Episode 5 First Time on the Front Line

Britain's next generation of Emergency Service recruits,

chosen from a pool of thousands.

Rookies like Police Special Laurence,

about to go on the streets in uniform for the first time.

I can't wait to learn a bit more off serving officers.

And 21-year-old Kelly starting out as a paramedic

after years of studying.

I've got here. I've proved to myself that I can do it.

I've proved to others that I can do it.

Mountain Rescue Recruit Tom is a GP. He wanted to combine his

medical skills with his love of the outdoors.

It's nice to be able to make a difference

and sometimes it can be a life saving

intervention that you make.

They've survived months of intensive training.

-Come on, let's move!

-Get back!

We've got one casualty, no signs of life.

They've been tested to their limits.

-Spray, spray!

-It's burning!

Stop panicking, don't worry.

All to realise their dream careers.

I didn't think I could do it, but here I am.

Join them for their First Time On The Front Line.

In today's programme,

Rookie Kelly's trauma training is put to the test

as she attends a child whose life is on the line.

He's got a large laceration to his cheek.

Police Special Laurence responds to an allegation

of a serious domestic assault on his very first shift.

-HE KNOCKS

-Police! What's gone on?

And mountain rescue recruit Tom is called to a badly

injured walker who needs airlifting to safety.

We need to get this put together ASAP.

A fresh intake of Cheshire Police Specials, volunteer officers,

is being trained up before they go out on the streets for real.

Put your hand on top of the cuff, that can help you lock

it in nice and tight.

Among them, 22-year-old landscape gardener Laurence Towers.

Hands out in front of you...

Laurence and his classmates are giving up 20 days of their time

to be trained, and when they become Specials they'll need to devote

at least four-and-a-half hours a week to the cause.

-Down, down, down.

-I do some volunteering for charity anyway

and this is the best volunteering experience I think you can get.

Just pride in it, really, more than anything, because

I'm wearing this uniform and it stands for something

and it's nice to be part of it.

Specials serve alongside regular officers

and have the same powers, so they need to be physically fit,

able to defend themselves if attacked...

Get back! Get back!

..and knowledgeable in police procedures and the law.

List the component parts in the national decision-making

model, of which there are six.

Laurence has enjoyed every minute of the training,

and looks forward to putting it into practice.

I can't wait to learn a bit more off serving officers

and what they've learned and how

they find these techniques work best.

Grab hold of it, bring it around, push it round

and then stepping back.

BRASS BAND PLAYS

When rookies successfully complete the course, they're invited to

a ceremony to be sworn in as Specials by a Magistrate.

Laurence Towers.

He enjoys working outside as a landscape gardener

and is looking forward to helping in his community.

It's a big moment for Laurence and his mum Elizabeth.

I'm absolutely over the moon. I'm so proud of him.

I think he looks fantastic in his uniform.

It really bowls me over to see him.

He's a really caring person,

so I think this suits him down to the ground.

Now Laurence has his warrant card, he's a fully-fledged Special.

-That's the money.

-SHE LAUGHS

His police career is about to begin.

I don't think it'll really hit home

until I'm actually out patrolling, wearing my full uniform

and everything, but I've got the identification

and I've sworn myself in, in front of a magistrate, in front of Mum

and Assistant Chief Constable. so I'm well on the way, really.

Two months later and Laurence arrives for his first shift.

It's an unusual feeling for a landscape gardener

putting on a police uniform.

The first time you catch a glimpse of yourself in a window is quite

a big moment, apparently. You feel very proud of yourself.

Wearing a uniform, how can you not love it?

Laurence is considering applying to become a full-time policeman

and leaving gardening behind.

His first few shifts as a Special will help him decide.

Give me a taste of the job and see what it's like,

so why not sort of test it, try before you buy, sort of thing?

When they first start, Specials are assessed during an 18 month

probationary period by constable tutors.

Laurence's mentor today is PC Warren Davidson.

It'll be a strange day for him,

because it'll be the first day he's in uniform.

As soon as he steps out that gate,

people don't realise it's his first day

or whether he's done 20 years. They expect him to know stuff.

It's a bit terrifying when you go out those doors,

first day, but we've all got to have one, so we'll see how we go.

When Laurence and Warren head out, they're soon asked to respond

to a complaint from homeowners in a residential area.

There's a report of a male, he's a little bit worse for wear,

a little bit drunk, down on this street at the bottom here.

It's a regular problem in this part of town.

It's a place where they all stand around drinking.

It's just a worry that they're all there.

It doesn't take long to find the source of the complaint.

