0:00:02 > 0:00:06Today, they can feel it and smell it, but they can't find it -
0:00:06 > 0:00:10the thousand degree blaze that firefighters just can't pin down.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Be aware, the fire is well into that roof.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17If you can attack from the hatch, do it, but don't take any risks.
0:00:17 > 0:00:24A young man has collapsed in a shop and chocolate is the best medicine to keep him from a coma.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28- Can you remember why you were on the floor?- No.
0:00:28 > 0:00:34And the world's a terrifying place when you're young, in pain and surrounded by strangers.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38- Did you get hit by a car? Do you remember?- I don't remember anything.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43- Am I going to die?- No, you're not going to die. Callum...
0:01:06 > 0:01:11Hello and welcome to Real Rescues. If someone's hurt or sick and dials 999,
0:01:11 > 0:01:15their call comes through to an ambulance control room like this.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19They dispatch ambulances and stay on the line treating patients
0:01:19 > 0:01:21until that help arrives.
0:01:21 > 0:01:27- Just such a situation happened to Mike Kenny. Are you on the line? - No. I've finished.- Jolly good.
0:01:27 > 0:01:33You recently looked after a couple of young ladies who got into difficulty in the middle of nowhere.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37They were in remote woods and they were having a horse-ride.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41One of the horses bolted, throwing its rider.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43She had quite serious injuries,
0:01:43 > 0:01:48so I needed to stay on the line to keep the patient calm and still.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52- So who was calling? Her friend? - Her friend was calling.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55She had hold of both horses and the telephone
0:01:55 > 0:01:58whilst trying to shade her friend who lay on the floor.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03- So you were keeping her calm, trying to help her out... - And keeping her still.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08Also trying to get a better location. They didn't really know where they were.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12They knew they were in a wood, marking out a route...
0:02:12 > 0:02:15- How long did you keep that up for? - Quite a while.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19- It felt like longer than it was. - Yeah.- To me and to them.
0:02:19 > 0:02:25In fact, you managed to get the helicopter to stop by saying, "Tell me when it's overhead,"
0:02:25 > 0:02:28then you telling the ambulance people here...
0:02:28 > 0:02:33- Isn't that amazing how it works? - Yeah.- Smashing. Thank you.- Cheers.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37We're going to start as well today with the fire and rescue service.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41They're called to a fire threatening to destroy two houses,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44but how do you fight a fire when you can't see it?
0:02:44 > 0:02:51The flames are racing through hidden spaces and the firefighters have no idea where they'll flare up next.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59It's early evening and the crew of White Watch are on a 999 call
0:02:59 > 0:03:02to a house fire in a busy residential area.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05- There's smoke everywhere.- OK.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09Six fire engines from two stations are heading there.
0:03:09 > 0:03:14- Where is it...? Stop!- There's smoke in there.- Yeah, loads, yeah.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19Thankfully, everyone is out of the house, but this is a semi.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22The fire could spread and destroy two homes.
0:03:22 > 0:03:28It's in the roof space, right? It's in the roof space. I want ALP, light pumps four.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29Go!
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Watch manager Shaun Cheeseman gets his team straight into the action.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39Get yourselves in there. Go and give it a quick look. Don't take any risks.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43- Is that front door open? - It should be.- Thank you.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- Are you ready? - Come on, boys. Let's get going.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51Firefighters Alex and Martin are sent in to check where in the roof the fire is.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Where's my BA crew?
0:03:54 > 0:04:00In the meantime, Sue and Gavin are putting on their breathing apparatus, preparing to go in too.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05You two are going to get a hose reel up and see if you can lend any assistance.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09I need you to let me know what's going on as soon as you can.
0:04:11 > 0:04:17Sue and Gavin will join the other team in trying to find and tackle the seat of the fire.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22Shaun, in the meantime, has to make sure everyone is safe outside as well.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Come this side out of the smoke.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29The fire is spreading through the roof space, but if they tackle it fast enough,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33there is still a chance they could save this house.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37Inside, Sue and Gavin are working in complete darkness.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41They've made their way up to the back bedroom on the second floor.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44We managed to open the door and get through.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47The smoke was right down to the floor.
0:04:47 > 0:04:53We couldn't see anything. We kept feeling around the room, realising we were in another loft space.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58We were just trying to feel walls to find out where the heat was coming from,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02but all the walls we were feeling seemed to be quite hot to touch.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07The visibility was so poor in there, we still couldn't see anything.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12The fire's been burning for more than half an hour. Shaun's already radioed for reinforcements.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17Four more crews, as well as the aerial ladder platform, are on their way.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21If it's got into the roof big-time, we'll lose this.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26Opening the door has created ventilation and improved the visibility inside.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30As the smoke clears, they see the whole room is on fire.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34There were flames up to the ceiling and on the sides of the walls.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Clothes and toys on the floor were catching alight as well.
0:05:42 > 0:05:48The fire has travelled through the adjoining loft spaces and into the house next door.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52This is now a much bigger incident. Two houses are on fire.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56It's vital they tackle the blaze from both sides.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59You two, get yourselves started up.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03Take in a section of this ladder with you. Go into that premises.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Take a hose reel up to the top, look in the loft hatch.
