Ambulance worker delivers aid to Ukraine
A WELSH Ambulance Service worker has been delivering medical equipment and first aid training to communities in Ukraine.
Nigel Jones, an Emergency Medical Technician in Monmouth, recently journeyed to Ukraine with RE:ACT, a UK and overseas emergency and crisis response charity.
After taking over 20 hours to travel to his destination, Nigel spent the week teaching first aid training to more than 100 people and delivering equipment including torniquets to those in need.
Nigel said: “The RE:ACT team have journey to Ukraine multiple times, with the last deployment before I arrived occurring just before Christmas.
“The team that visited Ukraine in December were asked by partner charities, Ukrainian Education Platform and Globa 22 if RE:ACT would be able to help with medical training.
“RE:ACT then reached out to its members and I signed up to help.
“I was joined by five other members, all of which had medical training of some kind, including a former London Ambulance Service paramedic.
“We started with a flight into Poland before making our way across the border and into Ukraine, travelling for hours via different means until we reached our destination.
“There we met up with both of the Ukrainian charity groups, who are volunteers that travel around frontline areas delivering medicines or food and check on the wellbeing of those most in need.
“We split up into two groups to cover the most ground and actually travelled close to frontline areas, so I heard multiple air raid sirens which I was told was a very commons occurrence.
“We trained the volunteers in basic life support, how to apply a torniquet and how to apply haemostatic dressings all through an interpreter.
“It was quite a slow process, but extremely valuable.
“Throughout the week, we travelled to three different areas in Ukraine, with multiple miles and hours between locations.”
Nigel, who has 10 years’ experience with the British Army and has worked in the emergency services for 30 years, took unpaid leave to journey to Ukraine.
He also travelled to Turkey last year to help with the rescue efforts after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria.
He said: “It was a surreal experience.
“We actually met the mayor of one of the cities we visited, we taught in various buildings, including a bunker in one area which had a class of about 25 people where you could hear artillery outside.
“We trained 110 people, so 110 volunteers now know how to apply tourniquets and administer life-saving treatment, which I’m just so pleased about.
“The volunteers were very appreciative of our help, and it was just so worthwhile.”
Kevin Crowther, Service Manager at the Welsh Ambulance Service in south east Wales, said: “Everyday, Team WAST staff deliver high quality and patient-led care, wherever and whenever it’s needed throughout Wales.
“For Nigel to continue this in Ukraine by providing aid and training to the people of Ukraine is commendable.
“It is a testament to his character and shows his true commitment to caring for those most in need.”
Editor’s Notes
For more information on RE:ACT visit: https://www.re-act.org.uk/
For more information, please email Communications Specialist Beth.Eales@wales.nhs.uk