A day in the life of: an RAF medical reservist

摘要

It's 6 in the morning; 22 degrees and not a cloud in the sky; a beautiful sunrise is disappearing. I'm off for a run with my two constant companions - a radio and a pistol. I'm at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan and my 24 hours with the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) is about to begin. I wanted a challenge and something different so I joined the RAF Reserve. In my "day job" I work in the NHS - an average nurse. 08:00:1 meet the team: a doctor and two paramedics. We collect blood, drugs and weapons. 09:00: We exchange our personal equipment on the helicopter and receive a brief from the off-going team. We begin a training scenario - an opportunity to practise key skills and teach our protection team who assist us when possible.