So what are we all doing here today? Drinking.

Whose are these ones?

-Pardon?

-Whose are these?

-They've been here.

-Yeah, right, OK.

The police are empowered to remove alcohol consumed in designated

public places. The men claim this beer isn't theirs,

so it's surprising they're so unhappy about it being poured away.

No, you just said it's not yours. It was just here.

Laurence gets an early lesson in firm but fair policing.

Move on your way. All right, guys.

-No problem.

-Thank you very much.

As a landscape gardener, he isn't happy

about the litter left behind by the local drinkers.

I work hard to keep the place

tidy, so when they're undoing my work it doesn't go down too well.

Mess cleared, drinkers moved on, job done.

But the shift is only just starting.

100 miles away in the West Midlands, another raw emergency service

recruit is finding her feet.

Rookie paramedic Kelly Wilkes has already

attended two road traffic collisions.

Have you got any pain anywhere at the moment?

Now, her second shift beckons.

Kelly's career with the West Midlands Ambulance Service

began in September 2013 with a training course

to prepare her for active service.

She was joined on the course by her best friend Abi Collins,

they met while studying Paramedic Science at Uni.

We've gone through our whole training together,

the two years and now it's just fantastic that we've got to

do the induction and we're going to be colleagues in West Midlands.

The same service. It's really good, isn't it?

Kelly and Abi had been assigned to different ambulance stations,

so it was nice to spend some time together before their careers

began in earnest.

So, we've got the ST elevation, but no DQA,

so what do we say about time frame?

-Less than a day.

-Between one and four hours, normally.

On the six week course,

Kelly, Abi and the other new recruits were trained

-in clinical technique...

-Pop it on loosely, to start with.

..personal safety...

When I try now to resist with my arms, I've got no wriggle room.

..driving skills...

You're quite late on your vision there, as you could have

-looked right over that hedge.

-..and medical equipment...

We're looking at working on these vehicles

that you see just behind me.

..all in preparation for their first shifts as real paramedics.

I'll be taking everything I've learned and going out

and doing it all for myself.

I didn't think I could do it, but then here I am.

A week later and Kelly's paramedic career

is under way.

She's just started her second shift, alongside experienced

colleague Ben Crowne.

They're responding to a 999 about an elderly man who's had a bad fall.

A blood oxygen level of 87% is dangerously low,

and that's not the only concern.

The patient's got a very high heart rate,

that's why we've speeded up a little bit.

The most challenging patients for rookie paramedics

are the very young and the very old.

This casualty's 82.

-Hello.

-Hello.

My name is Kelly, I'm a paramedic from the ambulance service.

The patient, Roy, has mobility issues

and was due to go to hospital to be fitted with an orthopaedic shoe.

But when the transport arrived, he fell over.

Kelly tries to find out exactly what happened

before she begins treatment.

I was getting changed, ready for going to the hospital.

I was sitting on my favourite chair and I thought I saw the ambulance.

I got up, but I did it too quickly.

Kelly monitors Roy's heart and checks his blood pressure.

And he's diabetic, so she's going to measure his blood sugars too,

to make sure he isn't hypoglycaemic.

Ow!

That didn't hurt. I don't believe that ow!

Roy's blood sugars are fine, and his heart tracing and

blood pressure indicate his condition has stabilised

in the short time the paramedics have been here.

And definitely, definitely, definitely

-no new pain in your legs?

-No.

Ben and Kelly want to get Roy up to see

if his observations remain stable.

But he's frail and needs to be lifted carefully.

All I want you to do is just sit yourself up,

keep your feet on the ground, OK?

Up you come, bend in the middle for me, Roy.

I'm very heavy.

So far, so good.

Roy's legs are supporting his weight. A positive sign.

-Hold on to me if you need to.

-I'll hold on to something.

Grab my love handles! SHE LAUGHS

Do you come here often?

SHE LAUGHS Ah, Roy, you charmer.

She may be new to the job,

but Kelly has already developed a lovely manner with her patients.

How are you feeling now you're off the floor, Roy?

Oh, much better, thank you.

-That's good.

-I didn't feel too bad down there.

If the wife kicks me out, I know where to sleep now!

Getting back up hasn't caused any problems, Roy's heart rate

and blood pressure are still fine.

Couldn't cut my finger nails while you're there, could you?

-What do you think I am?!

-I just thought I'd ask!

As a young man in the armed services,

Roy was fit and strong, but now it's a different story.

Kelly and Ben think he should avoid the stress of a trip to A&E.

