghana where education and preventative health care were lacking.

Boateng wanted to find a way to remove these barriers to health care access and education. He started his nonprofit organization, OKB Hope Foundation. In 2021, he converted (转变) a van (面包车) into a mobile doctor’s office and started bringing health care directly to those in need. A few times a week, the mobile clinic and medical team travel long distances to remote communities and provide free routine medical care.

On each trip, Boateng’s team consists of a nurse, a physician assistant, a doctor, and an operation assistant. In the van, they can run basic labs like bloodwork and urinalysis (尿液分析) as well as provide medicine. “It’s like a one-stop shop for people, ” said Boateng, adding that most of the people they see have one health issue or another. Since its launch, the Hope Health Van has served more than 4,000 Ghanaians across more than 45 rural communities who otherwise don’t have easily accessible medical care, according to Boateng.

Boateng has gone all in on his OKB Hope Foundation, recently quitting his job to dedicate his time to bringing health care to his home country. But for him, the sacrifices (牺牲) are well worth. “Words cannot describe the feeling that you provide care for someone who otherwise wouldn’t be alive if your mobile health van wasn’t there.” He has big plans for the future. He hopes to expand them to provide more consistent and high-quality medical care not only to those living in remote areas of Ghana but those in other countries.

4 . Modern medicine and the latest technology can save many lives. If you live in a country where healthcare is readily available and accessible, then your chances of recovering from illnesses or accidents are very good. But for many people in the US who are uninsured (无保险的), they can’t afford these new medical treatments. That’s why Doctor Demetrio Aguila in Norfolk lets poor patients pay for surgery (外科手术) through volunteer work.

“For years I had been doing surgery for patients and taking care of their health problems. Then I would find out months later, sometimes years later, that I had caused their financial ruin,” Aguila said. Serious illnesses can completely deplete a family’s savings, leaving them no choice but to go bankrupt (破产).

Then he formed Healing Hands M25 as a way to give poor patients the medical fees they need by donating their time to community service. The process is pretty simple. They practice partners with local charitable organizations. The patient picks the charity and donates his time and sweat; Aguila determines the amount of volunteer hours the patient has to complete. “We’ve lowered the cost of healthcare. We’ve made it fair for everybody involved,” Aguila said.

The first patient to participate in the program was Jeffrey Jenson who worked for 560 hours to pay for surgery on his leg. Jenson asked his friends and family to help him complete the hours. Jenson said that his volunteer work greatly affected his life as much as the surgery. “The M25 program is not about money — it’s about if people come together to help other people, then the community becomes better,” said Jenson.

This program is a big win for the patients, the local community, and Dr Aguila who knows he has done everything he could to help his patients.

6 . A blocked airway can kill someone in three to four minutes, but it can take more than eight minutes for an ambulance to arrive. So a simple procedure such as opening someone’s airway can save their life while they’re waiting for emergency medical help. This means you’re more likely to give first aid to someone you know than a stranger.

There are many misconceptions surrounding first aid. Below are the “most popular” ones with details of what you should do.

Top four first aid misconceptions:

You should put butter or cream on a burn. The only thing you should put on a burn is cold water—keep the butter for cooking. Put the affected area under cold running water for at least ten minutes.

The best way to treat bleeding is to put the wound under a tap. If you put a bleeding wound under a tap, you wash away the body’s clotting agents (凝血剂) and make it bleed more. Instead, put pressure on the wound with whatever is available to stop or slow down the flow of blood. As soon as possible call 911. Keep pressure on the wound until help arrives.

Nosebleeds are best treated by putting the head back. If you put the head back during a nosebleed, all the blood goes down the back of the airway. Instead, advise them to tilt (倾斜) their head forwards and ask them to pinch (捏) the end of their nose and breathe through their mouth.

You need lots of training to do first aid. You don’t—what you mostly need is common sense. You can learn enough first aid knowledge in a few minutes to save someone’s life—whether it’s from reading a book, attending a course or watching videos online.

Remember that anyone can save a life.

I am delight to hear that you are interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM). I will introduce it for you.

As is known to all, TCM was an important part of Chinese culture. It has a long history. Basing on the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth), TCM have formed a unique theory of treating diseases. According to the theory of TCM, prevention and treatment are of same importance and more attention should be paid on food therapies. However, we should take exercises regularly to prevent diseases. What’s more, have a balanced diet is also significant for us to keep healthy.

If you want to know more about it, you can read the book which I sent it to you. I hope you will like it.

10 . First aid is an important tool in quickly responding to accidents to ensure that injuries can be efficiently and immediately handled before a trained medical professional arrives. First aid in schools is especially helpful as children often get into accidents that need quick care. Whether they are minor or more serious, preventing them worsening is important.     1    .

A Quick Response is Guaranteed

    2     Some injuries do not require professional assistance. They can be treated with simple methods such as applying an ice pack etc. First aiders can help the affected person feel better and ease pain by performing simple procedures on the spot.

    3    

People equipped with first aid skills can handle emergencies in an efficient manner. Their professional knowledge and right methods of treatment can help preserve lives. A trained person is more composed (镇定的) and confident in critical situations. He/She knows the best possible ways to help the victims make it.

A Greater Sense of Safety is Promoted

People who get first aid training are likely to feel secure. They are aware of the fact that they can treat themselves easily in case an accident occurs. Moreover, they are also trusted by their friends or loved ones.     4    , it is more helpful to keep them relax and stay calm in the event of an emergency.

To sum up, first aid offers a wide range of benefits. Therefore, it is a must for the teachers and students to get a proper first aid training so that they can contribute to a safe campus.     5    , it is important to have first aid in the schools. It is vital to make everyone aware of the basic methods they should apply after an accident occurs.