0:00:02 > 0:00:05This programme contains some strong language
0:00:05 > 0:00:08and some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11'I'm trying to feel a pulse...'
0:00:12 > 0:00:17He's on the floor, he's unresponsive.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Cardiac arrest.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22A call to a cardiac arrest.
0:00:22 > 0:00:27The paramedics have just eight minutes to get to the scene.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32And just 12 minutes to save the patient's life.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Do another pulse check before we move him.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40It's a scenario that can test the most experienced paramedic.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47But what if you're a first-year student and you are new on the job?
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Meet the junior paramedics.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Does this make me look vain?
0:00:55 > 0:01:00It is quite scary and daunting. I am only 19. Little ticklish feet.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04When you go to a serious job like a cardiac arrest,
0:01:04 > 0:01:06I will have to get involved.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09You are doing something that means something
0:01:09 > 0:01:11and it's making a difference.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Flying around with blue lights on, that would be good.
0:01:14 > 0:01:15I'm not going to lie!
0:01:19 > 0:01:23Let's go do some shots. The shifts are going to be hard to get used to.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26I hate mornings. I'm not a morning person at all.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31All of the paramedics I've spoken to say there will be one thing
0:01:31 > 0:01:33when you get there, you don't know why,
0:01:33 > 0:01:36but it affects you really badly.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39You've got to be prepared to go in someone's house
0:01:39 > 0:01:41and not be scared of the outcome.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44I am definitely quite worried dealing with my first fatal
0:01:44 > 0:01:47or the first body I come to.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Being a paramedic is definitely my dream.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52It's something I've always wanted.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Studying for a degree in paramedic science is tough.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57Failure isn't an option.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04Six weeks of dealing with real people in real emergencies
0:02:04 > 0:02:06is even tougher.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09I've got 12 hours to go and I'm yawning all the time
0:02:09 > 0:02:11and shattered already.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12Ready to go to bed now.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16Working long hours under immense pressure takes its toll.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20- What time do you call this, then? - I didn't get out of bed.
0:02:20 > 0:02:21They are young,
0:02:21 > 0:02:26untested and every day is a matter of life or death.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29I was like...urgh! Adrenaline.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33For these student paramedics, it's make or break on the emergency front-line.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Do you know how to open this? Stop! SHE LAUGHS
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Previously on Junior Paramedics...
0:02:46 > 0:02:49I'll let you lead this one. See how you go.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Having completed two weeks of placements, the tough reality
0:02:53 > 0:02:56of the job was starting to sink in.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Have you got your key in there? Can you pass it to me?
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Vic's quick thinking helped save the life of a man having
0:03:03 > 0:03:05a seizure.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Crew required, please. We're with you.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11By using her initiative getting us into the flat,
0:03:11 > 0:03:13that was the difference between us managing his seizure,
0:03:13 > 0:03:18to him doing that without us, and potentially could have had life-changing effects for him.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Police!
0:03:20 > 0:03:24The physical and emotional strain was starting to show for Ashley.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Why am I doing this?
0:03:26 > 0:03:28This is potentially my life.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Bryn got to grips with a serious ankle injury
0:03:33 > 0:03:35in rapidly dropping temperatures.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Ready, brace, lift.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Stand clear!
0:03:45 > 0:03:48And Lucy became the first junior paramedic
0:03:48 > 0:03:51to deal with the death of a patient.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53I think we're just going to stop.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56You do feel something and I'm just really sad
0:03:56 > 0:03:58and I've got a heavy heart now.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14The junior paramedics are now halfway through their placements.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18And the long hours and erratic shift patterns
0:04:18 > 0:04:20are beginning to take their toll.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30I'm too tired to talk.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33I feel shattered.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36I'm absolutely shattered to the point where I'm just
0:04:36 > 0:04:39dragging my feet along now, I'm that tired.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43It gets to you halfway through about 3am - you feel it then.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47I got to a certain point last Saturday
0:04:47 > 0:04:53and I was like, "I can't do this" and in the car I was keeping myself awake.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Morning! Yay!
0:05:03 > 0:05:08Spending all their waking hours on the job, or studying, means
0:05:08 > 0:05:12achieving a work/life balance is becoming increasingly difficult.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17The lifestyle is definitely hectic.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20All I seem to do is sleep and go on placement
0:05:20 > 0:05:22and make my dinner, sleep and go on placement.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25And for those who live in university halls,
0:05:25 > 0:05:27the novelty is beginning to wear off.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Sometimes you just get to the point where you could punch someone
0:05:32 > 0:05:36because you're that tired and hungry and you just want to go to bed
0:05:36 > 0:05:38and they've got music on.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Turn your fucking shitty music off!
0:05:42 > 0:05:44I've had to buy myself ear plugs.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47I've never used ear plugs before.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52ALARM BEEPS
0:05:54 > 0:05:58For usually-pretty-boy Max, getting out of bed in the morning
0:05:58 > 0:06:01is proving to be the most difficult task of the day.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05I'm not really a morning person. I hate mornings. I really do.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09I despise mornings. I want to stay in bed.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11I like my bed too much!
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Today, he's on a dreaded early,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24and his first patient is a man known to paramedics.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26This time he's called an ambulance
0:06:26 > 0:06:29because he's suffering from breathing difficulties.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33It's come up on the screen that he's got asthma and he can't breathe.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37But it's not the man's symptoms that are making Max jumpy.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Last time we heard he was... He went into the Royal
0:06:40 > 0:06:44and got fleas everywhere, basically.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47They had to give it a deep clean.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50I don't want fleas.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53The thought of coming into contact with blood-sucking parasites
0:06:53 > 0:06:56has done nothing to lighten Max's mood.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02It's just disgusting, isn't it?
0:07:02 > 0:07:05I can deal with...bodily fluids
0:07:05 > 0:07:08because that can easily be cleaned up.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10But fleas is just...
0:07:17 > 0:07:22When paramedics need protection, they wear specially designed suits.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Max's mentor has decided it's time to get the outfits out.