Everything we've done is fine and being honest with you,

the hospital aren't going to do much more than what we've done,

so obviously your options are you either stay here

-or we take you up to the hospital?

-I'll stay here.

You'll stay here.

Roy's GP will be informed about his fall.

He'll keep a close eye on him for the next few days.

-Take care of yourself. Bye-bye.

-Bye.

People think it is about the emergency side,

the trauma, the blood and the gore,

but it's actually not, a lot of it is

giving patients support, advice, treating them at home, if we can.

A chat and company, especially in elderly people, goes a long way.

A lot of the time, that's all they want.

200 miles away in the Lake District, two more emergency service rookies

are just starting out.

Mountain Rescue Recruits Phil Gerrard and Tom Gallagher.

The Cockermouth Mountain Rescue team gets over 60 callouts a year.

But the volunteers' time commitment doesn't end there.

They also regularly get together to practise their skills.

26 days a year devoted to helicopter evacuation drills,

4x4 training...

This is one of the few times you could get a bit of kick-back

-off the wheel.

-..treating critical patients...

One casualty, deeply hypothermic, no signs of life.

..and rope rescue.

Control from guiding line. We've got an attachment on the package.

The training sessions are also used to assess potential new

recruits, like project manager Phil and local doctor Tom.

-What was his pain score did you say?

-Seven, respiratory was 20.

Tom applied to join Mountain Rescue, because he wanted to

put his medical skills to use in the toughest of environments.

It's nice to be able to make a difference,

especially in hostile conditions

when it's raining, when it's cold, when it's snowing, when it's icy.

You know, somebody is in a lot of distress, it can be a life-saving

intervention that you make.

Fellow rookie Phil comes from a

military and mountaineering background. He wants to

use his climbing skills to help others,

and again experience the camaraderie

he enjoyed in the forces.

The hardest part of mountain rescue

is the teams are massively closely knit

and you're coming into a family.

A very stable family that have been together for years and years

-and years.

-A lot of what they do is second nature

and we're just trying to catch up with them

and be of use to them on the hill.

And a year ago,

shortly after Tom and Phil first applied to join the team,

they got the chance to prove their worth.

Tom and Phil had just arrived at the base for a first aid course

when the alert happened.

We'd just gotten out of the vehicles

when the call came through from the police.

We looked at each other and thought it's a callout,

these guys are going to shoot off, but he said, no, no,

jump in the vehicles. Brilliant, blue lights, all very exciting.

It was an unexpected chance for the rookies to impress.

They were desperate not to blow it.

The casualty was a 51-year-old holiday-maker

who'd slipped on a rock tearing a cartilage in her knee.

It was excruciating. When I tried to

get up with support, I just put my toe on the ground

and I actually immediately crumbled.

Sue called 999 and within minutes an emergency helicopter arrived.

But the rocky terrain meant it couldn't land to pick her up.

The weather was deteriorating fast, and it would soon be getting dark.

Sue's fate was in the hands of the mountain rescue team.

I grabbed the rope, which was reasonably heavy,

and we start pounding our way up hill.

I didn't want to lose face,

so I made sure I picked one of the heavy bags

-and started my trudge up the mountain.

-And you're breathing hard

and you get there and you hear pounding in your ears.

The team erected a makeshift shelter to protect Sue from the biting

wind and rain.

Then they prepped a stretcher to get her off the mountain quickly

and safely.

You see a casualty that was having a bad day, now surrounded by

six or so guys, all doing their job.

It's like a well-oiled machine when it goes really well.

Tom and Phil had to join that well-oiled machine

and get Sue off the mountain fast. She was becoming hypothermic.

By that stage, I was shivering, really cold and I think I was

really in shock, but they were really marvellously reassuring.

Sue was securely strapped up and covered in blankets,

it was time to carry her to safety.

But the wet, rocky terrain was treacherous so the guide rope

Phil had brought was used to support the stretcher team.

They explained, oh, Susan,

we're just going over this stream now, it's a bit slippy,

but you're all right, don't worry.

We're going to have to tilt the stretcher a bit more

because this is a particularly steep bit, but you're OK.

Throughout the callout, the rookies were closely observed by senior

colleagues, to check they were made of the right stuff.

We were trying to prove ourselves that we were useful,

-so you're eager to try do your best.

-Basically they're testing out your

personal skills to make sure you're safe on a mountain,

you're not going to kill yourself or anybody else.

Tom and Phil took their turns carrying the stretcher,

slotting into the team like seasoned veterans.

When they reached base camp, Sue was delivered to the helicopter

which whisked her off to A&E.

