0:00:02 > 0:00:03Today, minutes to save a baby's life.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Seven month old Jayden is choking on food and turning blue.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Help is on its way.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20And it's Tiny Ron to the rescue.
0:00:20 > 0:00:26The air ambulance crew take to the water to get an injured sailor ashore.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Let's just recap. We've done land, air and sea today.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Absolutely! Just don't make a habit of it, John.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33No, not again!
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Hello and welcome to Real Rescues
0:00:58 > 0:01:00from the South Western Ambulance control room.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02As well as taking 999 calls,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06the team in this room look after all types of medical needs.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Yes, and we've got Joe Crowley with us today.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12He's been finding out about this special area of the control room.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15- What do they do here? - This is the out-of-hours GP desk.
0:01:15 > 0:01:16A little bit quiet at the moment.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19But come 6:00-6:30 in the evening, it comes alive.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21We'll see all about that a little later.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Now to a rescue where an emergency really does mean just that.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28A mother has dialled 999. Her seven month old baby is choking.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32He's inhaled food and he can't get enough breath.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37When the first paramedic arrives, she knows she has just minutes to save Jayden's life.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39The emergency begins with this call.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22As call taker Dee Burchill keeps the baby's mother calm,
0:03:22 > 0:03:26the Rapid Response Vehicle is nearing the house.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Following closely behind is the ambulance.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58This is one of the most serious calls ambulance crew Sarah Brewster
0:03:58 > 0:04:00and Rebecca Attwater have ever attended.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03That road up there, by the traffic lights.
0:04:03 > 0:04:08As they arrive, they can see Jayden's distraught mother.
0:04:08 > 0:04:14Off camera, on the pavement, the rapid response paramedic, Hannah Hunter, is doing chest compressions.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18In the last few minutes, Jayden's condition has got far more serious.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22The crew have just minutes to save this baby's life.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Hannah here was in the Rapid Response Vehicle.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27And you got to Jayden first, didn't you?
0:04:27 > 0:04:30It was pretty clear right away that he was in trouble, wasn't it?
0:04:30 > 0:04:32Yeah. It was. The minute I turned him over,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- it was really super clear that he was in trouble.- Why?
0:04:36 > 0:04:38His eyes were really wide,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41his mouth was hanging open with drool coming out of it
0:04:41 > 0:04:43and his skin was blue.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Was he just virtually taking his last breaths? What was going on?
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Yeah, he was getting some air in.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53Hut the noise he was making and the way he was breathing was showing
0:04:53 > 0:04:56that he was really struggling to get every last bit of air in.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59You're obviously trained to deal with this. What did you do?
0:04:59 > 0:05:01I took over the back slaps.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04So turned him upside down and whacked him on the back.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07When that didn't work and the oxygen wasn't enough to pick him up,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10and he started to deteriorate, we moved to chest thrusts.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14- And he stopped breathing, and then I did CPR.- Goodness.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Let's see what happened next.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19They've got Jayden in the ambulance.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24The monitors are telling Hannah and Sarah that he's taking just eight breaths per minute.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28He needs to take 40 every minute to keep him alive.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Sarah pats him on the back in another attempt to dislodge the food.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35To everyone's relief, he starts to vomit.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40As the ambulance heads off, the sight of food on Jayden's blanket is a welcome sign.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Jayden's mum travels up-front with Rebecca.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53She can hear everything that's going on in the back of the ambulance.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57Although Jayden's breathing is improving, they urgently need to get his blood oxygen level up.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02Low levels can lead to brain damage. Sarah holds a nebuliser over his face.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05This will help the air flow more freely into his lungs.
0:06:05 > 0:06:11His airway's clear, it maintains. Breathing's good, a bit congested. Got some beats running through...