0:07:29 > 0:07:36But even a special protective suit isn't enough for the flea-fearing fresher.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Feel like I'm in Breaking Bad!
0:07:38 > 0:07:41These are just sleeve protectors.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44You usually put them on for blood and stuff
0:07:44 > 0:07:48but I'm just using them as extra protection
0:07:48 > 0:07:50against getting fleas.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56If I get fleas, I'll be severely pissed off.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58I just think it's really gross.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Suited and booted, he's ready to go.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37While Max is usually happy to get stuck in, this time he's
0:08:37 > 0:08:40standing back and letting mentor Chris treat the patient.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Just do your temperature.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49I would usually do the observations,
0:08:49 > 0:08:53but Chris offered to take the lead and...
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Yeah, I wasn't going to say that I would
0:08:56 > 0:08:58because I didn't really want to.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03It was sad seeing him living in there.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06He just didn't look after himself.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13As the man's troubled mental state becomes apparent,
0:09:13 > 0:09:17both Chris and Max begin to suspect that his physical complaint
0:09:17 > 0:09:19isn't as bad as he's making out.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26He's forcing his breathing to make it sound worse than what it actually is.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32Even so, paramedics must learn to put their opinions to one side
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and treat the symptoms the patient has presented them with.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45We have a duty of care for every patient
0:09:45 > 0:09:48and our role is to treat them.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51He did need treating because he had asthma
0:09:51 > 0:09:54and problems with his asthma, but there's more that needed
0:09:54 > 0:09:57to be done which we couldn't do because
0:09:57 > 0:10:01that's not our role.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04He needed some support from somewhere else to get himself
0:10:04 > 0:10:07cleaned up and stuff like that.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13So, no fleas.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16But even though the suits weren't necessary,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19keeping kit sterile is always top of a paramedic's check list.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Obviously, we clean the equipment after every job
0:10:24 > 0:10:27but even more important, after you've been into someone like that,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30that you give it a really good clean.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33As the patient is left in the hands of his GP, Max is
0:10:33 > 0:10:36realising that not every case is black and white.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38He's obviously got some mental health issues.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42He doesn't look like he's able to look after himself.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46But at the end of the day, you're just there to help people.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49You can't really be that judgmental.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51You can't pick and choose who you treat, can you?
0:10:51 > 0:10:54You can't go to the nice, pink, fluffy ones.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57No, you can't sit outside his address and say, "Actually,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00"I don't want to go in there, I'll let someone else do it."
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Or, "You've got fleas." You have to treat them.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07He's like the same age as my dad, so it kind of makes me lucky
0:11:07 > 0:11:10I've got the stability and that.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24In Northampton, Vicki's up and at 'em, and ready for a shift.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Personally, I feel that I've definitely grown in confidence
0:11:30 > 0:11:33and I've done it better than I thought I would.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36I thought it'd take me a little bit longer.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40I know I've got a long way to go but I feel like I've got a good base.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Vicki's faith in her own ability may have soared.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48But in her eyes, she's still got a lot to live up to.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Yeah, I do see paramedics as every day heroes,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56but it's more like making a slight difference
0:11:56 > 0:12:00to someone's life as much as it is making a massive difference.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05I play football, so that's my hobby.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11I've met a lot of friends through there.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14And I met my partner playing football.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16We still play for the same team.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23She's been trying four years to get on to this course.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25It means the world to her.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28She absolutely is going to follow the dream.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32My nan is always there for me.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36I think she thinks I'm already a qualified doctor or something!
0:12:36 > 0:12:39I'm just, "Nana, I don't know that much!"
0:12:39 > 0:12:41She's got a good personality.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43She can be nasty if she wants.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45- No, I can't!- You can.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48No, I can be firm with you cos you're probably going to hurt
0:12:48 > 0:12:51yourself or something. There, so it's not nasty.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56- Firm. Right, then. I'll put that right.- Correct that one.- Firm.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Yeah, I can come across shy, um...
0:12:59 > 0:13:02particularly if I'm not comfortable with something.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05I have started to think to myself, "What have I got to lose?"
0:13:05 > 0:13:08So just go for it and build my confidence that way.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11When I'm comfortable with something and I know I've got
0:13:11 > 0:13:14the knowledge to back it up, I can put my foot down.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28On shift in Leicester, Vicki's hard at work.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Like every day, she'll be assessed by her mentor
0:13:31 > 0:13:33and her overall placement mark will decide
0:13:33 > 0:13:37whether she can move on to the next stage of her training.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40Right now, she's on her way to an elderly patient.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44RADIO: '91-year-old male, dizzy, chest pains
0:13:44 > 0:13:46'is what you're going to.'
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Say, "Yes, thank you. Received."
0:13:48 > 0:13:51OK, thank you. Received.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55Today, she's learning the ropes from experienced paramedic Dips.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00And he's putting his new starter in charge of finding out what's wrong.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04If you start your questioning on this one
0:14:04 > 0:14:07and I'll start popping the leads on his chest.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Asking the right questions to work out a diagnosis is
0:14:13 > 0:14:16a skill that every junior paramedic must master.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25The next big challenge is to kind of take
0:14:25 > 0:14:28a step forward and start all the initial questioning
0:14:28 > 0:14:31and assessing the patient and everything.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41What seems to have happened? Why've you rang?
0:14:42 > 0:14:47I ache everywhere, all across the shoulders.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49In...in...in the chest.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51When did this come on?
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Last... In the last 24 hours.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Is there a point where it hurts the most?
0:15:00 > 0:15:04It hurts the most if I try to cough.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06I wouldn't call you...
0:15:06 > 0:15:10but I just couldn't stand it any longer.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15As Vicki quizzes Frederick, he reveals he's been coughing
0:15:15 > 0:15:17because of a recent chest infection.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21The junior paramedic suspects that's the root of his problem.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Take a big, deep breath for me. In and out.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Sounds quite clear at the bottom but he's got a lot at the top.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Congested.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Like a wheeze.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Is it painful all across your chest?
0:15:41 > 0:15:42Are you on any medication?
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Have you got a prescription?
0:15:46 > 0:15:47I'm on those things.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51(Haven't got a clue what they are.)