It's just like a fairy tale really, to be rescued like that,

it really was just absolutely amazing.

Phil and Tom had proved their value to the team.

They were well on their way to becoming official mountain rescuers.

If they think we're good enough to go on this one,

maybe they'll think we're good enough to come on another one.

Maybe we'll get put on the callout list.

I hope to build on that and I hope

to be part of this team for quite some time to come.

Back in Crewe, Special PC Laurence

and his mentor Warren are three hours into their shift.

They're responding to an urgent 999 call.

It's a domestic incident.

Shout up on BA. Ask them if they've got the CAVA on the address.

-Any what on the address?

-CAVA.

It's like a history of domestic incidents,

-family issues.

-Echo alpha 497 to BA?

Every year in Britain, two million people report domestic abuse.

It accounts for 10% of emergency calls.

Such cases are challenging even for experienced officers,

this is Laurence's first day.

HE KNOCKS Police.

The homeowner refuses to let the cameras in.

What's gone on?

She tells Laurence and Warren

her brother smashed a window to get into her home, then

put his hands round her throat and strangled her until she passed out.

Drop the attitude, son, drop the attitude.

Laurence handcuffs and arrests him on the spot.

Next stop, the police station.

Stick him behind the rear passenger side of our car.

Laurence has made his first arrest on his first shift.

Normally, Specials have to wait months for this moment.

He's been arrested for Section 39 Assault & Criminal Damage.

He's smashed a window in the house

and he assaulted his sister, strangled her.

Last year, over 600,000 violent offences were reported in Britain.

Half of those led to serious injury.

We're going to take him now back to Crewe nick where we're going

to transport him up to Middlewich Custody Facility.

Laurence will get a chance to book him in and see custody procedures.

Laurence's training is being put to full use, his next task,

booking a suspect into custody for the first time.

Over here, please...

Morning, Sergeant.

As arresting officer, it's down to him

to report back to the custody sergeant.

Responding to a call of domestic assault.

There's an allegation he strangled his sister.

The suspect's read his rights and then it's time for fingerprints

and photographs in Cheshire Police's state of the art facility.

It's like a nuclear bunker or something.

It's unusual for the arresting officer to watch this stage,

but Laurence is transfixed.

It's just new, I've never seen it before.

Processing complete, the suspect is treated to some police hospitality.

-Do you want a cup of tea?

-Tea with two sugars.

-Tea with two sugars, all right.

-And then banged up.

Blanket there, it's fresh...

Be back with your tea in a minute.

For Laurence, all that remains is the paperwork

and his first shift will be over.

I've had an arrest, I was shaking and adrenaline pumping.

No matter how nervous he was, I don't think he showed it too much.

Quite a milestone, really, to get over.

The lad who we'd arrested didn't realise it was his first day.

Having spent days in a padded room, throwing each other on mats

and putting handcuffs on each other, it definitely paid off.

That was the first time he was arrested

and it's the first time Laurence has arrested someone.

Worked in quite well.

Back in Birmingham, rookie paramedic

Kelly's on a break. She's getting advice from experienced

colleague Ben on what to keep in her locker.

-Definitely a spare uniform.

-Spare clothes, yeah, and a towel.

Yeah, in case you need to have a wash at work.

-Because it will happen eventually.

-Have you had to before?

-Yeah.

-What was the job?

-The patient vomited all over me.

-Oh, lovely(!)

Yeah, all over my hair and my face and my hands.

-Really?

-Yeah, everywhere. It was horrible.

-Oh, my gosh.

-So had to have a shower at work.

Their break is brought to an abrupt end by a red alert.

Major trauma, child versus car.

4102.

Six-year-old versus car, landed on another car,

hit his head on the windscreen and shattered it.

It's the sort of call paramedics hate.

Child versus car.

Road accidents are the biggest single

killer of children in Britain. Over 2,000 boys and girls

are killed or seriously injured each year.

Kelly was dreading a case like this so early in her career.

This is quite a serious job, major trauma potentially,

so we'll assess the situation when we get there.

-They're here.

-Are they? Already?

-Yeah.

The police clear the way for the ambulance.

Just a week ago in training, Kelly was doing trauma role plays,

now it's for real.

The six-year-old boy is called Hadis, he's badly injured.

We kind of need people to clear out of the way.

A local GP was nearby when Hadis was hit, he's trying to stabilise him.

Can I have a quick handover from somebody?

I'm a GP, he's hit this car.

He hit the back window and fell on the floor.

Yeah. Yeah. OK.

He's got a broken jaw definitely. Bleeding into the airway.

Airway stable at the moment.

Kelly needs to put a cervical collar onto Hadis. If his neck's

broken and he moves his head, he could be paralysed.

Right, if I can... CHILD CRIES OUT

-He's probably got a head injury too.

-182, reference our current details.

Ben updates control.

Believed to have been projected into the back of another vehicle.

Confirmed large laceration to his head

and confirmed broken jaw. Currently collar

and boarding the child.

We will be leaving as soon as possible. Over.

But there's a problem. Hadis is wedged under a car.

And that's not the only concern.

-I think there's a leg as well.

-There's a leg fracture as well, OK.

I think he's not moving it and it's swollen.

The police have found the driver of the car trapping Hadis,

he's about to move it.

Backwards please. Keep going, keep going.

Keep going back. Right.

CHILD CRIES OUT

Right, bring this in closer.

Hadis's leg is badly broken and the fracture has compacted.

The buckled bone needs to be pulled apart to reduce his pain.

You going to have to apply manual traction to that leg.

OK. All right.

-OK. We have to pull your leg, matey.

-I've got it.

Excellent, well done.

Kelly's successfully applied traction

and straightened his leg, now he can be moved onto the board.

But they have to be careful not to cause any more damage

to his fragile body.

One, two, three. Up a little bit.

Good man, well done, mate!

-How's his airway looking?

-Airway is looking fine.

Suddenly a worrying development. Hadis has fallen unconscious.

That could indicate a serious brain injury.

-Ben tries to rouse him.

-Harris. Harris.

Harris, open your eyes for me. Harris.

We need to get going.

HE CRIES

It's good news, Hadis has come round.

The next challenge, moving him onto the ambulance.

Kelly needs to continue straightening his shattered leg

as he's carried. No easy task.

What we're going to do is lift him up away from the car, turn him

around so his head is facing that way and lower him onto our wagon.

OK, on lift, ready, steady, lift.

Doing ever so well, matey. Well done, here we are.

All right, pal.

Before they set off, Kelly and Ben want to get some

painkillers into Hadis, it's going to be a bumpy journey.

HE CRIES

Collared and placed on a scoop stretcher

and my colleague is applying manual traction.

The doctor who was on scene is an ex-anaesthetist and now GP and he

is travelling with us to provide support, over.

The nearest trauma centre is 20 minutes away

and it's the middle of rush hour.

But Hadis needs potentially life saving treatment fast.

His parents have been notified and will meet him at the hospital.

In the back of the ambulance, Kelly's put Hadis on a drip to

maintain his fluids and they work hard to keep him awake.

Harris, that's it, well done.

Keep your eyes open for me, mate. That's it.

Kelly's treatment has worked, Hadis's condition has stabilised.

Look where we are.

We're at the hospital now. Mummy is going to be waiting.

All right, well done.

The six-year-old doesn't want to let go of Kelly's hand.

The specialist trauma team is ready and waiting.

Hadis is in good hands.

It was a tough challenge so early in her career, but Kelly rose to it.

Second day out, dealing with a paediatric major trauma and

dealing with it so well is something that you can be really proud of.

You did really, really well.

-I'd be happy to work with you again.

-Woohoo!

That's an invite right there SHE LAUGHS

Kelly's shift is over, she preps the ambulance for the next

crew on duty. It's a chance to reflect.

We have potentially saved his life.

It does feel, you do feel proud of yourself.

You feel like you've accomplished something

and you feel like all the problems

I've encountered through being at Uni

and USAs, it's all paid off on that one job.

I mean, you've been able to make a difference to somebody's life.

Time to go home.

Roy is now feeling much better, he's had his orthopaedic shoe

fitted and it's made a big difference to his mobility.

Mountain rescue casualty Sue has recovered from her fall.

She's already planning her next trip to the Lakes.

The man Laurence arrested for assault pleaded guilty

and was given a conditional discharge for 24 months.

He also had to pay compensation and court costs.

And six-year-old Hadis is now enjoying life at home after

a long spell in hospital.

Doctors are delighted with his progress

and he's expected to make a full recovery.

Next time...

A domestic dispute. A complaint of theft.

And an experience Police Special Sarah won't forget.

I have to say that was actually worse than childbirth.

It was agony.

Feeling the heat.

Rookie firefighter Helen faces the toughest of tests.

Let's get that casualty out. Come on!

And one small child, with one major allergic reaction.

Sore throat?

New paramedic Sam has to act fast.

Here, buddy.