0:06:07 > 0:06:13Be aware, the fire is well into that roof. If you can attack from the hatch, do it, but don't take risks.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16More firefighters arrive. There's no time to waste.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Come on, you two, let's go! Quick as you can!
0:06:19 > 0:06:25The second house is divided into flats and the loft space turned into bedrooms.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30This caused us all sorts of problems, lots of tiny staircases and doors and rooms
0:06:30 > 0:06:34and a very confined space with hatches into hidden roof voids
0:06:34 > 0:06:41and no loft hatches into the ceiling voids, so it became a very difficult and arduous job for us.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45They're tackling two different fires in each house.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50The homes look the same from the outside, but inside, the layouts are totally different.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55It means the flames can move through these hidden areas or roof spaces
0:06:55 > 0:06:58out of sight of the firefighters inside.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Shaun has to keep sending his teams in in relays,
0:07:01 > 0:07:05keeping track of who is where on the whiteboard outside.
0:07:05 > 0:07:11- Do they need assistance? Shall I put two more BA in with them? - Red Team 3, Red Control. Over.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16Quick as you can, back up that crew up there. I'll have you two as stand-by here.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21The teams working with breathing apparatus only have oxygen for 40 minutes.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Sue and Gavin have had to come out.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27At that point, we'd already been working quite arduously anyway,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30trying to pull our hose up two flights of stairs
0:07:30 > 0:07:34and our air started to run out on our BA cylinders,
0:07:34 > 0:07:38so at that point, we had to leave the room and get out of the building.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Another team takes over inside.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45Two BA, give them a hand with the main jet. We've got a fire in the back room.
0:07:45 > 0:07:51They're getting the fire under control in the left-hand house, but these are unpredictable conditions.
0:07:51 > 0:07:58It looked like the fire was out, but we noticed that smoke was travelling out of different parts of the roof
0:07:58 > 0:08:03and we could actually see an orange flame under some of the tiles.
0:08:03 > 0:08:08The fire has travelled to another inaccessible area of the roof space where it's burning fiercely.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14The fire is raging through the roof. They need more back-up and more crews to save both the homes.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Luckily, no-one was injured in that incident,
0:08:20 > 0:08:25but some of the worst and most common injuries operators here have to deal with are burns
0:08:25 > 0:08:28and Seb will show me a clever piece of kit.
0:08:28 > 0:08:34It's difficult to tell over the phone how bad a burn is, but something on your computer helps.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- We've got the burn tool here. - There it is.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42Each part of the body is represented by a score of nine which is a percentage.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46When we're told which areas are burnt, we simply add up the areas.
0:08:46 > 0:08:51So, for example, somebody phones in, says, "I've got burns on my chest and leg."
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- So you quickly add those scores? - That's correct.
0:08:54 > 0:09:00If we know the burn covers the whole of the abdomen and the front of the legs, we add the scores up.
0:09:00 > 0:09:06- If the area equates to being larger than 18%...- Which it does because 18% is just on the front anyway.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09So if it's larger than 18%...?
0:09:09 > 0:09:15- That would be a large burn and something we'd have to react to in an immediate response.- Why is that?
0:09:15 > 0:09:19The risk of infection and the risk of going into shock is incredibly high
0:09:19 > 0:09:22when they lose that amount of skin area,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25so it's important we arrive as quick as we can.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- What's the most common thing? Children spilling cups of tea?- Yeah.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33A lot of small children reach up, pull a cup of tea over themselves
0:09:33 > 0:09:37and they're burnt from over their face down the front of their body.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- And that adds up to over 18%? - Of course. An immediate response.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46At home, if we've burnt ourselves, what should we do? I thought it was cold water.
0:09:46 > 0:09:52No, we've been told lukewarm water needs to flow over the wound for ten minutes.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56- So poured over or under a tap? - It needs to be lukewarm, not cold.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01- It's less of a shock to the body, cooling down...- Then get you guys to come and deal with it?
0:10:01 > 0:10:06- That's correct. - Brilliant. Thanks very much for showing me that. Nick?
0:10:06 > 0:10:10You always learn something new on this programme.
0:10:10 > 0:10:16Now a remarkable story of a young man who went from complete collapse to total recovery in under an hour.
0:10:17 > 0:10:24Medics Kevin Gall and Stuart Collins are responding to an emergency call from a supermarket.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27We're on our way to a job in a Co-op store.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30We don't have any further details at this time,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33so it's something we'll assess when we arrive.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39When they get there, the reason for the urgent concern becomes clear.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42A teenager has collapsed without warning.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47- A young lad, a customer, it looks like he's had a fit and fallen down.- OK.
0:10:47 > 0:10:5118-year-old Lewis is sitting on the floor and looks very groggy.
0:10:51 > 0:10:56His dad has just arrived and told Kevin that Lewis suffers from diabetes.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00- They'd been doing some building work together.- How are you feeling now?
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Can you remember coming into the store?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Can you remember coming into the store?
0:11:07 > 0:11:09What happened after that?
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Sorry?