0:15:51 > 0:15:53We'll pop these on your chest and have a quick feel.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Something with an inhaler.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Frederick isn't being clear about exactly what's wrong with him.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04So Vicki's using her initiative to research the medicine
0:16:04 > 0:16:07he's been prescribed, in case that can offer any pointers.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12I haven't a clue on 99% of the medicines,
0:16:12 > 0:16:17so I need to get some revision in, really, to kind of get
0:16:17 > 0:16:20the common ones that people get prescribed.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22I've started to pick a few up. I just don't remember them.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25That one, I had never heard of before, so I did Google it
0:16:25 > 0:16:28but it's for COPD, so...
0:16:28 > 0:16:31And I've still forgot what it was now.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Frederick's medication shows he's suffering from a chronic
0:16:33 > 0:16:37chest complaint, which makes Vicki even more confident of her hunch.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43If you've got an infection, it will hurt,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46but we can't diagnose anything like that.
0:16:46 > 0:16:47Let's have a look here.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51But mentor Dips isn't ready to jump to a conclusion just yet.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- Is this where it's hurting? - Yes. In that joint there.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00OK. Have you had a fall?
0:17:02 > 0:17:05No. Oh, yes, I did. I fell out of bed last night.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Last night?
0:17:08 > 0:17:12But I only fell from the top of the bed onto the floor.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15I slipped on the nylon sheet.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Chest pain, I think it's more shoulder pain.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22It feels more pain across here, don't it?
0:17:26 > 0:17:28We know what the cause is.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32He's had a fall and it's aggravated it.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- What do you think?- Don't know!
0:17:39 > 0:17:42By focusing only on the patient's chest, Vicki's made
0:17:42 > 0:17:46a rookie error and missed key clues to a correct diagnosis.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50For the junior paramedic, it's an important lesson learnt.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56I should have kept an open mind from the start and asked more specific
0:17:56 > 0:18:00questions towards what pain he'd got, rather than judging it as a whole
0:18:00 > 0:18:02kind of chest pain.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04You may have possibly pulled a muscle.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08We want to make sure you've not done anything worse than that, really.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10I have learned from it.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13You just feel a bit of a tool at the time.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19With Vicki so busy with work recently,
0:18:19 > 0:18:21there's not been much time for play.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24But this afternoon, there's a rare chance to relax as girlfriend
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Curly pays her a visit.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30I always look forward to seeing her.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33With the shifts I've had this week, I haven't been able to ring her,
0:18:33 > 0:18:35so it will be nice to have a proper catch up
0:18:35 > 0:18:38and just have my partner there with me.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47- Hiya, you OK? - Had a good week?
0:18:47 > 0:18:50With Curly usually 100 miles away in Stoke, it's a
0:18:50 > 0:18:54good opportunity to catch up on how Vicki's coping with her placement.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Are you finding anything really tough?
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Um... I'm not finding it tough but I'm... Not struggling.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07It's taking me a while to get my head around how to
0:19:07 > 0:19:09approach a patient.
0:19:09 > 0:19:15So, I can say hello and I'll ask the first so many questions.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18And then it'll go silent cos I don't know what direction to go in next
0:19:18 > 0:19:22to get the answers we want.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24And as if the job wasn't hard enough,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Vicki is also finding the antisocial hours a strain.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32I'm struggling to find time for football.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36As much as it was fitness, it was a bit of a social, seeing all the girls.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41I don't even see flatmates cos I come in at weird times.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44You need to stop partying, living the university life
0:19:44 > 0:19:46- and socialising!- Yeah.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04After a busy day on the ambulance,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06partying is top of Max's to-do list.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12I think with doing this course, because it is so full-on,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16when you get the chance, it's good to let your hair down
0:20:16 > 0:20:17and have a bit of fun.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Especially after you have done four shifts. It can be quite intense.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30With not an ambulance or textbook in sight,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33he's headed into Northampton for a night out with some mates.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Wednesday night is the rugby lads' social,
0:20:38 > 0:20:39because we have a game on Wednesday,
0:20:39 > 0:20:44so if we've won, everyone is happy and hyped up.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Look how handsome he is! This is my boy I love him. Mwah!
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Obviously, you can't go out with rugby lads and have one drink.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00It don't work like that.
0:21:00 > 0:21:01You have ten.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16I'm 19. I still go out and I do enjoy myself,
0:21:16 > 0:21:20but I go out to enjoy myself with my friends. I don't go out
0:21:20 > 0:21:23to drink so much that I don't know what I'm doing
0:21:23 > 0:21:25and need a paramedic.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27I know, when I get to a certain point, to stop drinking
0:21:27 > 0:21:31and just enjoy the night with my friends.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Amy's also out in Northampton...
0:21:42 > 0:21:45..but she's working, and tonight she's facing
0:21:45 > 0:21:48her biggest fear since starting as a paramedic.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Mental health patients are probably the ones I worry about the most.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56We don't get a lot of training in mental health.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59And I do find, a lot of the time, when we are faced with someone
0:21:59 > 0:22:02with mental health, we are trying to be a bit like a social worker.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06She and mentor Shay have been called to a schizophrenic man
0:22:06 > 0:22:08who's having an acute episode.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Hello. Hello.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17We sort of turned up at his house and when we got in,
0:22:17 > 0:22:21he turned all his lights off when we were halfway up the stairs,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23and at that moment you just think, you can't see the patient,
0:22:23 > 0:22:26you can just hear him sort of chanting these things
0:22:26 > 0:22:29and he obviously wasn't in a very good mental state
0:22:29 > 0:22:32and it was a bit of an unstable situation.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37Having assessed the patient, Amy's mentor decides they'll need
0:22:37 > 0:22:39a police escort to move him to hospital,
0:22:39 > 0:22:43and thinks it's safer to wait in the car.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45- He's about to kick off, that guy. - Do you think?
0:22:45 > 0:22:47He was definitely going to kick off.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49If they're not going to talk to you,
0:22:49 > 0:22:54and if they're acting like that, get out of there, that's my advice.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57No-one wants to get hurt, do they?
