Submitted by Jonathan Porter
As you can see we had a 'bloody day' at the airfield today....
We all know that working around aircraft has dangers - the biggest one being what the propeller could do to your arm, if it hit it. And indeed, the mess it could make of the aircraft.
MoM in association with WAASPS, has helped to start the AvTech Academy, a training centre for young ladies in aviation, first aid, and a host of other skills. Over the past two days they have been learning introductory first aid from nurse Lydia.
Nurse Lydia is a real gem - she is patient, kind and incredibly practical - and hopes to soon do some airborne missions (once she is happy in the plane!!!), in addition to her work with MoM in the Fulani camp.
Nurse Lydia has patiently and practicably trained these girls in First Aid and Hygiene - and they have loved it. However, they had no idea that their final assessment was going to be a 'simulated' Capt. Yaw having his arm struck by a propeller.
First Aid is cool, but it tends to be remote from reality. We work in a very real world, and so a lot of effort went into a 5 minute practical test of their learning. Glycerine, food colour and tomato ketchup were combined and stored in small plastic bags. Silicone was used to stick a piece of bone and flesh (from the butcher) to the left arm of Capt. Yaw. Fake vomit was made from available items.... Matthew was primed to create a diversion, Patricia set to create the 'realism' pre-accident and Capt. Yaw was centre stage 'melodrama-man' and 'victim'..
The plane was positioned about 40m from the girls finishing their programme and having photo's taken. The plane struggled to start (because we deliberately set the mags to off) and so Capt Yaw made noises as if approaching the engine (but was really VERY safe at the struts). The engine suddenly flew into life (because the mags were now on) and quickly shut down, mags off, key out and throttle back....
Patricia leapt from the plane shouting 'Oh my God', whilst Capt. Yaw burst a 'blood capsule' over the plane (see above) and several over himself, falling to the ground screaming 'my arm, my arm'. The fake blood coursed over the flesh and bone 'protruding' from the Captains arm....
Here are the photos, in sequence, of the girls response to this totally unexpected 'challenge'....
Ciara and Juliet race to the gate....
less than a second has gone by....
Nurse Lydia 'forgets' for a moment that is a drill and runs with them...
the body is the other side of the plane, screaming
they remember to pass behind the aircraft
Juliet sees the blood and admits her fear
Nurse Lydia, now standing back (out of shot)
Interestingly they decide to move the body
clear of the prop, in case it starts up.... (good stuff)
The 'injured party' was making a lot of noise and needed calmed down. The 'bone and flesh' clearly visible through the hand clasped to the 'wound'...
Juliet and Emmanuella provide comfort and reassurance whilst Ciara and Lydia race for medical supplies (interestingly they did not use the kit from the plane.... but it was close to the briefing room, where they knew the location of items better...)
Now that the 'siliconed injury' is coming free, it is time for a shock moment and some pseudo-vomiting. The patients head was turned to one side and Nurse Lydia comes closer (seen entering shot from the right) just make sure that it was still an exercise...
As they clearly had the situation under control, amazingly, the Captain was suddenly fit again, much to the relief of the students who were still under the impression that it was real!!! Even Matthew and Patricia kept trying to get the eye of the injured fellow for reassurance that all was really well.
Congratulations all round - to the students from AvTech for their reactions and of course to Nurse Lydia who has inspired and informed these youngsters.
All hands then went to cleaning up the 9G ZAE, the plane chosen, since she also appears in the movie 'Somewhere in Africa'....and because the 'blood' was sticky!!
Back to the briefing room and for a group photo with 'Guy' our search and rescue 'man-dummy' who has had broken legs, heart attacks etc. during the course... (seen lying in front of the team) and for final de-briefings and marks.
From left to right: Lydia, Emmanuella, Juliet, Nurse Lydia, Ciara and in front, wearing a hi-vis, Guy.
Ciara and Juliet are now being awarded 'Designated First Aider' status and will be entitled to wear the MoM first aider band on their arms. Lydia and Emmanuella need some more experience before they can be given such responsibility, but it will come.
I have run many exercises, and I must say that this one was really impressive - not because of the theatricals, but because some young people, who are barely 12 weeks into their training programme made some really great decisions, furthermore, when we pointed out what they missed, and they listened and understood!!
Congratulations all of you.....
Soon, Juliet and Ciara will spend a day each with Nurse Lydia before they set off to a village to 'offer first aid' in a rural community environment....
These are the future of Humanitarian Aviation Logistics, and they are all learning to fly....(sponsored by MoM and WAASPS).
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