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Have you taken your normal amount this morning?
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Have you eaten?
0:11:22 > 0:11:28My colleague's going to do your blood sugars, just so we can test them.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32The suspicion is that Lewis has had a hypoglycaemic attack.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37A known risk for diabetics, it's where the blood sugar levels fall dangerously low
0:11:37 > 0:11:39and the brain starts to shut down.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Can you remember why you were on the floor?
0:11:43 > 0:11:48He may be conscious, but Lewis appears confused and unresponsive.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56- 2.3. I'm guessing that's quite low for you, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:11:56 > 0:12:03A reading of 2.3 is way too low for his blood sugar level. It needs to be at least double that.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08Lewis, we'll try and get you a chair to sit on and get you something sugary to eat.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13- That's what he came to get. He came to get a Coke. - It just came on a bit too quick.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Kevin quickly needs to raise Lewis's blood sugar level
0:12:17 > 0:12:21to avoid any risk of him slipping into unconsciousness.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26Lewis had been working in the heat when he first got the warning signs.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31He said to me 20 minutes ago, "I'm feeling hyper. Can we go and get a drink?"
0:12:31 > 0:12:37We came straight round here. He said, "I'll go and get it." He went in there and he collapsed.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Kevin needs to give Lewis a sweet gel.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44It's the quickest way to get some sugar into his system.
0:12:44 > 0:12:50Take it in that hand. And slowly, like with a tube of toothpaste, just squeeze it out.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Even this simple task is proving difficult.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Open your mouth for me. There we are.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02- Mix that around in your mouth.- Does he want a Coke or anything like that?
0:13:02 > 0:13:08We need to see him eat something with carbohydrates like bread. A sandwich would be very good.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13The gel is having an instant effect and Lewis is already looking more alert.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17- Not too fast.- He's wolfing that down.- Just take your time, Lewis.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22But they have to be careful. Too much too soon would make him feel unwell.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25I've got some sarnies here for you, Lewis.
0:13:25 > 0:13:31We'll give that a little while and re-test his sugar levels in another ten minutes.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35In the Co-op, the reading was 2.3, but they're usually between 4 and 7.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39If we can get him back to that, that's the level we'd be happy with.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44Ten minutes have passed and Lewis is continuing to improve, so it's time to test again.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48What do you reckon? Fairly low.
0:13:48 > 0:13:512.8.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54The reading is still dangerously low.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59Maybe it's just on its way back up. We'll give it another five minutes.
0:13:59 > 0:14:04Being told to eat sandwiches and fizzy drinks might be most people's preferred medicine,
0:14:04 > 0:14:09but it's essential for Lewis. It will raise his blood sugar level past the 4 mark
0:14:09 > 0:14:14and provide enough glucose for his brain to work normally.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18- Shall we try again, Lewis? - There we go, a little scratch.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- 4.8.- 4.8.- Ideal.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26You're quite happy this is Lewis's normal behaviour?
0:14:26 > 0:14:30It's a dramatic turnaround in his condition.
0:14:30 > 0:14:36Half an hour ago, he was lying on a shop floor. Now he'll be well enough to walk out with his dad.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40- When was the last time that happened?- Last year.- Last year.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43It must be fairly well controlled then.
0:14:43 > 0:14:49Take it easy for the rest of the afternoon. If any problems develop, seek help straight away.
0:14:49 > 0:14:55To be on the safe side, Lewis will skip the rest of the day's work with his dad
0:14:55 > 0:14:57to put his feet up at home.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01- OK, thanks very much. - You're welcome.- OK, cheers.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- Bye now. Take it easy, Lewis. - Cheers. Bye.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Yeah, fascinating stuff, isn't it?
0:15:07 > 0:15:11You think about the fact that people can be so ill so quickly
0:15:11 > 0:15:15and it's quite panic-striking for people having to deal with it...
0:15:15 > 0:15:19The reason I mention this, not least because of the film...
0:15:19 > 0:15:25- We talked earlier about staying on the line to look after people who call in. Is it OK to talk?- Yeah.
0:15:25 > 0:15:31Dealing with people who phone up who are in a panic, I've heard there's a technique. What did we call it?
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- You told me earlier.- Repetitive persistence.- What does that mean?
0:15:35 > 0:15:39When you've got people who are very distressed on the phone,
0:15:39 > 0:15:41you give them a command and a reason
0:15:41 > 0:15:44to get them to calm down and you repeat it,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48so like when you get calls for, particularly, babies fitting
0:15:48 > 0:15:51and mums going slightly mad on the phone,
0:15:51 > 0:15:57you always say, "You need to calm down so we can help your baby," over and over until they listen to you.
0:15:57 > 0:16:03- You say, "Calm down, so I can help your baby, give me your address, so I can send an ambulance"?- Yeah.
0:16:03 > 0:16:09- Is that a command and a...?- Yeah, and saying it over and over, so they listen, it registers and they do it.
0:16:09 > 0:16:15You're very quietly spoken. Do you have to raise your voice or is it a matter of being very decisive?
0:16:15 > 0:16:20You don't raise your voice. You have to go quite firm, so they listen to you.
0:16:20 > 0:16:27- I'm not very soft-spoken when people are panicking.- No. Fascinating stuff. Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Shocked and scared, Callum has been hit by a car
0:16:33 > 0:16:39and is desperate to see the one person he believes can make him better.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44- I want my mum.- I know you do. They're going to go and get your mum. Yeah?
0:16:44 > 0:16:47- Am I going to die?- No, you're not.
0:16:48 > 0:16:54And Green Watch from St Mary's Station have been sent out to a woman who's trapped in a lift,
0:16:54 > 0:16:58but this job doesn't sound like it's going to be routine.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03Sorry?
0:17:07 > 0:17:13Earlier, we saw fire crews tackling a blaze that's threatening to destroy two houses.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17Firefighters are working in relays in searing temperatures.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22It's a complex operation because the flames are spreading through the roof spaces,
0:17:22 > 0:17:26completely out of sight of the firefighters.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30Flames are now clearly visible in the roofs of both houses.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34The fire is racing through hidden and inaccessible roof spaces.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37They've fought it for over an hour,
0:17:37 > 0:17:43but no sooner do they put it out in one place, then it springs up in another.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48I need you two to go and get them replenished and get cylinders on straight away.
0:17:48 > 0:17:54Martin and Alex have just come out of the first house after putting out the fire in the back bedroom.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58You can't get where you want to get as the floor's not safe.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03The fire is next door, so we can only contain what we can contain in our area.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07We're protecting one property whilst another team went into the next one.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12As the breathing apparatus crews fight the fire from inside the building,
0:18:12 > 0:18:17they also need to douse the flames with water from the aerial platform,
0:18:17 > 0:18:22but that will have to wait as it could bring the roof in on firefighters inside.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26The temperature within the house is reaching 1,000 degrees.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30The rooms were hot. You could feel that there was fire somewhere,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34but you couldn't trace where it was. None of the rooms were on fire.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39The fire is all around them, but finding it is not straightforward.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44They can feel the heat from it, they can smell it, but they just can't see it.
0:18:44 > 0:18:50I saw my crews up in one of the loft converted areas and they were looking out the Velux window,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53saying they'd knocked the fire down.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57However, above their heads, six to eight inches above their heads,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00it was glowing orange under the tiles.
0:19:00 > 0:19:06You've got to attack it from that point you can see there cos you can't get in.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09- That bit that's flickering up, you can't get to it?- No.
0:19:09 > 0:19:15Inside the loft, plasterboard has been used to create false ceilings and walls.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Plasterboard has a fire-protective layer,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22so it will withhold flames for a period of time.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26Behind the plasterboard, the roof structure, the timbers are burning
0:19:26 > 0:19:32and from inside the building, you can't see it because it's behind a protective fire barrier.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37So now they've worked out where the fire is, but they still have to get at it.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42We've got a roof space which has got different levels within the building
0:19:42 > 0:19:45and a lot of them are sealed off with no access to them.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50When the fire gets in there, we've got to break ceilings down to get into the fire.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54The firefighters are beginning to get the upper hand.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58- All right, listen up. - SHRILL WHISTLING
0:19:58 > 0:20:02We've successfully knocked it down back and front and inside.
0:20:02 > 0:20:08What we need to do now is march on and put it out, so we need to get people in that roof space.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10- I want two BA to do that now.- OK.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15By now, more than 40 firefighters have been here for nearly three hours
0:20:15 > 0:20:21and they are containing the fire to the roof spaces and top floors of both houses.
0:20:21 > 0:20:27There's lots of different ceilings at different angles all over the place and it's strenuous work.
0:20:27 > 0:20:33We just pile blokes in and get that down until we can knock off the breathing apparatus and go in there.
0:20:33 > 0:20:39And we'll start stripping the tiles off on the outside, so we can get to it easier from there.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43The roofs of both houses are now being taken apart
0:20:43 > 0:20:46to make sure that every flame is extinguished.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55The damage is extensive. It shows the lengths the fire crews have had to go to
0:20:55 > 0:20:58to stop it tearing through both homes.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02By pulling down the ceilings and knocking through the plasterboard
0:21:02 > 0:21:06the fire crews reached the flames and stopped them in their tracks.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10Going by the extent of the fire in the roof spaces
0:21:10 > 0:21:14and the amount of breathing apparatus and crews we put in there,
0:21:14 > 0:21:21it proved its worth because we stopped it within the roof, so it was very good work by the lads.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27In that film, we saw the firefighters using a particular kind of board.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32Dave is here to explain it to me. They were using it and you use it a lot.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35This particular one we've got here has had a lot of use.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40You write on it really important information which saves lives.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44- What do you do?- Each breathing apparatus set has got a tally.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49That's going to be Nick's pretend one - his name and how much air he's got.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52You put that in the slot prior to them going into the job.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56- They always work in pairs. - So they both go there.- Yeah.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01Before you go in, you look at the time. The time is three minutes past two.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05- So you just put in the time... - On there.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09OK. And how much air have they got in there?
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- How long will it last them? - About 35 minutes.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16- Which is not long if you're in a firefighting situation.- Exactly.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20So you put those in and I've pre-prepared some of this.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Then you say where they're going, the location of the team.
0:22:24 > 0:22:30- That's a "left-hand..."- So you know what part of the building is being searched by them.- "..search."
0:22:30 > 0:22:32- And then...- "First floor."
0:22:32 > 0:22:38And it helps the incident commander know which part of the building is being searched.
0:22:38 > 0:22:44- That's allegedly me today.- Yes.- Then the time of the whistle - that's when they need to come out.- Yes.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46You look at the timing, that's 14.03.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- You move this to that position.- Yeah.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53- Then you look 200...- 200 bars, that's how much air he's got.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57- Yes. That would be 14.38.- It tells me 14, then you count 35, 36, 37, 38.
0:22:57 > 0:23:0014.38. 190...
0:23:00 > 0:23:06- The point being that once you've got this, you know when they need to come out.- Yes.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09When the time goes to 14.36, what do you do?
0:23:09 > 0:23:14You always have someone with the board and he'll be monitoring the time.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18As it gets close to that, they'll be in radio contact.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22They'll be ensuring the team is coming out of the building.
0:23:22 > 0:23:28If they're not coming out of the building and he loses radio contact, they will send in an emergency team.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33It looks like a simple piece of kit, but this saves lives on a daily basis, doesn't it?
0:23:33 > 0:23:38Controlling who is in a fire in a very dangerous situation is paramount
0:23:38 > 0:23:44and by using this, you know how many teams are in, where they are and what time they'll come out.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- Thank you very much for showing me. - No problem.
0:23:47 > 0:23:52A knock to the head can lead to all kinds of strange symptoms and reactions.
0:23:52 > 0:23:58In the next rescue, the ambulance crews and the police work together to try to calm an 11-year-old boy.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02He's confused and frightened after being hit by a car.
0:24:04 > 0:24:11Ambulance crew Alyssa Musselwhite and Hayley Thomson are responding to a 999 call
0:24:11 > 0:24:13and it's the sort all crews dread.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17A child has been knocked down as he stepped out from behind a bus.
0:24:17 > 0:24:23They know he's taken a bang to the head and he could have been knocked out.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27They arrive to find the boy sitting by the side of the road.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29- He's there, Ally.- Oh, bless him!
0:24:29 > 0:24:31A helpful passer-by fills them in.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35- It's quite a serious head injury. He's quite stressed.- OK.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38I'm not surprised, bless him!
0:24:38 > 0:24:42Callum is very upset and disorientated.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45- What happened, Callum? - I can't remember.
0:24:45 > 0:24:50- Did anybody see what happened?- He came out on top of the car in front.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Callum has clearly suffered quite a knock.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58A collision with a car travelling at 30mph can cause serious injuries.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- I want my mum, please. - I know you do, poppet.
0:25:01 > 0:25:07Callum, we'll get somebody to get your mum in a minute. We just need to make sure that you're all right.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Can you keep yourself nice and still for me?
0:25:10 > 0:25:16- That's brilliant. How old are you?- 11.- 11? Wow! That's it, keep looking forward.
0:25:16 > 0:25:22'When we first arrive, we're trying to assess what's happened and find out as many details as possible.'
0:25:22 > 0:25:26It was obvious with Callum he'd had a hit on the head
0:25:26 > 0:25:28cos he had a lump on his forehead,
0:25:28 > 0:25:34so we need to know if he's been knocked out, if he's been thrown up on to the car and on to the floor.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38He may have C-spine injuries or back injuries.
0:25:38 > 0:25:44You've had a little bit of a bang on the head, so we need to check you over. Keep looking at Hayley.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49- That's Hayley.- Look straight at me. - I'll feel down your neck. Tell me if you've got any pain.
0:25:49 > 0:25:54Callum is still very anxious. Alyssa must check him for spinal injuries.
0:25:54 > 0:25:59- Does it hurt anywhere, darling? - No. It doesn't hurt anywhere.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02- Only here.- OK, on your face.
0:26:02 > 0:26:08It's the injury to his face which is hurting him. The paramedics can't rule out more serious head injuries.
0:26:08 > 0:26:14- Callum...- What? - Somebody said that you were knocked out, which means that...
0:26:14 > 0:26:18- When was I knocked out?- Did you get hit by a car? Do you remember that?
0:26:18 > 0:26:22- No, I don't remember anything. - You don't remember anything.
0:26:22 > 0:26:28- We're going to need to pop you up to see the doctor.- Am I going to die?- No, you're not going to die.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31- HE CRIES - Callum, you're not going to die.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Loss of memory can be a sign of concussion.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40Callum will need to go to hospital to be thoroughly checked out,
0:26:40 > 0:26:43but first they have to calm the hysteria.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47- How about we get the police to come here?- No, take me home!
0:26:47 > 0:26:51- No, Callum, they can go and get your mum and bring her here.- OK.
0:26:51 > 0:26:57- Yeah? Shall we do that?- Mm-hm. - But you need to do something for us. We want you to stay nice and still.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02We're going to need to pop you up to the hospital. We'll wait for your mum.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06If the police can get her. We need to do a few things.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09- Am I going to die? - No, you're not going to die.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13You've just had a bit of a bang. We need to make sure everything is OK.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18He can't remember his mum's phone number, but he knows the address.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21A police officer is going to go and get her.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25We're going to try and get hold of your mum to come down here. OK?
0:27:25 > 0:27:29You stay with these ladies. They'll look after you.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Poppet, we need you to stay as still as you can.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36PC Mike Batten is trying to get to the bottom of just what happened.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39I spoke to the young lady, the car driver.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43She was distressed as well because of what had happened
0:27:43 > 0:27:46and quickly ascertained from her
0:27:46 > 0:27:51and the bus driver that Callum had got off the bus, walked round the front of it,
0:27:51 > 0:27:56had stepped out into the path of the car and given the driver no chance to react.
0:27:56 > 0:28:01Callum had gone up on to the vehicle and he'd been carried a short distance,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04then thrown forward as the car braked to a standstill.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08He landed on the road quite heavily and sustained the injury to his head.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12Meanwhile, Alyssa is doing her best to reassure Callum.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15- Keep nice and still, Callum. - I want my mum!- I know you do.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20That's why we've taken your address. They're going to go and get your mum.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- Am I going to die?- No, you're not.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27You've had a bang on the head and we need to get that checked out.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32We need you to keep your head still. You've got a real wiggly head, Callum. Yeah?
0:28:32 > 0:28:38Callum keeps repeating the same things over and over again. This could be another sign of concussion.
0:28:38 > 0:28:44- How did I get here? - We're not sure because nobody seems to know what happened.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47Keep your head nice and still. Keep looking forward.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51Callum was very repetitive. He kept saying, "Am I going to die?"
0:28:51 > 0:28:55Asking for his mum, saying "Am I going to die" again.
0:28:55 > 0:29:01He had had a nasty bang on the head. This could be related to the concussion, him being so repetitive.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05When your brain's really shaken up, it can cause memory loss
0:29:05 > 0:29:09and the repetitive behaviour that Callum was showing.
0:29:09 > 0:29:15Also, he was ever so shocked. It's a very scary situation for anybody, but for a little 11-year-old...
0:29:15 > 0:29:19He had no parents around him, nobody that he knew.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22It was all very chaotic and scary for him.
0:29:22 > 0:29:27- My head is killing me!- I know. That's cos you've had a nasty bang on your head.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31- How did I do it?- We're not sure. No-one seems to have seen it.
0:29:31 > 0:29:37- The police lady is finding out for us. Try and look straight ahead. - HE STARTS TO CRY
0:29:37 > 0:29:39This just keeps your neck straight.
0:29:39 > 0:29:44They need to keep his neck still as they move him into the ambulance.
0:29:44 > 0:29:49These are a bit uncomfortable, but they do a very special job.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52- Ow!- Sorry.- No, take it off!
0:29:52 > 0:29:55- Callum...- Ow!- Callum, calm down.
0:29:55 > 0:30:00- You've got to keep it on, mate. I'm going to die.- No. - You're not.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05We'll see how Callum gets along a little bit later, but before we get on to the next bit,
0:30:05 > 0:30:11we don't normally give information away, but if you're upset by watching Callum being so upset,
0:30:11 > 0:30:14I can tell you he's not going to die. He'll be fine.
0:30:19 > 0:30:24A regular call-out for the fire crews is to rescue people trapped in lifts.
0:30:24 > 0:30:29This emergency is in the early evening on a hot summer's day.
0:30:29 > 0:30:34Green Watch from St Mary's Station have been sent out to a woman who's become trapped,
0:30:34 > 0:30:38but this job doesn't sound like it will be routine.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40A lady's panicking in the lift.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46- Hello.- Hi. It's a lady stuck in a lift.
0:30:46 > 0:30:51The crew go straight to the room where they can access the lift machinery.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55- Do you know where the key is?- No. - All right. Ah!
0:30:55 > 0:30:59Just when it looks like they might have trouble opening the door,
0:30:59 > 0:31:04Tim O'Donnell spots the holder for the emergency key up on the wall.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08Ladder crew, if you want to come up with me, Paul and Tim...
0:31:08 > 0:31:10Hi, Hilary.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14The woman's trapped on the third floor, but when they get there,
0:31:14 > 0:31:20Shaun is greeted by the surprising sight of Hilary looking straight back at him.
0:31:20 > 0:31:26- The old-fashioned lift is good news as Shaun can reassure her through the window.- All right, Hilary?
0:31:26 > 0:31:32Hilary may be nervous, but he needs her to close the inner lift doors for her own safety.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36Can you shut it and go to the back of the lift car, please?
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Right.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45Then stand back at the back of the lift car, Hilary.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47- That one won't shut.- It won't either.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51- OK...- They've shut off the electrical supply,
0:31:51 > 0:31:58but the design of the lift is preventing them from opening the outer door and reaching Hilary.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02- 'Yeah, receiving. Over.'- Adam, it's quite an unusual lift, this one.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06It's a very small, one passenger lift.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08The inner door's open.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12We may have to raise if possible. Received, over?
0:32:12 > 0:32:18They hope by winching the lift up level with the floor, the door's safety mechanism will release.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Are you all right, Hilary?
0:32:21 > 0:32:23Yeah, I know.
0:32:23 > 0:32:28Hilary is calmer now and is starting to see the funny side of her predicament.
0:32:28 > 0:32:35- There's nothing up above. It feels like there's just a void, then it goes back to the brickwork.- Sorry?
0:32:37 > 0:32:42I think your daughter and her friends are having a laugh at your expense.
0:32:43 > 0:32:48Hilary had been doing her daughter Katie a good turn when she got stuck.
0:32:48 > 0:32:54We were moving flat and she came back to get the rest of my stuff while we were at our house
0:32:54 > 0:32:58and she called me saying she was stuck in the lift, so we came back.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02- Is she all right in there?- She was a bit upset. She's a bit scared.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06She rang me up crying, but it's quite funny.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08Not much sympathy there then.
0:33:08 > 0:33:14Thankfully for Hilary, Shaun and the crew are working as quickly as possible to get her out.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18- Hilary, we'll try to start to raise the lift now.- Thank you.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21I'm not saying we'll get you out yet!
0:33:21 > 0:33:23But you're moving now.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Right, pass me my torch, please.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Can you... Right, check the...
0:33:30 > 0:33:32- Nearly.- That's it released.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36- Oh, lovely.- Adam, you can rest there, please. Over.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39- 'Resting now, brake is on.' - Lovely. Come on out.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44- Thank you.- Right... Is that all your shopping?
0:33:44 > 0:33:48- No, she's moving house.- Ah! - I'm trying to help her move.- I see.
0:33:48 > 0:33:53The trouble is, I think the lift's out of use from now on.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57- You may have possibly overloaded it. - Well, it says "four people".
0:33:57 > 0:34:04- Yeah, OK.- Perhaps four dwarfs. - I don't know, but the lift's out of use now.- Sorry.- That's all right.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06Hilary is just glad to be free.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10Well, you know, sense of humour, but I was a bit panicky, I have to say,
0:34:10 > 0:34:14very panicky because I thought, "It's going to go down!"
0:34:14 > 0:34:20- Are you relieved?- Very relieved. I'm just sorry I held these guys up from saving people.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22OK, thanks then. Bye-bye!
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Hilary can get back to helping her daughter move,
0:34:25 > 0:34:31though unfortunately, like Green Watch, they'll now have to use the stairs.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39Earlier, we saw an ambulance crew trying to calm 11-year-old Callum
0:34:39 > 0:34:42who was hit by a car after he stepped off a bus.
0:34:42 > 0:34:48The crew need to examine him carefully in the ambulance, but his concussion is making that difficult.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52- Please, I don't want to die!- We're not going to let you die, Callum.
0:34:52 > 0:34:58We'll pop you up to hospital, so they can check your head out. Just stay nice and still for me.
0:34:58 > 0:35:03PC Mike Batten has been called to investigate how the accident happened,
0:35:03 > 0:35:07but now he's helping trying to calm Callum.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11He needs to reassure the youngster that everything is under control.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15- The paramedics will look after you. - I'm going to die!
0:35:15 > 0:35:19- Callum!- Trust me. You're not going to die.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24- Brave boy again. - We'll put some tape across your head to keep your head still.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28Mike has already spoken to the driver involved in the accident,
0:35:28 > 0:35:32but he also needs Callum to tell him anything he remembers.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34Do you remember what happened? No!
0:35:34 > 0:35:37Did you get off the bus? I can't remember.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40Am I going to die? You're not going to die.
0:35:40 > 0:35:46If you were going to die, I wouldn't be talking to you. You'd have gone ages ago.
0:35:46 > 0:35:52They're just making sure that your head and neck are all right and you don't wiggle about too much.
0:35:52 > 0:35:58Stay nice and calm for me, listen to what these ladies say to you and they'll make sure you're all right.
0:35:58 > 0:36:04Everyone is working hard to reassure the lad, so that they can continue with their treatment.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08- This is too tight.- The collar's a bit uncomfortable?- Yeah.
0:36:08 > 0:36:13It has to be quite tight because it has to keep your neck nice and straight for us.
0:36:13 > 0:36:18You were being so brave. We want to keep a nice, brave boy like that.
0:36:18 > 0:36:23'We shine a little light in a patient's eyes when we suspect a head injury.'
0:36:23 > 0:36:25Not your mouth, your eyes.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28'We shine the light in each of Callum's eyes.'
0:36:28 > 0:36:34We're looking at the size of the pupils, if they're equal, so that one side is the same as the other,
0:36:34 > 0:36:38or if one is not reacting as well to the light as we would want it to.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43All these could be signs of a head injury or something more going on.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46At last, there's one piece of good news for Callum.
0:36:46 > 0:36:51- Callum, the police have gone round to your mum's address to pick her up. - Excellent.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55That's all right. Your mum's going to meet us there.
0:36:55 > 0:37:00- Sounds like a good plan. - She's going to think, "How brave is he!"- That's right.
0:37:00 > 0:37:05It's vital that Alyssa knows as much as she can about the details of the accident.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10- Did he go up over the car? - He went on to the top, then back on to the ground.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13And he was knocked out, we heard.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17Once inside, Alyssa can give the injured boy a thorough check-over.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20- Do you hurt anywhere else at all? - No.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25I'm just going to feel your tummy and down your body. Tell me if you have any pain.
0:37:25 > 0:37:30- Do you have any pain across your shoulders?- No. - How about down your arms?
0:37:30 > 0:37:36- I can't remember what happened. - You've just had a little bit of an argument with a car.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Mike has got to the bottom of what happened.
0:37:39 > 0:37:44- The speed of the car is 30.- 30. - He came on to the bonnet.
0:37:44 > 0:37:50Then he came back down the front, bounced on the road surface and went forward.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54'It's really helpful to know what's happened with the accident.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58'We need to know the impact speed, the type of car that had hit him,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01'whether it's a four-by-four or a normal car.'
0:38:01 > 0:38:07If someone is going just 5mph, it's usually just a little tap or graze. It doesn't do too much damage.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11If somebody is going 50mph, it's obviously a lot worse,
0:38:11 > 0:38:13especially with a child.
0:38:13 > 0:38:19They're a bit shorter than adults, so their major organs, their body can take the main impact.
0:38:19 > 0:38:24We'll let you go down in the ambulance. We'll meet your mum in the reception area
0:38:24 > 0:38:28and we'll probably come straight through and see you.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32- Don't worry.- Sounds good.- Everything is fine. Just don't worry, OK?
0:38:32 > 0:38:38The fact that the driver of the car was slightly within the speed limit, probably slower,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41has prevented it being a much more serious crash.
0:38:41 > 0:38:47Had she been going 35, 40, Callum could have sustained life-changing, if not fatal injuries.
0:38:47 > 0:38:53They're just a few minutes away from the hospital where Callum's head will be scanned
0:38:53 > 0:38:57to see if there's anything serious going on like bleeding.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00He'll also be checked for any other injuries.
0:39:00 > 0:39:06Here's Callum and mum Clare and we've been joined by a friend of the programme, Rob Isherwood,
0:39:06 > 0:39:08who is a paramedic, of course.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12- I asked you, "Do you remember this?" You didn't remember anything.- No.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16So what's it like watching yourself going through it all?
0:39:16 > 0:39:21Um, it's... I just can't remember what happened.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25Do you remember yourself being upset or panicked like that?
0:39:25 > 0:39:29- No, I can't remember.- And horrible for you to watch, I should imagine?
0:39:29 > 0:39:33Absolutely, yeah. Really not good at all.
0:39:33 > 0:39:39- You get the call saying Callum's been knocked over, the worst call you want to receive.- It is, yeah.
0:39:39 > 0:39:45Absolutely. Just your whole world sort of like... You think the worst.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49- Yeah, absolutely.- It's just horrible and you just want to get there
0:39:49 > 0:39:51and the time sort of...
0:39:51 > 0:39:56It just seems like it's taken so long to get to him or to, you know...
0:39:56 > 0:40:01- But you're doing fine now. Are you all right now?- Yeah, I'm fine.
0:40:01 > 0:40:06- No headaches or anything else?- No. - Oh, good. Jolly good.
0:40:06 > 0:40:11- Rob, talk to us about concussion because it's weird what it makes people do.- It is, yeah.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15Concussion is to do with a shaking of the brain.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18The brain has been shaken inside your head,
0:40:18 > 0:40:20so it causes some minor bleeding.
0:40:20 > 0:40:26At first, it's just bruising, but that can develop into more serious things like a full-on bleed,
0:40:26 > 0:40:29so we need to take it very seriously.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33One of the first things you notice is someone's behaviour will change.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37- You said that he was talking codswallop.- He was, yeah.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40He didn't know where he was, what had happened.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43He didn't know what he was saying.
0:40:43 > 0:40:49For people to know, if they have somebody who has concussion, they're looking for that not making sense?
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Yeah, it's the confusion, agitation.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56Someone who might normally be very placid will become very aggressive
0:40:56 > 0:40:59and it's those changes that you need to be aware of.
0:40:59 > 0:41:05You need to keep the person calm, so that you can tell if this is just anxiety about what's happened
0:41:05 > 0:41:08or if it's to do with their head injury.
0:41:08 > 0:41:14This could bump up at any stage, so keep an eye on anyone who's had a bump for 24 hours.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17Lovely to see you looking so well. Louise?
0:41:17 > 0:41:21Thanks, Nick. All the controllers here are busy at the moment.
0:41:21 > 0:41:27You get a real sense of those calls coming in. They're dealing with them really calmly as they always do.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31They're dealing with a teenage boy who's been knocked off his bike.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35He's been taken to hospital. His family is with him.
0:41:35 > 0:41:40A lady has sustained a lower limb injury after an accident on an escalator.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42She is being treated too.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46That's all for Real Rescues today. We'll see you soon. Bye-bye.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2010
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk