The White Falcon - 05.11.1993, Page 3

When the bottle is empty
letter to the editor
m:
By HM2 Lisa Ballint
CAAC Counselor
Christmas is a time for reflec-
tion and introspection. For many
of us during the holiday season,
sadness is a friend and emptiness
is our companion. The cheer,
warmth and meaning we equate
with the holidays are only as-
pects we read about or see others
experience. However, this does
not have to be your reality.
The absence of loved ones and
isolation from the “real” world
might encourage us to cope with
a “not-so-pleasant” situation by
what appears to be an effective
means: alcohol use. This acces-
sible and deceiving coping strat-
egy often leads to abusive drink-
ing. One time of resorting to
alcohol to cope with emptiness
or loneliness is one too many. I
am not talking about moral or
legal issues, but rather a “human
issue.” Read on.
Usually an individual with the
ghtest alcohol problem in-
tly turns off their hearing ca-
pabilities when we mention alco-
hol use. It is a defense many of us
utilize to some degree when we
face the slightest discomfort.
However, too often our rationali-
zations, justifications and denial
become interwoven into our
“real” selves and our “realness”
suffers as a result.
In order to stop alcohol abuse,
it is necessary to clearly define
our relationship to the it. In many
cases, the substance is viewed as
a friend, one which provides some
sense of comfort, companionship
and relief from one’s worries.
Although these aspects appear
very “real” to the alcohol abuser,
alcohol “forgets” to inform the
individual it can never offer the
genuine warmth and companion-
ship only a real friend can pro-
vide. Alcohol abuse is a deceiver
of truths.
Truths are sometimes hard to
buy, so let’s look at the following
statement by Albert Einstein:
“Imagination is more important
than knowledge." In many ways
this concept can be used in the
deterrence of alcohol abuse.
Acknowledging a problem exists
is a very important first step in
breaking the abusive process al-
though awareness without action
is like Rudolph without a red
nose — useless. An extremely
important second part in the
process of abstaining from abu-
sive alcohol consumption relies
on our imagination. So, to see
beyond the problem, sometimes
we must let our minds run wild,
and then act on our ideas.
Let us imagine some alterna-
tives to using alcohol as a coping
mechanism. Why not participate
in long forgotten activities you
once enjoyed? With a little initia-
tive and determination, these will
soon replace a nonchalant, mun-
dane drinking routine that might
have become a lifestyle rather
than a choice. Routines tend to
take the “spice “ out of life and
Continued on page 5
lyte bytes
By Chaplain Dennis Young
I am startled by an atomic ex-
plosion 250 times the power of
the Hiroshima bomb. I am im-
pressed when scientists develop
instruments so powerful they can
pick up the sound of galaxies in
collision 270 million light years
away. I am amazed to see a laser
beam cut through a diamond as if
it were paper. I marvel at the
quiet power of a few drops of
water which, when frozen, can
tear apart a brass valve a half-
dozen men cannot turn.
But, I am completely lost at-
tempting to search out the power
of God. I try to say it all by
simply saying “God,” but to
Thine is the power
expect one word to explain His
power is like looking out on the
setting sun, exhausting in its
beauty, its hundred hues glowing
indescribably, cloud formations
around it like the skill of a thou-
sand masters expressed in one
piece of art, silhouettes before it
cut with exactness and painted
with ebony against the sun, and
calling all this simply “Sunset.”
Who can express in a word or
even a thousand words the mag-
nitude and grandeur of the power
of God? It is like putting a wet
finger to a penlight battery, and
by the sensation you feel, defin-
ing all the properties, potentially
and powers of electricity.
God has been known to bring
giants to their knees, weeping
like babies. God has been known
to take corrupt minds and give
them thoughts as pure as fresh-
fallen snowflakes. God has been
known to take a home, tom by
strife, and make it the sweetest
place this side of heaven. God
has been known to take crippled
people, who scrape the earth as
they pull along their weakend
torsos, and stand them, whole
and healthy, upon their feet God
has been known to take men rot-
ten and ripe for hell, and make
them jewels in the kingdom of
heaven. God has been known to
displace hate with love, sorrow
with joy, war with peace, ashes
with fire.
“Father, all things are possible
with thee.”
Why do I have to starve my child?
the doc talks
By LT Joseph Pellegrini
U. S. Naval Hospital Keflavfk
“Mommy, I’m hungry” or “I’m thirsty” are
two of the most frequently heard phrases
spoken by children prior to surgery.
The parents look on the anesthetist or anes-
thesiologist with painful expressions and
wonder why we would deprive their children
of food or drink prior to surgery. The parents
see their children scared, hungry, and going
ho an environment where the parents aren’t
Bowed to enter. The parents are instructed
before the operation to feed their children
nothing after midnight the night before sur-
gery and to allow them nothing but clear
November 5,1993
liquids up to six hours before surgery. This is
done to ensure no food matter is in the stom-
ach prior to the induction of anesthesia. The
reasoning behind this stems from the fact
people who have a full stomach stand a greater
risk to vomit the substance in their stomachs,
and have it inadvertently go down their tra-
chea or wind pipe and end up in the lungs.
This could cause a potential pneumonia.
Liquids taken after midnight should be
limited to clear liquids. The definition of
“clear liquids” is just what it sounds like. A
clear liquid is anything you can clearly see
through. This doesn’t include most juices,
milk, tea, or soda. During your preoperative
visit to the anesthesia department, we will
review when to stop allowing your child solid
food, and when to stop allowing clear liquids.
It isn’t good practice to wake your child up
the night before surgery to ensure they have
some liquid before the six hour deadline, this
will only make your child more irritable and
confused.
Our goal in the anesthesia department is to
provide the safest anesthetic and to make the
experience as pleasant as possible to the
child. These parameters of “nothing by
mouth” apply to both children and adults
prior to surgery, and as you can see, there is
good rationale for this practice. If you have
any questions about any anesthetic concerns,
please feel free to call the anesthesia depart-
ment at ext. 3360. We’ll be more than happy
to answer your questions.
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