Fri 08 May 2020 06:46

Kirry Joughin / Kizza

Favourite Food & Beverage: Coffee & Cake
Favourite Rugby Player? Alun Wyn Jones
Rugby Highlight: As a spectator: watching Wales win 6N Slam 2019; Ma'a Nonu's try v Eng at Twickenham 2013 followed by Dan Carter's conversion in his 100th NZ cap; Watching Wal v ITA at Stadio Olympico whilst a thunderstorm was rolling in, the players laughing in disbelief. As a Therapist/Medic: working with multiple professional and amateur clubs across English & Welsh leagues; Wasps v IOM Legends..... And an added bonus of Garg (Niall's) 1st match back after becoming a new dad where we all thought he was going to cause a riot on the pitch after every tackle due to his hatred from lack of sleep!
Profession: (Sports Therapist, Sport & Exercise Medicine Practitioner. ) Currently AMBULANCE TECHNICIAN, WEST MIDLANDS AMBULANCE SERVICE.
Years’ Experience: 13 years in Sport; 1year Ambulance Service. Best part of the job: The best part of both my jobs is assisting people back to health whether in an acute or chronic nature, providing relief when hope has become lost, and working within amazing multidisciplinary teams. I've travelled the world with sport, and now get to go into places no-one would believe are there within the Ambulance Service meeting people from all walks of life. Stories of patients will always stick with me.
How the coronavirus has changed your work and personal life: Obviously I can't work as a therapist currently in private practice or within sport whilst it's on hold. Additionally, lock-down has meant that I cannot return to the IOM to visit my family, partner and Sausage dog! I currently work and then return to my home where fortunately I pose no risk at all to anyone else, especially those I care about the most. FaceTime is great, and I manage a quick chat whenever I get 5 mins at work or if I'm awake at home! WMAS at the start of COVID in Dec/Jan saw an increase in calls, over 5000 daily! On the road we were doing 8+ jobs in a 12 hour shift, running late on finish times. Thankfully jobs have slowed because people have realised that a lot of care can be done in the community through Pharmacists, District Nurses, Self-Care at home. Sadly though, some people who need to call us aren't.
Thing you miss most with your busy schedule: Sleep, days off...and no coffee chains being open to fuel us!
Top tip to stay safe through these uncertain times: Don't let your good practices over these few months slide when lock-down becomes relaxed.... stay isolated & don't fall for temptation (hugging family members without cleaning hands/no kissing family other than your partner, especially babies!)
Have you been provided with the suitable amount of PPE: Honestly, I think so. WMAS have never been short on PPE for its front-line staff; we've always had enough gloves, aprons and masks of different levels. As an added note, members of the public do NOT need to wear gloves to go out! Just take sanitiser and use it appropriately, washing hands as soon as you get to soap and water. Stop wearing them in cars along with masks! Also, don't be touching surfaces, your phone, your face, your clothes, door handles without washing your hands - this is how the virus will spread! Medics remove their gloves after every single task where fluids are spread, and in-between every single patient. Think about how many tasks you are doing in-between washing hands/changing gloves.
Do you think things will ever get back to normal or will we create new normal: I think a new normal will have to exist for the next 18 months - two years. Hospitals are prepared for secondary waves through summer and in winter. I think social distancing will be in place wherever possible, working from home will become largely optional.
Do you think rugby will start again in September (and if not when): Sadly not. With schools only planned in-part to return in June and hope for universities in Sept I don't see sport especially contact sport returning until testing procedures or even vaccines are increased/created. I know for sure that when it does, i'll be booking the Sat off the front-line and sitting with a well deserved drink to watch it!

A Big thank you to Kirry for giving us an insight into the covid-19 from a key workers perspective.

Monday, we hear from Aaron McFee

If you would like to get something up on the website, just send any content, with an image, to: carl@douglasrufc.com

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