AT the Force Troops Command demonstration at Upavon recently I was able to meet met some of the medical team who were deployed to

Sierra Leone to see how they operated.

Key to the whole operation was detailed and exacting training which was carried out at the Army Collective Trauma Training Centre near York.

Captain Steve Truscott was one of the a trainers and he explained how they quickly had to developed new techniques very quickly to ensure that all the soldiers were properly trained and had confidence in their training and the techniques developed.

As the virus is waterborne they had to developed a technique to prove that ensure no contaminants had escaped the cleaning process as well aso do this they made a trace element that was could be picked up by detectors isf any it was left onthe clothing or equipment. As the training developed, they found thatThey also had toredesigning the medical boots they wore and the gloves clothing to stop garments harbouring the ‘virus’. In conjunction with a British company, Trauma Effects, they also developed a training aid that allowed the medics to practice taking blood samples from a very realistic veins that was strapped to ‘patients’ arm.

The success of the training meant that there was only one medic who was infected. The centre trained personnel from a number of other countries and is the only one of its type in the world. Several members of the team, including the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Alison McCourt, were recognised with awards in the latest Operational Honours and Awards list.