0:22:57 > 0:23:00No, I wouldn't want to put myself in a situation like that.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02See, you can be all brave and macho
0:23:02 > 0:23:05but then you can have your head kicked in as well.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11I really genuinely did actually fear that situation,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14and it makes us worried for the future,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17being in a car by myself and being put into situations like that
0:23:17 > 0:23:21where I'm going to be on my own. And I do think if I was on my own
0:23:21 > 0:23:25in the car, I probably wouldn't have gone in that house by myself.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32But tonight, Amy has her mentor with her, and as the police arrive,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35she must put her fears to one side to go and help the patient.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40So once again, Amy, just stay behind me.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Even though the police are there.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Inside, they find the man a little calmer.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50The ambulance is here now, OK.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53We'll try and get you some help. Just breathe slowly, all right?
0:23:53 > 0:23:56But the experience has brought home to Amy
0:23:56 > 0:23:59the realities of the darker side of the job.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02It was the first situation
0:24:02 > 0:24:06where I've been on this job where I genuinely shit my pants.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08I was terrified on this one.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29A new day in Leicester.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30And as he starts his shift,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33chirpy chappy Nick can't wait to get on the road.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37How are you feeling this morning?
0:24:37 > 0:24:39OK, quite refreshed - had a good night's sleep,
0:24:39 > 0:24:44so all good to go. This is the first of an eight-hour shift
0:24:44 > 0:24:46because of a recent rota change.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Yeah, so it's going to be a short day.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55But whatever his shift throws at him,
0:24:55 > 0:24:59it's all in a day's work for this enthusiastic paramedic.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05I'm not the oldest person on the course
0:25:05 > 0:25:07but I am one of the older ones.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13I've not joined this course for the student experience.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15I don't think you can do that.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18To even get on the course, you have to be really driven.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Other people live in halls, I live at home.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28- Yes, I always keep my room clean. - I always clean up after him.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34Nick was very adventurous. Always into all kinds of everything.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37He used to mix his own children's chemicals up
0:25:37 > 0:25:41and make different kinds of smoke bombs and all that.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Outside of uni, I do a martial art.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51I run the kung fu club.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54I've been doing that for about 16 years.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Kung fu might have helped in my balance. I've not fallen over yet.
0:26:00 > 0:26:01There's still time!
0:26:05 > 0:26:07I also have an allotment.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12I think I de-stress by doing physical things as opposed
0:26:12 > 0:26:13to reading a book.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18I think the best thing about the job for me would be
0:26:18 > 0:26:22the feel-good factor of helping people.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24And making a difference.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Nick and mentor Jonny are about to make a difference
0:26:33 > 0:26:36to a patient who has fallen in her kitchen.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Morning!
0:26:39 > 0:26:41I hit my head but that's OK.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43You got any injuries anywhere else at all?
0:26:43 > 0:26:45No, it's just this leg.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47She has a suspected broken hip
0:26:47 > 0:26:51and needs to get to hospital straightaway.
0:26:51 > 0:26:52We will have to have an X-ray.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55But the first hurdle is to get her off the floor.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Right, Rosemary, if you want to roll back towards me.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01So a special piece of kit is required.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Right, we'll plug you in, and blow you up.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07Here we go.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Right, just sit still, Rosemary,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14because if you start moving round, that's when we fall off.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Ann, can you get the chair next to us?
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Right, Rosemary, have a stand up, put your weight
0:27:27 > 0:27:31through your good leg and then slide across onto that chair.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35Sit straight back down. There we go. How's that?
0:27:35 > 0:27:40- What do you think to that? - That's brilliant, that.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47So Rosemary's up, but not quite away yet.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49And as Nick carries her over the threshold,
0:27:49 > 0:27:51he gets an unexpected surprise.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56- Rosemary, darling... - I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!
0:27:58 > 0:28:03I think she got a bit scared and tried to grab hold of something.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05She tried to grab hold of my face!
0:28:06 > 0:28:08She clocked me.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11So, yeah, I was helpless.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14I got whacked!
0:28:14 > 0:28:17I didn't mean...!
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Let's get you on the trolley.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25Once Rosemary's safely more than punching distance away,
0:28:25 > 0:28:30Nick spots that his patient shares his passion for the good life.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36How many chickens you got?
0:28:36 > 0:28:38- About 50.- 50? Wow!
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Nick's found a kindred spirit, and once Rosemary's
0:28:44 > 0:28:47in the ambulance, there's more time for chicken chat.
0:28:51 > 0:28:52We used to have chickens,
0:28:52 > 0:28:56but only about two or three, I think.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01It's always good to have common ground actually with patients.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04Because the more you talk to them,
0:29:04 > 0:29:08the more they're going to feel comfortable and at ease.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14The cleaning up's immense, I bet.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31She was a really nice lady.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33I'm sure she didn't mean to hit me round the face -
0:29:33 > 0:29:34it was all in good humour.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45Night-time at Corby ambulance station,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48and junior paramedic Steph is nearing the end of a busy shift.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52If you check the oxygen and the Entinox.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57At just 18, she may be the most junior paramedic,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00but on placement, she's also been one of the busiest.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05I don't think I've ever had an adrenaline rush like that in my life.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08She's proved she can keep her cool under pressure,
0:30:08 > 0:30:13and now the teenager's about to be tested with a patient her own age.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25We're going to an 18-year-old male with sickle-cell.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29It's where they've got crescent-shaped blood cells
0:30:29 > 0:30:33so they don't hold so much oxygen, and sometimes they go into crisis.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39A sickle-cell attack is incredibly painful
0:30:39 > 0:30:41and can even be fatal.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44Steph and Sam will need to get the patient to hospital fast.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52We're going to someone who's exactly my age,
0:30:52 > 0:30:55probably leading quite a similar life.
0:30:58 > 0:31:03He's 18. He's the same age as me.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05It might be hard for me cos it's a relatable situation.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Not had much of a life yet, have they?
