Hiya, thank you everyone who has emailed, blueyed and sent parcels it’s great to receive things. Well I have done the proper job now; have done a “Tact” flight which is a transfer of patients within Afghanistan and a “Strat” flight which is the transfer home of patients.
I had short notice of a transfer of patients from Bastion and Kabul. So in the middle of the night I ended up having 3 flights on a Hercules carrying all my kit... My Sky Bag ( I have my very own Sky Bag 1) which contains everything I should ever need and it weighs a ton. I can personalise it a little and I will certainly be lightening the load when I do my stint up at Bastion doing the Helo flights. We also take a MRLI Pic which is a defib monitor and a LSU (suction unit). A medic was travelling with me and showed me the ropes and helps carry the equipment. It is hard work heaving the stuff on and off the back of the Herc, it’s quite a step up onto the ramp and walk into the aircraft, on the first occasion I actually fell up the ramp!!. The Movers and Herc crew are very helpful though and the fire crews help with the patient lifts it is a very efficent team that transfers the patients on and off. I transferred 2 locals, Afghan National Army soldiers, they are tiny people and look so much older than their age but were really nice lads as much as language barrier allowed. The locals are initially treated in the coalition hospitals but are then transferred into the Afghan “Hero” hospital in Kandahar, so they become known as “Hero” patients.
Then I had a Strat flight, a nice easy uplift to break me in gently. The lads are amazing so uncomplaining . A real honour to work with them. This time much more comfortable surroundings on a Tri-Star. By the time we landed I was shattered as our flight had been delayed at Kandahar (KDH)and I had been up since mid morning, we handed over to the Tac Med Wing Team from the UK and we left the aircraft. We thought were only going to have a few hours in Cyprus so went to bed but were later informed there were delays so we ended up having a brunch in Lady L’s ( for anyone that knows Akrotiri) then nipping down to the beach for a paddle, it was very sunny but still a wintery nip in the air. Then we went to the supermarket (the international currency in KDH is fresh milk you can barter almost anything with this and of course everyone knows the Aeromed teams can get it) then just relaxed in the rooms till we needed to report. The 216 crew (Tri-Star Sqn) were really nice as we boarded before the general passengers because of all our kit then we headed home... all planes do a tactical landing and takeoff in the dark here and I have to say this one was a wee bit scary it just seemed to take such a long time to get down but heh I am here to tell the tale.
So that’s the life of an Aeromed nurse Tac and Strat flights.
I have the room to myself tonight as the rest of the girls are at work, so am sat here in PJ’s and online. Nicole has left me her Laptop to watch a movie on, our TV doesn’t work and none of us are technical to be able to sort it out, will have to investigate though as it is very quiet here.
That’s all my news for now.
Amanda xx
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