Ski Rescue Hero Squad

This is a 999 emergency.

So buckle up and get ready for action.

This CBBC series will push six children to their limits...

..as they join forces with the real emergency services.

Over the toughest terrain.

Experiencing the highs...

..and the lows.

There's a new emergency crew in town.

I'm Rav Wilding and this is Hero Squad.

Six ordinary school kids.

Their mission - to learn how to save lives.

But do they have what it takes to become real life heroes?

Meet this year's rookie cadets.

Thousands applied and the best six

were chosen to be our new Hero Squad.

First up - devoted dancer, 12-year-old Kyra from London.

I wanted to be on Hero Squad because it's an opportunity of a lifetime.

12-year-old Sam - a swimming Scout from Somerset.

Heroes Squad definitely was made for me.

It's just the kind of person I am.

It's the sort of thing that Scouts love,

it's the sort of thing that lifesavers would do.

It's everything that I do.

13-year-old go-getting Maria from Camden.

When I first found out, I was screaming. I was like, "Aah!"

I was hugging everyone and I just had the biggest grin on my face.

12-year-old tennis ace Myles from Lewisham.

I'm very excited cos I'm looking forward to the missions.

12-year-old super striker Josh from Doncaster.

I think I'll be good on the Hero Squad team

because I'll bring skills, teamwork and humour.

And finally netball hotshot - 13-year-old Lily from Carlisle.

In the future, I'd like to work in the A&E department of a hospital.

I think being on Hero Squad would help me

develop the skills to help save people.

Six ordinary kids...

..but the time for ordinary is over.

SIREN WAILS

Throughout Hero Squad,

they'll be taking on the toughest challenges of their lives.

Doing things that no-one their ages have done before.

With no idea what they'll be facing.

COUGHING

Stand up for me, please.

When they signed up,

we gave each cadet one of these backpacks full of clues.

Oh, it's heavy.

Before they start their adventure,

let's see if they can guess what they'll be doing.

And I have a torch.

A lifejacket.

Am I going on a boat trip?

Is it wax?

I want to know what's happening and I want to know what this is for.

Well, cadets, you're about to find out.

"Calling Hero Squad cadets..."

"Report for duty."

As the Hero Squad comes together for the first time.

Rucksacks packed and uniforms on,

the cadets are pressed,

dressed and ready for action.

They've got to report for duty to me in the Scottish Highlands.

'And they've got no idea what to expect.'

Good morning, cadets.

Morning.

I think you can do better than that. Good morning, cadets.

CADETS: Good morning.

Better.

Over the next few weeks you're going to be doing things

that no people of your age have ever been allowed to do before.

So it's OK if at times that you're nervous.

It's OK at times if you're even scared.

But what's not OK is if you don't give 100% all the time.

Right then, cadets, get your kit and let's go outside.

Time for the Hero Squad's first mission...

..ski rescue

with the Cairngorm Mountain Ski Patrol in Aviemore, Scotland.

Cairngorm Mountain is home to the largest ski area in the UK.

Out of the 135,000 skiers who came here last year,

more than 500 got injured.

Navigating tough terrain to get to a casualty

as quickly as possible is a ski patroller's most vital skill.

Most of our rookie cadets have never skied before.

But if they're going to be ski patrollers,

they're going to have to learn.

MUSIC: "Ice, Ice, Baby" by Vanilla Ice

Two days ago, they were in school. Now they're on a pair of skis.

It's a slippery start. Maria needs a hand.

Myles and Josh hold each other up.

And Sam's going backwards.

Bouncing.

Flapping.

And limbo-ing.

If they're going to manage a tough ski rescue,

they're going to have to do better than this.

Every time on Hero Squad, the cadets will face

a nerve-racking challenge based on real life emergencies.

It'll be a race against the clock to save their casualty

and it will be the cadets alone calling all the shots.

It really is all down to these 12 and 13-year-olds.

In every Hero Squad mission,

our cadets must rescue a Hero Squad casualty...

..with just one day's training.

SHE SCREAMS

The pressure is on.

They're going to need some expert help...and fast.

Good morning.

-My name's Ruaridh.

-My name's Justine.

And we're members of the Cairngorm Ski Patrol.

We're going to be your mentors.

The cadets are in safe hands with their two new mentors.

Between them, they've spent nearly 30 years with Ski Patrol.

JUSTINE: We have lots of different ski and snowboard injuries.

You can have up to 25, 30 casualties in one day.

When the time comes, we try and save lives the best we can.

In order to be able to save lives on the slopes,

our cadets have to prove their ability on their skis.

First to get a piste of the action is Lily.

CHEERING

Go on, Lily.

Remember, most of these cadets have never skied before.

If they don't successfully navigate the slalom,

they won't be allowed to wear Ski Patrol colours.