0:31:10 > 0:31:12He's going to be in a lot of pain.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27At the teenager's home, a paramedic is already treating him.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33He has been hospitalised on many occasions in the past.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Last time, almost needing surgery.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Thought his spleen was about to burst.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40I've given him 5mg of morphine to ease the pain.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Has that helped at all yet?
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Despite the morphine, there's little let-up in his agony.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56All that's left for Steph and Sam to do is get him to hospital.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Everyone else that the paramedics have given morphine to,
0:32:00 > 0:32:04their pain will go from ten out of ten to five out of ten or whatever,
0:32:04 > 0:32:06and he was just not affected by the morphine.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11- OK, when you're ready, Steph. - Ready, steady, lift.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14'I thought, "Oh, God! Like, we've given the biggest pain relief
0:32:14 > 0:32:17'"we can give and we can't make you feel any more comfortable."'
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Get me bum round.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Ready, steady, lift.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27That's it, and down.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Right, which way did we come in?
0:32:40 > 0:32:43How's your pain out of ten at the moment?
0:32:43 > 0:32:47About ten. OK, we'll get you over there as quickly as we can. OK?
0:32:51 > 0:32:54Just going to pop this on for you.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09They said they'd have a doctor in resus for us.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12No, I think we've got everything, cheers.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16The reason it shocked me a bit is because he's the same age as me.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19I can't imagine having sickle-cell,
0:33:19 > 0:33:22and being in the state he's in on regular basis. It must be horrible.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Every other 18-year-old lad would be probably quite chatty
0:33:29 > 0:33:32- and he was just really quiet, weren't he?- Yeah.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40The incident marks the end of Steph's night shift.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51I'm really tired and I'm ready to go to bed now.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57And as she heads off for some much-needed sleep,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00back at halls, Lucy Wright's day is just beginning.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06But it's 5:00am, and she's not a happy paramedic.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12I've had an hour's sleep today, because people insist
0:34:12 > 0:34:16on being idiots at uni and keeping me awake all night.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19I didn't get to sleep till about two.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23People were noisy, going out,
0:34:23 > 0:34:27and then people came back and decided to watch a film really loud.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35She might be exhausted, but at least she's on her way to work...
0:34:37 > 0:34:41..unlike Max who should also be on an early,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44but is nowhere to be seen.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47It's nearly six o'clock.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49We're on a 5:30am shift. Max is running late.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52We're just ringing him to see where Max is.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56VOICE MAIL: I'm sorry but the person you've called is not available.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58PHONE RINGS
0:34:58 > 0:35:01I'm sorry but the person you've called is not available.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Hi, Max, it's Chris. Obviously you're late in.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06Can you ring us if you get chance?
0:35:08 > 0:35:12If junior paramedics miss jobs, there's a lot at stake.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15They're constantly being assessed towards their final degree mark.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19Being late is not tolerated and could lead to a fail.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24If we get a decent job, it's going to be a real shame, really,
0:35:24 > 0:35:29because once we're out, it is really difficult to come back.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31MACHINE BEEPS
0:35:31 > 0:35:34The screen bleeps and we've got a job
0:35:34 > 0:35:36so we're going to have to go.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39SIREN SOUNDS
0:35:39 > 0:35:43Could have done with Max, really. The more hands the better.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51Right, I'm going to have to put this in your ear.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56Although Lucy's had very little sleep, she's putting a brave face
0:35:56 > 0:35:59on things with her patients.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03Do you think Lucy's done a good job today? Has she?
0:36:03 > 0:36:06Do you think she's going to make a good paramedic?
0:36:06 > 0:36:08Hey, look at that!
0:36:09 > 0:36:11She's been hard at it for an hour and-a-half
0:36:11 > 0:36:13when Max finally arrives for work.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19But he's now stranded at the station
0:36:19 > 0:36:22until mentor Chris gets a window to meet him.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34I fell back to sleep when my alarm went off.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Every minute Max has to wait is valuable time
0:36:40 > 0:36:42he could have spent on the job.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46But the station caretaker has seen it all before.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51I don't think the young ones like the early mornings
0:36:51 > 0:36:53and late nights do you, Max?
0:36:53 > 0:36:56I don't mind it. It just takes its toll on you.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01It'll come easier the older you get, don't worry.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04HE LAUGHS I'm just pissed off that I'm late.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15As Lucy completes another callout, she's starting to feel
0:37:15 > 0:37:18the repercussions of doing hard graft on very little sleep.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26I feel really poorly. Like, really poorly.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30- I'm struggling to get my breath in. - Just relax.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33Is it a migraine?
0:37:33 > 0:37:37- No, I feel really sick. - Get the sick bowl.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- Do you want a sick bowl? - No, I don't feel sick. It's like...
0:37:40 > 0:37:43Just relax. Just a couple of minutes and then we'll be there.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48- For both of you. - THEY CHUCKLE
0:37:51 > 0:37:55For a sick person, an ambulance may seem the ideal place to be.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57But when you're a poorly paramedic,
0:37:57 > 0:37:59the patient's ailments must come first.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06If this is going to happen again,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09it's very difficult in the back with patients.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11If you're not feeling well, you shouldn't be here.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13And two, I think you need to get some sleep.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17And you're not going to learn anything if you're exhausted.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25I am sending Lucy home because she's not had any sleep.
0:38:25 > 0:38:30So she's going to go home, get some sleep, hopefully,
0:38:30 > 0:38:33and then come in fresh tomorrow and do another 12 hours with us.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43I don't like quitting as such.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50To be honest, I feel like I'm over-worked and I'm tired
0:38:50 > 0:38:53so I need to go home and relax, sleep,
0:38:53 > 0:38:56do some work and then go back with a level head to it.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09At Leicester Royal, Max has finally tracked his ambulance down
0:39:09 > 0:39:13with a not-too-happy Chris on board.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16- Morning.- Afternoon, Max. - You all right?
0:39:16 > 0:39:19Yeah. So, what time do you call this, then?
0:39:19 > 0:39:21What's happened this morning?
0:39:21 > 0:39:24- Just didn't get out of bed. - You just didn't get out of bed.
0:39:24 > 0:39:30So, as a forfeit for being late,
0:39:30 > 0:39:32because you've now missed some hours,
0:39:32 > 0:39:35cos you're two and-a-half hours late,
0:39:35 > 0:39:38you are going to have to come in Sunday.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41You're going to have to work from half-past five
0:39:41 > 0:39:43till half-past one to make your hours up.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45- Are you actually going to make me do that?- Yeah.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47- HE SNIGGERS - Totally.
0:39:49 > 0:39:54We need to push on with your actual assessment.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57So not good that we've missed a bit this morning,
0:39:57 > 0:39:58so we need to catch up.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03So Max is given the chance to make up for lost time,
0:40:03 > 0:40:06but he must face another early start as a result.
0:40:09 > 0:40:14When Lucy arrives home, she's greeted by fellow junior Bryn,
0:40:14 > 0:40:18who is showing signs of dehydration and sickness,
0:40:18 > 0:40:20more commonly known as a hangover.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23Your eyes are bloodshot. Was it good, then?
0:40:23 > 0:40:25- You should have come out. - No, I definitely...
0:40:25 > 0:40:29- Were you doing an eight-hour shift? - My mentor sent me home.- Eh?
0:40:29 > 0:40:33- Natalie sent me home.- She sent you home?- Yeah. I'm not very well.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37We had a guy who was really drunk at nine o'clock in the morning
0:40:37 > 0:40:39- and I thought of you.- Cheers.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43SIREN SOUNDS
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Max may have been late, but he's working extra hard
0:40:48 > 0:40:52to make up for it and show his mentor how serious he is.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56Do you want to come in our ambulance, hey?
0:40:56 > 0:40:58BABY CRIES
0:41:01 > 0:41:05Once his shift is over, it's finally time to kick back in halls.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07But he's still smarting from the events
0:41:07 > 0:41:11that happened at the beginning of the day.
0:41:11 > 0:41:16The shift didn't start well for me today because I was late.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21Basically I was late cos I had, like, a night shift,
0:41:21 > 0:41:25then slept, then a day shift.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30But it's like you come in in the morning, don't get any sleep,
0:41:30 > 0:41:33and I think lack of sleep just wore me out.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Cos it is pretty knackering and you just feel shattered.
0:41:41 > 0:41:4530 miles away in Leicester, junior paramedic Vicki
0:41:45 > 0:41:48and her mentor George are preparing for a shift
0:41:48 > 0:41:50in the fast-response vehicle.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53- Have you got enough stabbers? - Yeah, there's enough stabbers.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00- So I think we're good to go.- OK. - Yeah?- Yeah.- Brilliant.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06The car can get to urgent jobs quicker than an ambulance
0:42:06 > 0:42:09but it can't transport patients to hospital.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17They've been working for two hours when a woman dials 999.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39As Vicky and George are despatched to the little girl,
0:42:39 > 0:42:41it's flagged as a red-two call,
0:42:41 > 0:42:44suggesting it's potentially life-threatening
0:42:44 > 0:42:46so they must arrive within just eight minutes.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49It's Vicky's most serious case yet.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52If there's speed cameras, you sometimes set it off.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56Oh, we did!
0:43:01 > 0:43:05- Hi.- Hello. All right? - Tell us what's happening.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08Inside, they find the three-year-old still fitting
0:43:08 > 0:43:11and her mum in a distressed state.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13Has she been like this the whole time?
0:43:13 > 0:43:16- SHE SOBS - Yeah, the face...
0:43:16 > 0:43:20The toddler, Sydney, is incredibly hot to the touch.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22George doesn't want to take any chances
0:43:22 > 0:43:25so immediately calls for back-up.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27Hello. Can I have a crew, please?
0:43:27 > 0:43:30Can I have a crew, red response, please?
0:43:30 > 0:43:32George needs to get the seizure under control,
0:43:32 > 0:43:34and Vicki's assistance is vital.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37Can you get me some oxygen, please?
0:43:37 > 0:43:40All right. So she's been like this for how long, do you know?
0:43:40 > 0:43:44- I don't know, to be honest. About 20 minutes.- How old is she?
0:43:44 > 0:43:46Three and-a-half. Four in March.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49It's an intense situation and there's no room for error.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52Vicki needs to be alert and ready for anything.
0:43:52 > 0:43:57So this is just some diazepam, OK? All right? All right, sweetie pie.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04So, we're counting, like, each flinch?
0:44:05 > 0:44:07What we want is her breathing.
0:44:07 > 0:44:11And we're going to check her blood sugar as well. OK?
0:44:15 > 0:44:18Vicki needs to carry out some vital tests.
0:44:19 > 0:44:21Do it on her toes. That's right.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24But it's not the time for a delicate touch.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28Give it a good squeeze on the toe.
0:44:28 > 0:44:30Come here. I'll just give it a squeeze for you.
0:44:30 > 0:44:32There you go. All right?
0:44:38 > 0:44:42With the clock ticking and the back-up ambulance yet to arrive,
0:44:42 > 0:44:44it's left to Vicky to keep little Sydney's airways clear
0:44:44 > 0:44:47to make sure she keeps breathing.
0:44:47 > 0:44:49That's it. We're not in a brilliant position here.
0:44:50 > 0:44:53Would you just make sure her airways are OK?
0:44:55 > 0:44:57So I've asked the crew for a red response,
0:44:57 > 0:45:01so they should be here ASAP.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04What we might do, actually, is carry her down the stairs
0:45:04 > 0:45:06- so we're ready to go when they come. - OK.- All right.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09That'll be the best thing. Just grab the cylinder for me.
0:45:09 > 0:45:12Don't worry about the defib. We can come back for it.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18As they move downstairs, Sydney remains unresponsive.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22Even worse, her breathing is becoming shallow and irregular.
0:45:22 > 0:45:24George is getting worried.
0:45:24 > 0:45:28Hi, Claire. It's George. What's my ETA for the crew, please?
0:45:28 > 0:45:30You know it's a red response, yeah?
0:45:30 > 0:45:34There was a point where George thought the little girl
0:45:34 > 0:45:37was critical and might not make it.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40The treatment didn't quite work as we thought it would...
0:45:44 > 0:45:50..and I think that kind of made it a little bit more stressful,
0:45:50 > 0:45:52on top of the stress that was already there.
0:45:55 > 0:45:59- COUGHING - Is it nearly empty? Right. OK.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02Every second feels like an hour.
0:46:02 > 0:46:06Do you want to swap over? Is that the crew?
0:46:06 > 0:46:08Is that the crew? Right, we need to... Are you ready?
0:46:08 > 0:46:11We need to go. Brilliant, yeah. Fantastic.
0:46:11 > 0:46:16She's had 2.5 diazepam. She's not making very good respiratory effort.
0:46:16 > 0:46:20She was up to about 100. I've been bagging for about five minutes.
0:46:20 > 0:46:22Mum and sister are going to have to have...
0:46:22 > 0:46:24Hyperoxygenate for a sec for us.
0:46:24 > 0:46:28Sydney is still in a fitting state and her breathing
0:46:28 > 0:46:32remains a concern, but her high temperature has started to fall.
0:46:40 > 0:46:42Although Vicki's making progress,
0:46:42 > 0:46:46this job has reminded her how much she still has to learn.
0:46:55 > 0:46:59It is the most serious thing I've seen.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03Definitely would like to be able to walk into a situation like that
0:47:03 > 0:47:08and take control, because that's kind of why I want to be a paramedic.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11I feel miles away from achieving that at the moment.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14I know I'm learning and all that,
0:47:14 > 0:47:18but it's something that will obviously come with time.
0:47:18 > 0:47:21Long way to go yet but, yeah, I hope she's all right.
0:47:23 > 0:47:25After four days in hospital,
0:47:25 > 0:47:28little Sydney is now back home with her mum.
0:47:28 > 0:47:30The cause of the fit remains unknown.
0:47:38 > 0:47:41It's 8:00am in Leicester.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44Max is at work and, despite an early start, he's awake,
0:47:44 > 0:47:49on time, and en route to his first major road accident.
0:47:50 > 0:47:54It's come up on the screen as "trapped victim, multiple patients".
0:47:54 > 0:47:58This is the first multi-car road traffic collision that I've been to.
0:47:58 > 0:48:02I'm feeling quite apprehensive because it could be quite busy.
0:48:05 > 0:48:07A car and a van have collided head on.
0:48:07 > 0:48:10Other paramedics are treating the driver of the car,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13but there's another casualty trapped in the van
0:48:13 > 0:48:14with a suspected neck injury.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17And he thinks he might have bumped his head slightly.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19There's nothing obvious.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22Although if you go down, he's got some c-spine tenderness.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25This could be serious, so Max's mentor goes first
0:48:25 > 0:48:27to do the initial observations.
0:48:27 > 0:48:31You've got a bump to your head. So you hurt there, do you?
0:48:31 > 0:48:34Yeah. Oh, man. Here.
0:48:34 > 0:48:36- OK. Just go down your back. - Yeah, there as well.
0:48:36 > 0:48:39- Oh, man.- You got any back pain there?
0:48:39 > 0:48:43The whole thing, it's like I've been and fell down the fricking stairs.
0:48:43 > 0:48:46If the patient has injured his neck and he moves it now,
0:48:46 > 0:48:49the worst-case scenario is paralysis.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52So getting him out of the van is going to be extremely difficult.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55And there's a further complication.
0:48:55 > 0:48:59His door's unable to open, so we're obviously
0:48:59 > 0:49:02going to have to try and get that open somehow.
0:49:02 > 0:49:04May mean cutting it open or cutting it off. I don't know.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07Yeah, he's just environmentally trapped, just by that door.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10So, if you can take that door off for us, that would be great.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12- No worries.- All right. Yeah.
0:49:12 > 0:49:15In the meantime, it's crucial that the patient's head
0:49:15 > 0:49:18stays completely still and it's not long
0:49:18 > 0:49:20before Max is drafted in to take charge.
0:49:22 > 0:49:24When Chris told me to take the head,
0:49:24 > 0:49:27that was quite an important role, cos I was stabilising him
0:49:27 > 0:49:29and making sure that he was all right in the vehicle.
0:49:29 > 0:49:31Then everyone kind of worked around me.
0:49:31 > 0:49:36- It's kicking in now.- Your head or the back of your neck?- It's, oh...
0:49:36 > 0:49:39- You banged it on the windscreen or something?- I don't know.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41You know what? Flash of lightning.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44Yeah, I can imagine.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49Just don't move. Try not to nod and stuff like that.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51- Does it feel like a throbbing pain? - No.
0:49:51 > 0:49:55It feels like it's all cutting. It feels like it's been cut.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58- Do you know what I mean, like...? - Yeah, I know what you mean.
0:49:58 > 0:50:03- Tingling?- Yeah.- Well, you're all right. It's not been cut.
0:50:03 > 0:50:06Reassuring words and a steady hand.
0:50:06 > 0:50:09Max is using every trick in the paramedics' book
0:50:09 > 0:50:13to keep the patient calm as fire crews begin to tear the door off.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15OK, breaking glass!
0:50:21 > 0:50:23You all right? You staying with us?
0:50:23 > 0:50:27- I am feeling a bit tired, actually. - Yeah? Try not to move so much, Mick.
0:50:27 > 0:50:33I know it's hard but I just want to keep this head as still as possible.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37'Cos it was me and him in the van, I was making sure he was all right,
0:50:37 > 0:50:40'checking that he wasn't going to pass out on me or anything like that
0:50:40 > 0:50:42'or suddenly just hit rock bottom.'
0:50:46 > 0:50:48I feel like I can perform under pressure quite a bit,
0:50:48 > 0:50:50so I thought I've got to keep calm
0:50:50 > 0:50:54and kind of get the job done and then we will get him out.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57There was a lot of fire engines, ambulance and police,
0:50:57 > 0:51:00so it was all, like, services working together.
0:51:05 > 0:51:08Mick's exit is clear.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10Now for the delicate process of getting him out
0:51:10 > 0:51:13without moving his spine.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15That one goes under your leg.
0:51:16 > 0:51:20Might be a bit uncomfortable, Mick, but we've got to get these round.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25- Mine's on, Chris.- Is yours on?- Yeah.
0:51:25 > 0:51:29Once the brace is in place, the patient can relax a little,
0:51:29 > 0:51:32with some help from his right-hand man, Max.
0:51:32 > 0:51:35Have you got any tape, just to strap his head on?
0:51:35 > 0:51:39- I didn't realise it was that bad! - Just the straps, mate.
0:51:39 > 0:51:41PHONE RINGS
0:51:45 > 0:51:48Roberto. They're just cutting me out the van so stop ringing.
0:51:50 > 0:51:54'It was really good to sit and talk and he was a character in the van,'
0:51:54 > 0:51:56he kept answering his phone.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59He was quite happy, even though he'd just been in a car accident.
0:51:59 > 0:52:03- We'll go on turn. - Right. Ready, steady, turn.
0:52:04 > 0:52:08- Try and keep still. - PHONE RINGS
0:52:08 > 0:52:11- You want to take it again? - Are you on the phone?
0:52:11 > 0:52:13They're just cutting me out of the van, darling.
0:52:13 > 0:52:17The ambulance crew are just taking me away, so I can't really speak.
0:52:17 > 0:52:19I'll ring you back in a bit.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25With Mick finally out of the van,
0:52:25 > 0:52:27his full-body examination can commence.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30Max has been asked to take charge,
0:52:30 > 0:52:34but having a junior in the driving seat doesn't bother the patient.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37I'm not worried. I've got all the confidence in the world.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40- Thank you very much. - Feel well good, actually.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42I didn't feel a thing getting out of that van.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44Good. That's what we wanted.
0:52:44 > 0:52:48- At least you shaved your chest, eh? - I have done, yeah.
0:52:48 > 0:52:50- Impress the ladies.- Yeah.
0:52:50 > 0:52:53Just going to feel your stomach, Mick.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56Just tell me if it hurts anywhere where I'm pushing.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58- Does it hurt anywhere around there? - No.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01- Anywhere there? - Just aching that side.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05The wheel came up through the bottom of the van.
0:53:05 > 0:53:08- But your right side is hurting? - Oh, me head's killing me.
0:53:08 > 0:53:12Right, Mick. This is going to be uncomfortable, yeah,
0:53:12 > 0:53:14but I've got to have a feel of it, all right?
0:53:14 > 0:53:18- Oh, just there. Oh, argh! - Does that hurt everywhere?
0:53:18 > 0:53:22- HE GROANS Sorry, mate.- That's it.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25With the examination complete,
0:53:25 > 0:53:27Mick can be taken to hospital for a scan.
0:53:27 > 0:53:32Max's work here is done and he leaves behind one satisfied patient.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35I'd like to shake his hand but I can't.
0:53:35 > 0:53:37It's all tied up, I'm afraid.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39Thank you, Max, for your efforts getting me out of van.
0:53:39 > 0:53:43- That's all right, mate. Take care. - Cheers, man.- See you later.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48'I feel really special and privileged'
0:53:48 > 0:53:51obviously, because I did play a big part in that crash.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55I wasn't just standing by watching everyone else do everything,
0:53:55 > 0:53:58and that did fill me with joy and, like, a bit more excitement.
0:53:58 > 0:54:02I was like, "Yes! this is really cool!" It was really exciting.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11It's been a roller coaster week for the junior paramedics.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16Life in those green uniforms might be challenging,
0:54:16 > 0:54:18but it's also hugely fulfilling.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22What I really love about it is being able to go into someone's house
0:54:22 > 0:54:26and see a patient and make a difference to their life.
0:54:26 > 0:54:31'The most rewarding thing about the job is helping people.'
0:54:31 > 0:54:33I got whacked!
0:54:33 > 0:54:35That's awesome, that is.
0:54:35 > 0:54:39This placement has opened my eyes to what is out there in the world.
0:54:39 > 0:54:42It's a bit shocking sometimes, but then it kind of makes you reflect
0:54:42 > 0:54:46on what the world's like - not as a paramedic, but as a human.
0:54:58 > 0:55:01But despite the demands of the job,
0:55:01 > 0:55:05they're all looking forward to the rest of their placements.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08As much as it is tough sometimes, getting up at four in the morning,
0:55:08 > 0:55:10it's worth it.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15Obviously, we're only three weeks in, so we're not used to this.
0:55:15 > 0:55:18We will get used to it. Well, we'll have to.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23You just sort of eat, sleep and breathe this paramedic life, really.
0:55:23 > 0:55:28But this is what I want to do, so I think it's worth the sacrifice.
0:55:28 > 0:55:31I want to be a paramedic more than anything.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33I know that's what I want to do and now I've found something
0:55:33 > 0:55:36that I know I want to do,
0:55:36 > 0:55:39I'm determined to become a paramedic, no matter what.
0:55:40 > 0:55:42Next time...
0:55:43 > 0:55:47..the juniors realise what a superstitious lot paramedics are...
0:55:49 > 0:55:52It's a full moon tonight. Paramedics don't like a full moon.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55I don't know whether it was a full moon or whatever it was,
0:55:55 > 0:55:58but every case I went to was a mental-health case.
0:56:01 > 0:56:04..Lucy gets more than she bargained for with one patient...
0:56:04 > 0:56:07Do you want to get him to cover up a bit?
0:56:07 > 0:56:09He's just pissed.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11THEY LAUGH
0:56:11 > 0:56:16..and Ashley's nerve is tested at a house fire.
0:56:16 > 0:56:21In that moment, I kind of questioned everything and I just thought,
0:56:21 > 0:56:23"Oh, my god. This is horrendous."
0:56:25 > 0:56:29MUSIC: "Red Lights" by Tiesto
0:56:29 > 0:56:32# We could just run them red lights
0:56:36 > 0:56:40# We could just run them red lights
0:56:43 > 0:56:47# We could just run them red lights... #