For our wonderful team of trainers, life since lock down has been very different. With our Mini First Aid classes online we wanted to share with you some of the key roles that our trainers have been doing during the crisis.
This week we meet Lyndsey from Mini First Aid Edinburgh;
Tell us about what you’ve been doing whilst lockdown has been happening?
I have been working in the NHS, shopping, cleaning and walking the dog. I can’t meet up with friends and family so have had lots of virtual meet ups (which I am really enjoying). I am also home schooling my two boys age 12 and 15 and that has been a challenge!
What have you been doing in the NHS?
I am a Midwife in the Antenatal and Postnatal ward at St Johns Hospital in Livingston, caring for women and their babies.
What does working in the NHS feel like right now?
It is very strange. There are no visitors in the hospital apart from when women are in labour so it’s a difficult time for women. I have spent a lot of my time just chatting to the women and making them feel more relaxed and supported. The ward is therefore very quiet without the visitors, which is strange. The women have been very accepting of this and seem to enjoy chatting to the other women. We are also having to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) i.e. masks, aprons and gloves which is hard to wear for 12 hours, but is necessary and makes us all feel safer. We obviously have the risk of caring for pregnant, labouring and postnatal women with COVID 19, which is worrying as we are putting our family and ourselves at risk. We all take precautionary measures in the ward with all patients and I make sure when I get home I clean and wash my clothes and myself thoroughly before touching anything in my house. Midwife means "with women" and we have had to be with the women more as we are the women’s family and friends whilst in the ward, as well as their midwife.
How has family life been affected for you?
Other than being careful when I come home, nothing is really any different, it’s my job and home is home. I am still a mum, wife, daughter etc and life has to go on, bizarre as it is at the moment.
What positive things are happening for you in the Mini First Aid world right now?
Mini First Aid is my release at the moment. The Mini First Aid family is so supportive and although my head is with midwifery just now I still enjoying getting involved in online and interactive first aid as much as I can.
Lyndsey, from all the team at Mini First Aid and from all the Mums and Mums to be you have been looking after in Livingstone – thank you for being an amazing Key Worker.