Body position is nice and strong.

She's controlling her upper body as well as her lower body.

Next it's Josh.

-Off you go.

-Go on, Josh.

Well done. Keep going.

CHEERING

Skiing is all about balance and being light on your feet.

It's definitely not a problem for this Doncaster dancer.

MUSIC: "Town Called Malice" by The Jam

'I do ballet...'

tap, jazz, modern and song and dance.

'My favourite's tap because it's my best type of dance.'

I love dancing because I get to express myself

and just let myself go to the music.

Come on, Josh. Almost there.

You're doing well.

Very good. Well done, Josh.

'Back on the slopes,

'Josh has proved he can swap his tap shoes for skis with a perfect run.'

Before today,

none of our cadets have ever skied before...except Myles.

He's certainly quick off the mark.

CHEERING

CHEERING

Yes! And nice stop.

-Good job, Myles.

-Go, Myles. You're doing well.

It's Sam next.

Well done. Awesome.

Followed by Kyra.

Easy. Too easy for her. That was really good.

Well done, Kyra.

Last, but not least - it's Maria.

I'm really nervous.

And she's starting to look worried.

My balance isn't really good.

Come on, Maria. You know you can do it.

Maria is encouraged by her fellow Hero Squad cadets.

You can do it.

You're doing really well.

Good to see some teamwork already with our new recruits.

Come on, Maria. You're nearly finished.

Maria's determined to complete the course mistake free.

When 13-year-old Maria sets off on a challenge, she likes to complete it.

If you want to do something and you struggle in it,

you have to be really determined and show that you want to do this

and you're going to succeed in the end.

Let's hope Maria's determination means this will be

'a cadet clean sweep.'

Yes! You've done brilliant.

-Well done, Maria.

-Well done, Maria.

Well done, Maria.

While going down the slope, you had to think about a lot.

You had to think about control, speed

and then turning at certain points and making sure not to fall over.

The ski slalom test was a success for the cadets,

but let's hope they can remember their skiing moves...

because tomorrow they're on ski patrol.

On these slopes, anything could happen.

Their next training session takes the cadets

to the top of the mountain

to show them how to use a ski patroller's

most essential piece of kit.

The ski sledge -

made out of plastic and aluminium, it's lightweight, but very strong.

Last year, it towed more than 400 people to safety.

The training is taking place 1,200 metres up

and the temperature is below freezing.

It's a tough test for our new cadets.

We're going to set up a rope system here that helps us

control the descent of the sledge down a steep slope.

'A special knot, called a figure of eight,

'is used to attach the rope system to the sledge.

'It's a tricky knot to master, especially in thick ski gloves,

'but it will be crucial for tomorrow's challenge when the

'cadets will be working under pressure in freezing temperatures.'

Going to split you up into two groups.

I think to mix it up, we're going to have the girls against the boys.

-CADETS: Yes!

-So, girls, get ready. Go.

'The mentors made it look simple,

'but have Maria, Lily and Kyra being paying attention?'

Not going in.

Get that bit there. She does this bit.

OK, clip it on, now. Maria, clip it on.

Yeah, that's it. Pull it through.

Is this working on the figure of eight knot

that they need on the end of the rope there.

No, it's not quite there yet,

but Lily's going to have another go there.

-LILY GROANS KYRA:

-No.

-That's not going to go through it.

-Yeah, it is.

Done.

'To check the rigged sledge is safe to carry a casualty,

'I'm going to test it out on the slope.

'Wish me luck.'

Have a nice ride.

So, girls, final time -

are you confident that your knots are going to hold my weight?

-GIRLS:

-Yes!

Their knots held me up.

-Are you pleased with that?

-Yep, very pleased.

-Fantastic.

'Next up, it's the boys -

'Myles, Sam and Josh.'

Go.

'Having watched the girls,

'Josh is first to take his gloves off to speed up the rope work.'

Right, I'm nearly ready.

Other way. Other way.

That's it. Push.

'And good communication from Josh gets the boys working as a team.'

This is serious stuff here.

-Serious.

-Concentration there from the boys.

'Remember, Ruaridh and Justine are on the lookout for someone to

'make squad leader at the end of today's training.'

-Yes.

-Done.

-Wow. Are you in? Done?

-OK.

'The boys' knots must be able to take the weight of me

'and the weight of the sledge.

'That's 115 kilos, a heavy load.'

Boys, your knots better be good.

You're just gently releasing the rope.

'It holds! A great success for the boys.'

The boys done well.

Yes!

'Both teams have impressed their mentors with a secure rope rig,

'but who was quickest - boys or the girls?'

Girls, you went first.

One minute 32 seconds.

In these conditions, that's a very good time.

You should be proud of yourselves.

However, boys...

40 seconds. Well done.

-BOYS:

-Yes!

We've actually just beaten them.

It was quite annoying the boys won,

but I think we'll let them off just this once.

Although I am a bit disappointed that we didn't win,

but I guess now that we know what we did wrong,

the rescue tomorrow we'll be able to do much better.

Let's hope Maria's right.

In less than 24 hours' time, the cadets will be using a sledge

to rescue a fallen skier with a serious injury.

How they treat the casualty

when they arrive on the scene could make all the difference.

So it's back to Ski Patrol HQ to learn about a vital role -

emergency medical technician.

So I'm just going to lift up Lily's leg...

..and Ruaridh's going to pop the splint underneath.

'Justine and Ruaridh are showing the cadets how to use something

'called a vacuum splint.'

Feels like a massive balloon's going round my leg.

'Sucking air out of the splint makes it hard

'and keeps the leg as still as possible.

'Any movement could make the injury worse.'

Who wants to come up and feel that?

'Josh volunteers.'

Feel how hard that is now.

Hard? All they've done is taken the air out.

'Next up is a lesson in how to treat a wrist injury.

'First a splint, then a bandage, then finally a sling.'

'Will the cadets remember what they've been

'taught as they practise on each other?'

Don't move a muscle.

SHE GROANS

It's not a bandage Myles needs, it's a BAFTA for best actor.

A good time to wrap today's training.

The cadets took the slopes by storm.

CHEERING

Learned to rig the all-important ski sledge

and had a crash course in ski technique.

But they'll need to be on their toes for their very first

Hero Squad rescue tomorrow

when a skier is seriously injured in a fall.

'For every challenge they confront,

'one of them will be chosen

'to be squad leader by their mentors.'

Their first rescue demands a strong character

'to keep the others on track.

'The standard is high.'

Kyra, we were very impressed with you.

We'll start with the skiing, we thought that was good.

Yeah, you've done really well.

You skied really well, really controlled.

First time on skis. Fantastic.

I thought Sam did very well today.

You were quite nervous to begin with.

But once you got the first turn in, you were very relaxed.

And there was one more as well, wasn't there?

-Josh. You've done very well today, Josh.

-Thank you.

You've been asking lots of questions.

Any time there's been a question, your hands been up first.

So the person that we've decided that just pipped the others

and should be squad leader, and will be wearing this armband, is...

..you, Josh.

Well done. Give him a round of applause.

-Thank you.

-There you are, Josh. This is going to be for you.

Put your arm out.

Well done, Josh.

-JOSH:

-'I'm proud of myself.'

I think I'll be a good leader

because I'll tell people what to do but not be too bossy.

After a tough day's training,

the transformation from school kids to Hero Squad cadets

to ski patrollers is almost complete.

Fancy taking part in a daring rescue at the touch of a button?

Head to the CBBC website and play the Hero Squad game.

Early morning on the beautiful Cairngorm Mountain

in the Scottish Highlands.

At 1,200 metres, it's part of the highest mountain range in Britain.

The cadets are now working on duty as part of the Ski Patrol unit.

Ready at a moment's notice to rescue anyone in trouble on the slopes.

I think it's going to be quite scary

going up to the top of the ski slopes,

so I am quite nervous that maybe something might go wrong.

I do have a lot of weight put on me because I have been skiing before.

I think I'm nervous, anxious and excited all at the same time.

And they need to impress their mentors,

because for every tough rescue, there's a hero of the day.

Control room. Josh receiving, over.

A recruit who shows exceptional skill, quick wits and determination.

The cadets have split up into two groups.

Half are out on skis with Ruaridh, checking boundaries are in place.

Whilst the others are manning the base station with Justine.

Now, as they just check their kit,

the patrollers are out skiing the slopes.

But in another part of the resort,

things are taking a turn for the worst.

Someone has taken a fall and they're in trouble.

Katie's an experienced skier, but has never been to this

resort before and is enjoying the stunning scenery when...

..disaster!

She loses her balance and falls.

SHE SCREAMS

Help!

She's injured her leg and is unable to get up.

Are you OK?

She's spotted by a fellow skier who goes off to raise the alarm.

It's now time for the cadets to prove themselves.

With the Hero Squad split up,

will they be able to remember everything they've been taught

and work as a team to rescue our Hero Squad casualty?

Injury at the middle station.

The emergency call comes to Josh as squad leader.

Whereabouts in the middle station and what type of injury is it?

Lower limb injury, Josh. Over.

Message received, over.

-Calling Hero Squad patrol skiers, over.

-Received, over.

The casualty is in the boarding platform in the middle station.

He has a lower limb injury, over.

I receive that, over.

With not a minute to lose, the cadets head off.

Temperatures are sub-zero.

Even with specialist ski gear on, that's dangerously cold.

The resort is packed with skiers enjoying the snow,

making it difficult to find the casualty.

24 hours ago, these 12 and 13-year-old cadets

couldn't ski.

Now they're storming the slopes in search of a fallen skier.

After a frantic five minute's skiing, the team find her.

Guys, casualty's up there.

Are you OK?

No, it hurts.

I just... I crashed.

But it's just my knee, really. It's just my knee.

OK, we need to get on stretch.

Just get me out of here.

Hero Squad patrol to base, over.

-Josh receiving, over.

-We have found the casualty, over.

Received, over.

Let's go.

It's a lot of kit they're carrying. They're doing a great job.

To get the injured skier off the mountain,

Josh, Sam and Maria are going to have to take all the casualty

care kit up to the cadets who are with the Hero Squad casualty.

Well done, Sam. Well done.

'Covering 250 metres of mountain every minute,

'this train is the fastest possible way to get there.'

We'll be there in five minutes, over.

Good call, squad leader.

Back on the mountain,

whilst Kyra and Lily keep the casualty calm,

Myles is thinking ahead.

We need something to stop the skiers coming down

so we can get her across.

Using ski poles, Kyra's marking an area to divert other skiers

away from the scene of the accident.

With the whole Hero Squad reunited on the mountain,

they can now swing into action

and get the ski sledge to the casualty quickly and safely.

It's coming now.

'The injured skier is now moments away from first aid.'

We'll get you off in no time.

Get you on to the flat.

Right.

OK, we've got to get her in the bag first.

On the mountain, Maria's taking control of the situation as

she begins to fit the vacuum splint to the damaged leg.

Nice work, Maria.

The cadets are now faced with the toughest part of the rescue.

They've got to rig a secure pulley system to lower the casualty

to flatter ground.

Will 12-year-olds Kyra and Josh remember how to tie

the figure-of-eight knot they learnt in training?

Whilst Myles takes the strain of the sledge and the skier.

That's almost twice his own body weight.

The cadets have successfully lowered the sledge to a flatter

and safer part of the mountain.

But the casualty isn't out of danger yet.

They've got to get the sledge down a steep snowy 800-metre descent.

This is the first time a group of 12 and 13-year-olds

have ever been allowed to do this.

Josh has decided that Myles, Hero Squad's most confident skier,

is the man to ski the sledge down the mountain to safety.

RUARIDH: Good stuff. That's brilliant.

Two days ago, Kyra had never skied before.

Now she's strapped on her skis to support Myles.

And updating the team with a radio at the same time.

Wow!

Mentor Ruaridh is with the cadets,

but it's Myles who is taking the strain of the sledge like a pro.

Really good. Nice wide snowplough.

The wheelchair's waiting for you at the moment.

You guys, just going to keep the path nice and clear.

Hero Squad will be down shortly.

We'll be down in about five minutes, over.

They've done it.

What a finale to a really tough first challenge for the Hero Squad.

'The cadets carefully place the casualty

'into the back of her friend's car.

'Thanks to them, she's now safely on her way to hospital.'

ALL: Bye.

The Hero Squad's first rescue is done.

I'm really excited about what's to come,

cos obviously our first one's down. So bring it on.

Working in a place like this, it was amazing,

but it was hard as well, cos it's so cold.

You have to do everything really, really quickly.

I'm really excited about the rescues to come,

cos if this is the first on this is just amazing.

It's just blown my mind.

It's been a demanding day for the cadets, but they've worked

together brilliantly in their first ever Hero Squad rescue.

Their transformation from rookies to ski patrollers is now complete.

'Now all that's left to do is choose a hero of the day.

'The cadet their mentors believe has demonstrated

'that extra bit of bravery, determination and skill.'

The cadets have done and incredible job today.

They were given quite a challenge

and they worked in an amazing few hours as a team.

Ruaridh, one of the people that you saw

that did particularly well was Myles.

Myles, first of all, when we were at the scene,

one of the first things that Myles said...

We need something to stop the skiers.

I thought Kyra did very well. She was in charge of the rope lower.

And someone else that you saw doing some really good work - Maria.

Yes, Maria was in with me in the control room and then

when we actually loaded the sledge.

Maria was at the back by herself.

'She might not look strong, but she's very strong.'

It's a tough decision. But one cadet has impressed more than the others.

Myles, well done.

Hero of the day.

Hero of the day Myles led the way on this rescue with his skiing skills.

When Rav said I was hero of the day, I really couldn't believe it.

Myles's strength kept the Hero Squad sledge safely rooted to the spot.

For his treat, Myles gets to drive top speed in a Ski-Doo...

..whilst the other cadets clean the kit.

That really does stink.

Next time - a casualty's trapped underground.

The cadets face a tense and exhausting rescue.

Can they cope with the pressure?

That's next time on Hero Squad.

It's pongy.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd