How many times is your instruction interrupted by students needing a bandaid, ice pack, mint, or lotion? And the walk and wait at the nurse’s office takes valuable time away from learning. Of course, there are times when the nurse does need to evaluate the student’s health, but about half of the time I can triage the need in just a few seconds. And having a First Aid station in my classroom helps me teach student to be assertive and self-sufficient. My area includes ice packs in the mini-fridge, lotion, tissues, and sick bucket. The drawers house bandaids, Lifesaver mints, Lifesaver fruit candy (for kids who don’t like mint), latex gloves, cheap sandwich baggies to wrap around the ice packs, and hall passes to see the nurse with a pen. Everything is in one location. During the first days of a new school year, I spend time talking to the students about how to evaluate, communicate, and treat their needs. Together we create a “HOOT – How Oakland Operates Together” poster with action statements such as, “Return ice packs to the fridge and throw away the baggie.” Our First Aid station has been a great addition to the classroom!