Corporal Jamie De Maurier was quoted as saying:
“The Boots clinical training was really thorough and prepared me well for the work here in Wembley alongside everyone else. This may not be normal infantry work, but it’s a privilege to be able to step forward and help deal with the coronavirus challenge.”
Private Jermaine Campbell was also quoted, saying:
“As a Londoner, being able to step up and support the efforts here in my home-city is really important to me. The team is a real mix – Boots, Sodexo, and two Army units – but everyone is working together, testing the NHS and key workers who come through, so they can continue their vital work.”
The enhanced military force will bolster the north London COVID-19 testing facility, which is now fully manned and currently being used for NHS staff and other key workers, say the British Army.
It is great to see our Armed Forces so involved. However why are they using up precious PPE when they are equipped with and trained to use GS CBRN masks and suits? Surely they offer better protection than even the best NHS stuff??
Not very practical. Plus there very off poting.
Very practical (if you can fight in it you can take swabs) and the whole CV19 is very off putting, the public can take looking at gas masks without wetting themselves.
Covid 19 is very of potting. but seeing military personnel in full CBRN attire designed to protect the user from some of the most horrendous thing on this earth, doesn’t exactly send a good pitcher. and while you can fight in there uncomfortable, hot, restrict vision, communication and movement. all worthy trade off when your dealing with elements that will kill you in horrific ways before you can even detect it. When your dealing with a virus that can only effect you if it enters through your mouth and eyes, both of which can be protected by a none intrusive… Read more »
In 1987 I did my BFT wearing an S10 respirator, suit, gloves and over boots. Yes it was fffing awful but doing swabs in a car park isn’t quite the same thing. Also I bet the Brit public could get used to it, especially if that means more PPE for the NHS.
Please consider that medical ppe is single use, discarded into clinical waste after each patient is seen. A GSR worn continuously merely becomes a vector for covid. One infected person coughs on the gsr and it becomes a hazard to all future patients.
Bever mind the soldier who takes it off and puts it back in his mask carrier….
All of the above is wrong if decontamination drills are done properly – no excuses – get it rolled out now.
Not at all. Disposable PPE is disposable for a reason. Decontamination drills are designed for short term use against chemical agents in order to allow a soldier to operate briefly before a proper decontaimation can be done when leaving the hot zone (and realisitcally be issued a new set of protective equipment). They are not designed for, nor effective at, disinfecting (different from decontaminating) a GSR from a virus to medical standards in between each patient seen.
Best of British to everyone involved.
Hello folks hope all are well.
Hopefully when all this over, the general public will appreciate our military more and realise they are not just used to keep the UK’s interests safe around the globe, our proud military are also stepping up for home public protection keeping us safe and sound.
Cheers
George
Yes, well said George.