The Grand Prix Experience: Third Night Shift

BEYONCE CONCERT

My third night shift is over! Hooray!Only seven night shifts are remaining for me here at Yas Island where the first ever Formula One race in Abu Dhabi is being held.

Last night’s shift was busier than the previous two shifts. That was because last night was the concert night for BEYONCE KNOWLES. Thousands of people flocked to the concert venue. I was not able to watch her sing but I got to see the crowd as our service shuttle passed by the main entrance gate on our way to our tent hospital.

The day staff were able to watch part of the concert, as they went straight to the venue right after their shift. Shame, we missed that part of our stay here.

But hey, I came here for work! The action at the field hospital was something I shouldn’t miss. Our patients last night were basically coming from the audience at the concert venue. Apparently, the stores inside the venue ran out of water and soft drinks, and only beers and alcoholic beverages were left on the shelves. So some basically got dehydrated, especially those who were at the venue early in the afternoon. We received patients who collapsed, who had abdominal pains, and even neck pains!

I heard that a famous Arabic band is performing tonight after the Formula One race. I wonder when Aerosmith is performing? Tomorrow, I suppose. I haven’t checked the schedules. But it does not interest me now, coz I can’t watch concerts on these bloody night shifts.

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Night staff early morning snap: Me in brown scrubs

BIGGEST TENT HOSPITAL?

The initial plan for our tent field hospital was a 50-bedded facility, which could treat emergency cases and could do emergency surgery (we have one operating room). This was the picture during my first night shift.

On my second night shift, the bed capacity increased by 40 – so that made the tent hospital a 90-bedded facility. It seemed we are really preparing for the worst case scenario.

Last night when I came in, the field hospital has become a 219-bedded unit! Wow! It’s even bigger than some of our hospitals in Bulacan! two more operating room tables were added. I heard the sheikh wanted to put up five operating rooms and to reach a 250-bed target. Gosh, we are really expecting for a major disaster here! I hope that does not happen. But anyhow, to be part of might-be one of the biggest tent hospital in the world is already an exciting idea.

I’ll see how many beds will be added on my fourth night tonight.

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GOOD MORNING, YAS ISLAND!

Daylight started to scatter to wake up Yas Island! Here’s a play of the morning sun, as it rises on the east outside the sleepy camp of the field tent hospital.

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CARS CARS CARS!

Returning to my hotel, I found this Ferraris parked in front of the hotel. I misplaced one of my Ferraris last week… could this be mine? Hmmm…

While writing this, I’m sitting by my hotel window. Even if the windows are closed, I can still hear from here some buzzing sound coming from the Formula One circuit. It’s like a housefly flying near your ears. The circuit drivers could be practicing at this time coz the race starts this afternoon.

My friends here are planning to wake up early in the afternoon to watch the race. I’ll probably wake up around 3:30pm to beat the crowd. We have to return to the hotel by 6pm to get ready for our fourth night shift. We expect a busy night tonight because there’s half-a-million people on the island at the moment all eager to be expectors of the race along the side.

So that means I have to sleep now. Bye!