Psychel
Active member
I remember when I first arrived in Kavala and asked people what they do here I have many suggestions. These ranged from drug running to being a rebel. When I asked about the NHS I was told that this choice was boring.
So you can imagine my surprise considering my medical background.
So far as most of you can read from my blogs, it has been anything but boring, and todays race was even more exciting. It started with a meeting in Kavala hospital, it was there that myself and the fellow students that I have been training with were told some awesome news. We were being allowed to drive our own trucks. However we were given strict instructions. Don't break them, don't scratch them.
I have never seen ambulances driven so carefully on the way to the starting line. We were all so proud when we parked them in a cute little line. We knew that people would be trying to to get to the front, so we did park, what we considered was a distance away.
As we were taking in the sight of all these beautifully prepared and washed vehicles we heard what every Medic loves, BOOM.
For an unknown to me reason, all the cars at the front of the line blew up. We all ran straight for it, however interestingly the students stayed back from the flames, and the instructor caught fire and needed as much medical care as the drivers caught in their cars.
After reviving and treating loads of people, myself and the other students took a moment, and one was over heard to say "They should not have parked as close to each other" in a cocky voice. Unfortunately as I heard that, I turned to see all 3 of the ambulances on fire. I mean 3 ambulances, when was the last time anyone saw 3 ambulances on a server at the same time let alone in the same place.
So much for us being smart. However at least one of us was, as the helicopter was ok and we were flown back to get the spares.
Now I decided to put myself in a crossroad by the copper mine as most vehicles would pass me there. As soon as the race started my map bleeped with the roadkill and carnage. I know that the medics at the start were busy as the chatter was "You do that one", "Wait for the flames" and "Who is going to do him".
To top it all the sun was now going down and night vision was needed. Now I don't now how many of you have tried driving a ambulance in the dark with night vision glasses. Imagine being drugged, underwater and with a cold. That maybe close to the effect.
But we are hard in the NHS, (Yeh right) so I carried on. Once I was sure everyone was past me (including my colleagues) I started to drive on the main road. The chatter was now about whether we were actually allowed to go into the UNMC area, none of us were particulary happy about this, but when did we ever get given a choice.
So imagine the scene, you have 3 students, driving 3 ambulances, in the dark, with NVG and lights on. Disaster oncoming.
So my first was nearly running straight into a crashed vehicle. My life flashed before me, well actually the immortal words of "Don't scratch my vehicles" went through my mind as I only just missed it. Afterall I had already blown up one ambulance today.
I stopped to mop my brow, and only then realised someone was needing attention right near me.
Unfortunately I needed to get his car impounded in order to get to him, which once I had given him medical attention he was unhappy with his car being gone, that I thought I would give him a little lift.
Now no body had said we could not do this at this stage. Then over the NHS radio one of the students asked "Can we give a lift if we are asked". When the answer came through as no I had to stop and ask him to leave. I felt really guilty, but the question had been asked and answered.
Just by the airport I caught up with the student who had asked the question. So far I had been well in the back, but now I felt I was catching up as I could see his lights in front of me. In fact all of a sudden if was really bright as he drove into a police barrier and blew up. Now I should apologise to the attending policeman who came over for a laugh, as there was so much chatter on the radio that I could not hear him.
After loosing another ambulance the student got in mine and we carried on. We were getting close to the UNMC, but before the checkpoint we ran into the police and some racers in an arguement on the main road. Normally we would steer clear and wait, but today we came off the road and carried on.
We approached the border with dry mouths and parked off to the side to talk to the border patrol and ask permission. We actually made a great impression because as we got there some one needed immediate attention. Again the chatter over the radio was loud and we crept through the border not really being able to hear a word, but there were no gun shots.
Now we were in unknown territory, and were directed to the top of the map. On route we kept getting a request from a SGT. who was complaining that he was in the water and had been bitten by Jaws.
I could not resist and we headed straight for him. I wandered why no body else had gone to him, right until I put my foot in the water. Bloody hell it was cold. He was just far enough in for the water to cover my testicles, (which eventually returned from inside my stomach). After giving him medical attention I wanted to find out what happened. Through chattering teeth all I heard was "Cold, testicles, Need warm hands" before I ran away, after all we have all heard stories about what happens over the border!!.
What a great event I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did, but just to clarify I managed to keep my ambulance in tip top condition (the poo stain on the passenger side chair was not due to my driving).
Gregory House
So you can imagine my surprise considering my medical background.
So far as most of you can read from my blogs, it has been anything but boring, and todays race was even more exciting. It started with a meeting in Kavala hospital, it was there that myself and the fellow students that I have been training with were told some awesome news. We were being allowed to drive our own trucks. However we were given strict instructions. Don't break them, don't scratch them.
I have never seen ambulances driven so carefully on the way to the starting line. We were all so proud when we parked them in a cute little line. We knew that people would be trying to to get to the front, so we did park, what we considered was a distance away.
As we were taking in the sight of all these beautifully prepared and washed vehicles we heard what every Medic loves, BOOM.
For an unknown to me reason, all the cars at the front of the line blew up. We all ran straight for it, however interestingly the students stayed back from the flames, and the instructor caught fire and needed as much medical care as the drivers caught in their cars.
After reviving and treating loads of people, myself and the other students took a moment, and one was over heard to say "They should not have parked as close to each other" in a cocky voice. Unfortunately as I heard that, I turned to see all 3 of the ambulances on fire. I mean 3 ambulances, when was the last time anyone saw 3 ambulances on a server at the same time let alone in the same place.
So much for us being smart. However at least one of us was, as the helicopter was ok and we were flown back to get the spares.
Now I decided to put myself in a crossroad by the copper mine as most vehicles would pass me there. As soon as the race started my map bleeped with the roadkill and carnage. I know that the medics at the start were busy as the chatter was "You do that one", "Wait for the flames" and "Who is going to do him".
To top it all the sun was now going down and night vision was needed. Now I don't now how many of you have tried driving a ambulance in the dark with night vision glasses. Imagine being drugged, underwater and with a cold. That maybe close to the effect.
But we are hard in the NHS, (Yeh right) so I carried on. Once I was sure everyone was past me (including my colleagues) I started to drive on the main road. The chatter was now about whether we were actually allowed to go into the UNMC area, none of us were particulary happy about this, but when did we ever get given a choice.
So imagine the scene, you have 3 students, driving 3 ambulances, in the dark, with NVG and lights on. Disaster oncoming.
So my first was nearly running straight into a crashed vehicle. My life flashed before me, well actually the immortal words of "Don't scratch my vehicles" went through my mind as I only just missed it. Afterall I had already blown up one ambulance today.
I stopped to mop my brow, and only then realised someone was needing attention right near me.
Unfortunately I needed to get his car impounded in order to get to him, which once I had given him medical attention he was unhappy with his car being gone, that I thought I would give him a little lift.
Now no body had said we could not do this at this stage. Then over the NHS radio one of the students asked "Can we give a lift if we are asked". When the answer came through as no I had to stop and ask him to leave. I felt really guilty, but the question had been asked and answered.
Just by the airport I caught up with the student who had asked the question. So far I had been well in the back, but now I felt I was catching up as I could see his lights in front of me. In fact all of a sudden if was really bright as he drove into a police barrier and blew up. Now I should apologise to the attending policeman who came over for a laugh, as there was so much chatter on the radio that I could not hear him.
After loosing another ambulance the student got in mine and we carried on. We were getting close to the UNMC, but before the checkpoint we ran into the police and some racers in an arguement on the main road. Normally we would steer clear and wait, but today we came off the road and carried on.
We approached the border with dry mouths and parked off to the side to talk to the border patrol and ask permission. We actually made a great impression because as we got there some one needed immediate attention. Again the chatter over the radio was loud and we crept through the border not really being able to hear a word, but there were no gun shots.
Now we were in unknown territory, and were directed to the top of the map. On route we kept getting a request from a SGT. who was complaining that he was in the water and had been bitten by Jaws.
I could not resist and we headed straight for him. I wandered why no body else had gone to him, right until I put my foot in the water. Bloody hell it was cold. He was just far enough in for the water to cover my testicles, (which eventually returned from inside my stomach). After giving him medical attention I wanted to find out what happened. Through chattering teeth all I heard was "Cold, testicles, Need warm hands" before I ran away, after all we have all heard stories about what happens over the border!!.
What a great event I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did, but just to clarify I managed to keep my ambulance in tip top condition (the poo stain on the passenger side chair was not due to my driving).
Gregory House
Last edited by a moderator:
