Personnel from RAF Marham have been looking at ways that they can support the community over the last few months with the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The RAF Marham photographic section have been making plastic clips using their 3D printer. The clips keep the elastic from the face masks away from the ear making it more comfortable for the wearer. The idea came from their colleagues at RAF Odiham and after a bit of research the Marham photo section set about printing the first set of clips. The first set of clips were donated to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and with a further set handed to the RAF Marham Co-Responders to distribute amongst their colleagues at the East of England Ambulance Service Trust. Ben from the Photo section said: “It’s been great to be able to support our local NHS and care workers by producing these clips which will hopefully help to make them a bit more comfortable whilst they are working”. The photo section continue to print the clips to donate to NHS staff and carers across the county.
The RAF Marham Co-Responders increased their support to the East of England Ambulance Trust last month with the arrival of two Double Staffed Ambulances. This is in addition to the Rapid Response Vehicle already in use daily by the team. In the first four weeks the RAF Marham team have been on the road for approximately 800 hours and have attended to 191 patients. They have attended a variety of emergencies from falls and abdominal pain to cardiac arrests and traffic incidents. The addition of the ambulances has meant that the team now have the facility to transport patients to hospital, including those with suspected Covid-19.
RAF Marham are very fortunate to have a fantastic Community Support and Chaplaincy team who have been supporting the Community via social media with a number of activities and initiatives to keep the families busy. There have been craft activities for the children to do, competitions and even virtual coffee mornings. The team are also putting together activity packs each week and leaving them on a table outside the shop for people to pick up when they are purchasing their essentials. The latest activity to be added to the table is 'make your own bird pizza's'. These packs have also been posted to families who live further afield.
RAF Marham Station Commander, Group Captain Jim Beck said “These are just a few examples of the fantastic work that personnel from RAF Marham are doing to support the community in these uncertain times. From the continuing work that the Co-Responders are doing to the new initiatives that are being introduced I am justly proud of these individuals and teams and the ideas they have come up with to make a difference to all of our families and the wider community”.
