It's hard to read quickly if you are distracted or uncomfortable. Reading in a quiet, well-lit environment will help you focus on your book better, and help you remember what you read, so you won't have to take extra time to reread. Turn off the TV, put away the tablet, and silence your phone. Then make sure you have adequate lighting and a comfortable seat to read in.  Some people find that listening to music helps them concentrate, while others find it too distracting. Experiment with both to find what works for you. Instrumental tracks are usually best. Using noise cancelling headphones, and/or listening to a white noise recording can really help you concentrate in a noisy environment. There are many free white noise recordings available online. Your eyes dart around a great deal when you read, and every time they shift focus, and then have to find again the right place in the text, it wastes valuable time. Using either your index finger, or a rule as a pointer can eliminate this problem. Just place your pointer directly under the line of text you are on, and slide it down the page as you progress.  Using a pointer might feel like it's slowing you down at first, but once you get the hang of it, you should notice a drastic improvement in your reading speed. Many people either silently mouth the words they are reading, or imagine the sounds of each word in their head as they read it. This is called “ indirect vocalizing,” and while it is a great way to savor a well-written novel or poem, it makes for slow going. To get through material in a hurry, try to stop spelling. You will be amazed at how much faster you can read.  Try chewing gum to stop spelling. This keeps your mouth busy, and prevents you from reading under your breath. You could also chew on a straw or toothpick, or other nonhazardous item. Humming softly may also help some people stop spelling, but it may distract you more.  Give it a try for a page or two and see if it helps. Get a stopwatch, or use a timer app on your phone, and figure out how long it takes you to read one page at your normal pace. Then set a timer for 30 seconds less than that time (so if it took you five minutes to read your first page, set your timer for four minutes, 30 seconds) and try to get through each of the following pages under that time. Once the new time becomes manageable, shave another 30 second off of your time, and so on.  Reading quickly is more about concentration than anything else, and using a timer is an excellent way to trick yourself into concentrating better by turning reading into a race. Practice makes perfect. You may want to use the timer for a few days, but eventually you will no longer need it, as you will have trained yourself to read more quickly and efficiently without it. There are dozens of free or low-cost courses and apps that are designed to teach you to read more quickly and efficiently. Most of these are based on one of a handful of tried and tested methods, and while you may never learn to read 1000 words per minute, as some courses advertise, you can still learn techniques that will significantly improve your reading speed and help you get through not just this summer reading list, but the ever-increasing amount of stuff you will be assigned in the future. It is not something that most people can do inherently or not, it is an ability that must be learned and can easily be improved with practice. The more you read, the easier it will get, and the faster it will go. By the end of summer, you should be zooming through that pile of books!  If you are really struggling and cannot seem to improve, a learning issue like dyslexia may be slowing you down. Talk to a school counselor, parent or doctor about getting screened.  You may need to learn special techniques, or get help from teachers creating more reasonable deadlines.
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One-sentence summary -- Create a positive environment for reading. Use a pointer. Avoid spelling. Use a timer to push yourself. Consider taking a speed reading class, or using a speed reading trainer app. Remember that reading quickly is a skill.


Remember, if you suspect someone is experiencing shock, it is best to seek medical help as soon as possible. Don't wait for symptoms to get more severe, as shock symptoms can progress rapidly. If the person is not showing signs of life (ie: no breathing, no carotid pulse), start CPR. An untrained person should only attempt chest compressions, not rescue breathing. Ask the 911 operator to talk you through the process if you don't already know how. You might find this wikiHow article on how to perform CPR helpful. Depending on your location, it might be some time before emergency services are available to help. Taking the following steps will help stabilize the person experiencing shock if her condition appears to deteriorate and it is taking time for medical help to arrive.   Offer first aid for visible wounds and injuries. Make the person comfortable. Provide her with a blanket and loosen restrictive clothing.  Keep her from eating or drinking. Since the person may be unable to swallow, it's best to avoid giving her anything to eat or drink to reduce the risk of choking.  Turn her onto her side if she vomits or begins bleeding from the mouth. This will help prevent choking. Proceed with caution if you think the person might have a spinal injury. If a person with a possible spinal injury is choking, try to keep her head, neck, and back in line while rolling both the body and head together. Only attempt this if the person does not have an injury to the head, neck, leg, or spine. This position helps improve blood flow to vital organs.  Lay him on his back and elevate his legs above the heart (about 8 – 12 inches). Do not elevate his head or place a pillow under his head. If you think this position might cause the person any pain, it's best to leave him lying flat and wait for emergency help to arrive. Even if the person seems to be breathing normally, continue to monitor her condition until help arrives. You can provide this information to emergency services when they arrive. You can help reassure and comfort the individual who might be experiencing shock. In addition, you can also monitor the person's condition until help arrives and provide valuable information to the paramedics.
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One-sentence summary --
Call 911 or local emergency services immediately. Begin CPR if necessary. Provide treatment. Place the person in the shock position. Monitor the person's breathing. Stay with the injured person until emergency services arrive.