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Hannah starts to check all Jayden's vital signs.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17He's now breathing for himself, but after all he's been through,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20his condition could still deteriorate at any time.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24All this is happening whilst the ambulance is racing to Poole Hospital.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Pulse rate's 163.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- And he's maintaining.- Breaths are great.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Rest rate, still maintaining 40 breaths per minute.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Nice and pink, well profuse.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- Good boy.- A lot better, Jayden.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41- Good boy.- A lot better.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Jayden's been brought back from the brink, but he has to be monitored very closely.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Just checking to see how reactive he is.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54He's getting quite cold, so there's a blanket behind you. Do you want to wrap him up?
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Obviously babies lose loads of glucose when they're quite poorly.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02We've got to make sure he doesn't use up his glucose and make sure he doesn't get hypothermic,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05because we've stripped him of all his clothes.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10There's a huge feeling of relief in the ambulance, as Jayden appears to be getting stronger and stronger.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14All right, darling. That's it. You curl those toes, mate!
0:07:14 > 0:07:20- You curl them away.- And when he opens his eyes, he looks so much better.
0:07:20 > 0:07:26- One, two three. Hello, darling! - Hello, sweetie pie?- All right?- Hello!
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Good boy!
0:07:29 > 0:07:34- Airway's good. Jayden's looking around at me now. Aren't you, Jayden? - Hello, mister. Hello.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38But the fear is Jayden inhaled food into his lungs.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41His chest sounds far from normal.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46Yeah, it's not really a wheeze we've got in there anymore. It's more just coarse. It's horrible.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50And Sarah's also concerned about his oxygen level.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51It should be close to 100%.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53He was 82 on oxygen.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55He's gone down to 75. He's swapped over.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59- Heart rate's 147.- 147?- 147.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03An emergency team is waiting for them when we reach the hospital.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Hannah briefs Emergency Department Consultant, Simon Bell.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10It's improving and he's OK, but he's still not great.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Mum Amy is feeling very shocked.
0:08:12 > 0:08:19Because Jayden must stay on the oxygen, Sarah rides on the trolley with him, to keep the mask in place.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21The ambulance team have done their bit.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25They've saved Jayden's life, but there are still fears
0:08:25 > 0:08:29of complications caused by the food he breathed into his lungs.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33And we saw you, Sarah, as well in that ambulance.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35How does this rate as an emergency call?
0:08:35 > 0:08:37You deal with them all the time.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41It's very high up there. It is life and death.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Jayden was very poorly and it's a very serious-natured call.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48- What about you, Hannah? - Yeah. The most serious one I've been to, I think.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Is it? In the ambulance as well, watching it, it's very distressing
0:08:52 > 0:08:55anyway, but he was fluctuating all the time, wasn't he?
0:08:55 > 0:08:57You were dealing with lots of different things.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Our main priority is clearing the airway once we knew we had the blockage.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05But also he was quite blue, wasn't breathing, so we had to breathe for him, using the bag, then the mask.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08As soon as we cleared the airway, everything was improving all the time.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12And when was the turning point? When that spaghetti bolognese came up?
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Was that when you knew that you were probably going to be OK?
0:09:16 > 0:09:21Yeah. When I was doing the breathing for him on the street, waiting for the ambulance,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25immediately I felt his chest rise and fall. So I knew air was going in straight away.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30At that point, I thought, "We're in with a chance here, it's not completely blocked, there is hope."
0:09:30 > 0:09:37So when he brought up that spaghetti and everything cleared, then I thought, "Actually, result."
0:09:37 > 0:09:40And that made the difference. Did you feel the relief at that point?
0:09:40 > 0:09:44We both looked at each other at one point and just a huge sigh of relief.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46- Really?- Yeah. "We're OK now."
0:09:46 > 0:09:51As a mum as well, it's got to be quite difficult dealing with that sort of situation?
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Yeah, it is. I'd never want to take away from any paramedic that went to
0:09:55 > 0:09:59something like that - whether you have kids or not, it's horrendous -
0:09:59 > 0:10:01just being a mum,
0:10:01 > 0:10:07Amy sort of screaming at me, I could then feel myself imagining what it would be like if that was my baby.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11And I just had to wipe all that aside, and just focus on what I was doing.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16- Are you sure you feel a bit better? - Yes.- Come on. Here's Jayden, look. Hello, Jayden and Amy.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- He's absolutely fine now, isn't he? - Yeah. Thank God.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25- You were a carer, so you'd done the right things, hadn't you?- Yeah.- When he started choking, what did you do?
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Um, I fished out the food that I could actually see in his mouth,
0:10:29 > 0:10:31and that didn't work, so I put him over
0:10:31 > 0:10:34my knees and started doing the back blows.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38And that didn't work, and that's when I ran to get help.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Because I was in the house on my own with these two.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Were you panicking? What were you feeling?
0:10:44 > 0:10:46I felt I was hysterical.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Hannah said that I was completely...
0:10:48 > 0:10:51well, as calm as what I could be.
0:10:51 > 0:10:52You were giving her things to do, Hannah?
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Yeah, half of it because being on my own in the car,
0:10:55 > 0:11:01an extra pair of hands is always useful, but also whilst Amy was distracted and had other things
0:11:01 > 0:11:05to focus on, she wasn't just looking at Jayden and panicking.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09OK. And how is he now? He's got a little twin brother who's down here.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13- Hello! How's he doing?- Yeah, he's a million times better.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- Is he?- He's like a completely different baby now.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18And you were grateful, obviously, for their help
0:11:18 > 0:11:24- because there was no way you could get out of this situation on your own, was there?- No way at all.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28Absolutely lovely. Thank you very much, Jayden. You take care with that spaghetti.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Thank you, Amy. A bit later in the programme, we'll be talking to the Emergency Consultant
0:11:32 > 0:11:38who actually treated Jayden when he got to the hospital about how to help someone who is choking.
0:11:38 > 0:11:44Terrifying that, isn't it? OK, on this programme we bring you rescues from the land, the air and the sea.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47But today we have one that includes all three.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49John has fallen into the cabin of his boat.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51He's badly injured his leg and needs a doctor.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53The Air Ambulance has been called.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02- LOUISE:- Thames Valley Air Ambulance has got a call
0:12:02 > 0:12:05to go and treat a man who's badly injured his leg at a marina.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08RADIO: 'We've now airlifted. En-route to Caversham, over.'
0:12:08 > 0:12:14On-board are air paramedics Lisa Brown, Mark Beglee and MJ, the doctor.
0:12:29 > 0:12:36It's taken the pilot, Alf Gasparo, just under five minutes to get them the 12 miles to Caversham Marina.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47It's immediately clear that getting the man to a hospital quickly will be a big problem.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52He's on a boat a long, long way down the jetty.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58A land crew are already present and have asked for a doctor to be brought in, in case the man's
0:12:58 > 0:13:02condition deteriorates, as they try to remove him.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07John's fallen down the hatch of his boat, The Weekend Escape.
0:13:07 > 0:13:12He landed painfully on the floor and MJ can see his ankle is in a bad way.
0:13:18 > 0:13:25A broken or dislocated ankle can seriously disrupt blood supply and endanger the rest of the foot.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27We know that dislocated ankles
0:13:27 > 0:13:31have a stretch on the arteries and the nerves and the veins.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36So the ideal is we want the ankles to be like this, and his ankle is like that.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39So, ideally, what we want to do is give him procedural sedation
0:13:39 > 0:13:43and just reduce it into a nice, normal anatomical position.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46But where we are at, in the middle of his boat, we have to think
0:13:46 > 0:13:50a little bit laterally about how to get him up there first.
0:13:50 > 0:13:55To prepare John for the big heave ho, they stabilise his leg in a vacuum splint.
0:13:55 > 0:14:01And to ease his pain, they give him morphine and Entonox, laughing gas, which noticeably cheers him up.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08I can't say I'm legless now, can I?
0:14:08 > 0:14:09Half legless! Half cut!
0:14:11 > 0:14:14We're going to move him on to his buttocks essentially
0:14:14 > 0:14:18and just go backwards, onto the stairs, and then we'll make our second plan from there.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Then on to the main boat!
0:14:21 > 0:14:27- We're going to support you. Yeah. You use your good leg.- Do you mean for the rest of my life?- Yeah, yeah!
0:14:27 > 0:14:33Time to start the difficult task of getting a man with a very painful injury out of a tight spot.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Get your sea legs, and then what we'll do, without the music,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39you're going to spin round a little bit.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42You're going to go backwards onto the step.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44- If you sit yourself down, how's that?- Fine.
0:14:44 > 0:14:50Mark keeps John's leg supported while he leaves the boat by the seat of his pants!
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- Keep coming, you're going to come outside.- Yeah.
0:14:53 > 0:15:00Boat environments are always quite interesting to work on, getting people out of sticky situations.
0:15:00 > 0:15:05- Just sit there, all right?- MJ is worried that John's foot is starting to turn an unhealthy colour.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09I think when we get down there, we might still give you the sedation
0:15:09 > 0:15:11and see if we can get the position
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- a bit better. Your foot looks a little bit blue to me.- Yes.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16You can feel me touching your foot?
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Yeah, yeah, I can feel that, yeah.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20It looks quite blue from the bottom.
0:15:20 > 0:15:25- How are we doing, guys? - One last big hop, and John will get a chance for a breather.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27OK, on three. One, two, three.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- Fabulous.- Well done.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32John's finally off deck, but far from being on dry land.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36To try and carry him the 300-metre-long distance on a narrow,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39wobbly jetty would be an arduous and risky venture.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43Luckily, a seafaring friend has volunteered the use of his boat.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47How's the best way of getting him in, Sir?
0:15:47 > 0:15:52But just as they're planning how to get John aboard, it looks like there could be problem.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Down here, head first...
0:15:54 > 0:15:56No!
0:15:56 > 0:15:58OK, might be plan B.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02- Plan B, hang on.- It looks like the water taxi could be a non-starter.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06MJ's still concerned about the colour of John's foot.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Body tissue can die fast without adequate blood supply.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12That foot looks a little bit dusky.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17All we'll do is give him a little bit of the strong stuff and then we just gently pull his ankle straight.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Just get it into the right position.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23MJ may be forced to take the drastic step of trying to correct
0:16:23 > 0:16:28the ankle here and now, which could be agonising for John.
0:16:28 > 0:16:33As we'll see, there's a long way to go in this rescue.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40I wanted to talk to you about a call that came in, that turned out to be not what you thought it was.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Yeah, definitely.
0:16:42 > 0:16:48Back in September, I was the control manager and a 999 call came in.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52It was a head-on RTA in Verwood, so being the control manager,
0:16:52 > 0:16:56you have to make sure you've got all the right resources sent to the job.
0:16:56 > 0:17:03So, we were getting on with that and then my mobile phone rang and it was my son.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06I said I'm sorry, Brad, I can't talk at the moment, I've got
0:17:06 > 0:17:09a nasty RTA come in in Verwood and he said, "Mum, it's me".
0:17:09 > 0:17:12- In the RTA?- Yeah.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Your blood must run cold.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17I didn't know whether I was supposed to be a mum or a control manager.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20So, which did you plump for in the end?
0:17:20 > 0:17:21I had to go for a bit of both.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26Luckily, my assistant backed me up on what I was doing so it was all right.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29We're hearing buzzing again. I should ask what that is,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31cos people will think we're interrupting.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34That's a crew that wants to speak to one of us, so we're OK.
0:17:34 > 0:17:40And your son, he's been in Afghanistan. He's a soldier?
0:17:40 > 0:17:42He'd not been back long, yeah.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47- Really?- He's got some time out and was heading off into Verwood to see his friends when it happened.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52So, he survived Afghanistan but didn't quite make it through Bournemouth?
0:17:52 > 0:17:53- Yeah.- Is he all right now?
0:17:53 > 0:17:58Yeah, he's fine now. He had a fractured sternum but he's all right now. Yeah, he's good.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Congratulations on doing so well.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04I'd have probably frozen, but obviously you guys are very well trained. Thank you.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06That's OK, thank you very much.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11Still to come on real rescues, the little girl who saved her mother's life.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23That's the air ambulance landing.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25One is called every 10 minutes in the UK.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27We'll be talking to them later.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Presuming, that is, they don't get a call-out.
0:18:31 > 0:18:38Here at South Western Ambulance Control, the team are not just answering 999 calls.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Joe Crowley's been a regular on Real Rescues and he's over
0:18:40 > 0:18:43by a desk where they do something a bit different.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Yes, thanks, Nick. This is the out-of-hours GP's desk,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48here to give help and advice to people who need to speak to a GP
0:18:48 > 0:18:50or nurse when the surgeries are closed.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55I spent a busy Friday night with them to find out exactly how it works.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01It's Friday night, the doctor's surgeries are closed,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04but people can still get hold of a GP, should they need one.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08These guys are the nerve centre for the Dorset and Somerset out-of-hours service.
0:19:08 > 0:19:15They cover a population of up to 1.3 million and they could receive as many as 400 calls tonight alone.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16Here's how it works.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20First, a person who rings the number given on their GP's answer phone
0:19:20 > 0:19:25will come through to one of several call takers, who make an immediate assessment of the situation.
0:19:25 > 0:19:32Next, patients are put through to GPs and nurse practitioners, who provide medical advice and reassurance.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35They can also write prescriptions and fax them to pharmacies
0:19:35 > 0:19:39so that medication can be collected the very next day.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44With children, it's Friday night, the doctors are shut, your kid's got a temperature, and you're worried,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48phoning this number and being able to talk to a doctor is a godsend.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51It really does help make you feel much better.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55I've got a little boy, so I used it before and it does work. It's a really good system.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58And tonight, the calls are coming in thick and fast.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- How do you feel about that? - Her breathing's much better?
0:20:01 > 0:20:04- And has she been before? - Anaphylactic shock? Oh, dear.
0:20:04 > 0:20:05And is it itchy?
0:20:05 > 0:20:08And have you had a rash like this before?
0:20:08 > 0:20:1440% of all cases are solved over the phone, but some callers need a higher level of care.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Do you think you can come and see one of us at the treatment centre?
0:20:17 > 0:20:22If your problem can't be dealt with over the phone, then you can come to a treatment centre like this.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25There are 14 of these in Dorset and Somerset alone and this is where
0:20:25 > 0:20:29you can actually see a doctor or a nurse in person, late into the night.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Mark Dyer?
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Mark was referred here after phoning up and describing his stomach pain.
0:20:36 > 0:20:42And Jonathan, the doctor on duty, has decided his symptoms will need further investigation in hospital.
0:20:44 > 0:20:50Mark was able to get himself to a doctor under his own steam, but others aren't so fortunate.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Faye's one of the GPs, one of the doctors, on call.
0:20:53 > 0:20:59She's just got a call, sounds like an 87-year-old man who's having some abdominal pain.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02She is now assessing it, seeing how serious it is, whether he can get to
0:21:02 > 0:21:06a treatment centre or whether she might have to go out and see him.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09All right, OK, so he sounds like he's quite unwell at the moment.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13All right. We'll come out and have a little look at him shortly.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Dr Faye is off to see Bernard, an elderly man in a Bournemouth care home.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22How typical is this for you, of the sort of thing you have to deal with?
0:21:22 > 0:21:24This is a very typical case.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29We tend to go out and see elderly people or the disabled or palliative patients, people who really can't
0:21:29 > 0:21:33come to treatment centres, and we often go to assess them in their own home.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Deep breaths in and out through your mouth, OK?
0:21:36 > 0:21:41Bernard has been feeling sick and unable to eat for several hours.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Dr Faye has just examined the patient.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45She thinks it's a water infection.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47This is the whole point of the service.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50She can diagnose that, she can also prescribe drugs for it.
0:21:50 > 0:21:55It saves this gentleman the stress of having to go into hospital.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59- Nice to meet you, hope you're feeling better soon.- Thank you.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Bernard's now sorted with the medication he needs.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Meanwhile, back at the control room, voices will chatter
0:22:05 > 0:22:10and keyboards clatter until 8am, as the out-of-hours service rolls on.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14It's interesting, isn't it?
0:22:14 > 0:22:19The thing that struck me throughout the different stories we've heard today is that
0:22:19 > 0:22:22the children don't come with a handbook and that's pretty much
0:22:22 > 0:22:26- what the out of hours thing is about.- Absolutely, It's all about assurance.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30If you have a child with a temperature and you're a new parent, maybe your parents
0:22:30 > 0:22:34don't live near by, where do you get that reassurance from? What do you do? You don't know.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39You can ring here and there'll be a nurse practitioner or GP on the phone.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41They can tell you what they think it is.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45They can prescribe medicine and I think that reassurance really helps people not to panic.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50We talked about this being out-of-hours and this desk normally being empty.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53We noticed people behind you now, so what's going on here?
0:22:53 > 0:22:58There are computers here, so it's a resource, so other people are using the computers during the day.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Come 6.00-6.30 tonight, there will only be GPs and nurses here.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05So if you're confused about something that's happening to your child and you call,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08there'll be people here to give you advice?
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Absolutely, and the number you'll find on your GP's answer phone.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14As soon as they go off business at 6.00-6.30, the number on that
0:23:14 > 0:23:17- will come through to a desk like this.- Thanks very much.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20Now, we have some very special girls to introduce to you here.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22They are Savannah and Chanelle.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25- Hi, there. You all right?- Hello.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29In this call, Savannah and Chanelle's mum, Donna, starts to struggle for breath.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31She has the most severe type of asthma.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34It suddenly worsens and it's up to Savannah here,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38whose voice you hear on this 999 call, to get emergency help.
0:25:41 > 0:25:46Well, it was Helen that took that call from Savannah. Quite a call.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49- Yeah, it was.- Did you know it wasn't a prank straight away?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51After a second or two, yeah.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Because it was the school holidays as well,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56so I'd been getting a lot of prank calls.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59But as soon she came on, I knew it was serious.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01And she was only five at the time,
0:26:01 > 0:26:04but she was able to give you some really key information.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08Yeah, she told me her mum had gone blue, and she told me she couldn't breathe.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12And then she got a letter, to get her address.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15- Right, OK. - She did really well.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19And really key to this as well, you diagnosed that she had asthma,
0:26:19 > 0:26:21how did you find that out?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Just by asking her the questions.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Asking her what her mum was doing,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29because she was going blue round the mouth.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33So we knew she was struggling breathing. But she did really well.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35And she stayed really calm throughout.
0:26:35 > 0:26:41Yeah, I've never known a little girl, or a kid that young, stay so calm.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Let's see what happened next.
0:27:58 > 0:28:03Well, Donna, Savannah and Chanel's mum, has had severe brittle asthma since she was born,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06and these children watch over their mum all the time.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11She is too ill to come today, but we've got Nana - I'm not allowed to call you Granny, am I!
0:28:11 > 0:28:14- Morning, Tracey.- Hello.- They really take a lot of responsibility.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18Tell us a little bit about what they do day-to-day.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Savannah is the main one that has a 6th sense and wakes up,
0:28:21 > 0:28:23and usually gets her sister up if there's a problem.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Between them, they usually get the oxygen out, her medication,
0:28:27 > 0:28:32and they usually ring me, but that day, cos Mum was already blue, she knew there wouldn't be time.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34So Savannah, just tell me,
0:28:34 > 0:28:38if you can remember that day, how did you know that Mummy was ill?
