Page 52 - RADC 2023

CHARITY
Remembrance Day 2022
Cpl Lawati
To commemorate Remembrance Day for 2022, I thought it would be a fantastic
idea if I could get all SHAPE dental staff involved in an event to fundraise for the Royal British Legion. This charity provides financial, social, and emotional support to the veterans and serving members in the armed forces. They also help recover and rehabilitate those who are wounded, injured and sick- through their life if needed. It
has become paramount to support these organisations due to the pandemic where many lives have been affected significantly.
Once all staff agreed to take part in the event, I proposed our goal to cycle 121
miles on stationary bikes to mark the 11th month and 11th day. After a few weeks of self-training, we planned to have the event on the afternoon of 9 Nov as this was the most suitable time for all staff members.
MT department kindly supported us with transport and extra workforce to help gather the bikes from main gym to the event area. Our event location was going to be in front of Carrefour market in the camp so we could attract a bigger audience. For those who cycle frequently, the distance may seem short but as most of us don’t, this was a challenge. We started off slow and each individual was given a target to reach. Music, donations and cheering from the public kept
our motivation and moral going and we managed to reach the goal as a team. We also had other nations’ dental teams come and support us during the event which was very much appreciated.
SHAPE itself is a unique location as we have multi-national military personnel and families based here. The advantage this brings is almost all year round there are events happening where each country is presenting and promoting their country and culture. This event was no different as
most were not aware of Remembrance Day and significance of wearing poppy. This opportunity was a great platform to share and talk to them about the past and present of the British military.
Team members included Maj Watson, LCpl Rai, Mrs Ross and me. The event lasted for 2 hours and we managed to generate
a sum of approx. €350. We also used a Facebook page and BFBS Germany to broadcast and help advertise pre and post event.
RAF Lossiemouth Community Responders
Sgt Gordon Shaw
Recently I have had the privilege
of gaining a space on the RAF Lossiemouth’s Community Responders Team. Being a community responder involves volunteering to provide immediate assistance and support during emergencies or crises within your local community. Community responders are trained individuals who are equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide basic life-saving interventions until professional medical help arrives.
Community responders play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the occurrence of an emergency and the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS). They are often the first on the scene and can provide vital assistance in situations such as cardiac arrests, choking incidents, severe bleeding, or other medical emergencies.
To become a community responder,
I had to undergo specialized training programs that cover basic life
support (BLS) techniques, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) usage, first aid, and other essential skills. The Training was provided to us over a week by the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS). Once trained we as responders have been equipped with basic medical supplies and will work shifts ready to respond to emergency calls within our community through a centralized dispatch with the SAS.
Being a community responder requires a commitment to ongoing training and staying updated on the latest techniques and protocols. It also demands the
ability to remain calm under pressure, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively with other responders and emergency personnel, skills in which
I have developed over my 14 years of service so far.
I recommend that any serving personnel or veterans look at joining their local community responders schemes as it is an amazing and worthwhile opportunity.
50 RADC BULLETIN 2023