British Red Cross
I did go to a British Red Cross meeting yesterday, only to show up to locked automatic doors. I pressed the buzzer and it ‘buzzzz’ed’ but had no answer so got in the car and came back home, stopping at a chippy on the way. Admittedly, I was 30 minutes late – I thought it started at 7:30pm but checked the sheet just before I left at 7:20pm and it did start at 7pm. Oh noes! *Slams foot down on accelerator* Nah, it was only up the road anyway, got there at 7:25pm. A bit disappointed I couldn’t get into the building but that’ll teach me not to be late.
I haven’t done Red Cross work for a while, my uniform is scattered everywhere and I need to gather it together as I’m going to provide first aid cover this weekend in Hereford. Point to Point races are starting again, I remember going last year. It’s amateur horse racing and you do get quite a few casualties and is an opportunity to use first aid skills. It’s very cold and windy as it is all on an open field. Unlike Chepstow Racecourse, we haven’t got a first aid unit nor an office where radio control is held. Instead that is all done in ambulances. I spoken to the public events co-ordinator this evening and asked him if I could get a thick jacket because I’m sure I’m gonna need it, he said he’ll get me one for Saturday.
I’m no longer scared of the radios. Even though I completed the training course I hated having to use a radio and asked the fellow volunteer who was with me (normally in pairs) to take control of it. However now it’s fine, I guess I’m getting used to talking to people now, what with work. My main fear of using the radios on Red Cross events is that the message you’re sending is broadcasted to everyone on the same signal (all the volunteers and staff covering an event) and I’m scared I’d make an ass of myself by mixing my words up which I do tend to do but meh, that’s just the way things go. I guess it adds a little humour anyway, even if it is at my expense. 