0:28:41 > 0:28:43Is it because her breathing was funny? Yeah?
0:28:43 > 0:28:48So what did you do when you saw her breathing strangely?
0:28:49 > 0:28:50Did you get her mobile?
0:28:50 > 0:28:54- Yeah.- And you helped as well, what were you doing?
0:28:54 > 0:28:59- I got her oxygen and I got her tablets.- Right, OK.
0:28:59 > 0:29:04You've been brilliant for your mum. Donna couldn't make it here today,
0:29:04 > 0:29:08but we showed her that call you made that day and this was her reaction.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37If they hadn't phoned, I probably would have died.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41That was it, I would have ended up in intensive care straightaway.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45So she did good. Really good, yeah.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48They both know what to do all the time.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52They know how to give me oxygen, my nebulisers, they know how to do all of that,
0:29:52 > 0:29:56what medication I need. Everything, really.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59The only thing they can't do is give me injections.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03Savannah has a sixth sense, she just wakes up in the middle of the night
0:30:03 > 0:30:07and just comes in the room, if I'm not breathing, and she just knows.
0:30:07 > 0:30:12Both the girls, they are dead brave, I'm really proud of them both.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16Chanel and Savannah. Great. I don't know what I'd do without them!
0:30:18 > 0:30:20Quite a lot of responsibility for them, isn't it?
0:30:20 > 0:30:22It is difficult, having to work
0:30:22 > 0:30:26and knowing I'm leaving the children in charge of someone who's terminally ill.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28Obviously I do have to work.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32- What's that say? - "I phoned the ambulance."
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Is that what you want to be when you grow up? An ambulance lady?
0:30:35 > 0:30:37On the phone or in the ambulance?
0:30:37 > 0:30:42- In the ambulance.- Do you? Helping people?
0:30:42 > 0:30:46It's difficult talking about it, but seeing that message from their mum...
0:30:46 > 0:30:49It is emotional - every time I hear it, I get quite upset.
0:30:49 > 0:30:55It is day-to-day life for us - they don't know different, they've seen us resuscitate lots of times.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59Savannah's tried to resuscitate before, when she was quite a lot younger.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01And really clear that you work as a team.
0:31:01 > 0:31:07- Who's team leader?- Er...- Savannah. - Are you team leader, Savannah?
0:31:07 > 0:31:12She barks instructions, don't you? "Get the oxygen, get the tablets."
0:31:12 > 0:31:15She's usually the one that does all the instructions.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20All the talking. And do you like bossing your big sister about?
0:31:20 > 0:31:22Er...yes.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24You do. Well, it's brilliant that you do.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Thank you very much for coming to talk to us. Thank you.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32Remember sailor John Gilbert?
0:31:32 > 0:31:37He's fallen down the hatch of a boat and it's proving to be a hard job to get him to safety.
0:31:37 > 0:31:43He's badly injured his ankle, and there's a worry the blood supply to his foot has been cut off.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48John is stranded on a jetty that's 300 metres away from the shore.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50- You OK there?- Yeah, fine.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52- Is that a bit better?- Yeah, thanks.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55It will be extremely difficult to carry him the distance.
0:31:55 > 0:32:02Even so, the doctor has decided against manually manipulating the ankle back into shape.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05It's a painful process and John would need to be heavily sedated,
0:32:05 > 0:32:09something she feels is too risky in their present location.
0:32:09 > 0:32:14Giving any sort of sedation and things, everything has side effects,
0:32:14 > 0:32:17so you have to weigh up the risks and the benefits.
0:32:17 > 0:32:21That's why we have to keep reassessing. At the moment, there isn't immediate compromise,
0:32:21 > 0:32:23but we have to keep a watch over it.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27It would be much safer for John if his ankle is corrected in hospital.
0:32:27 > 0:32:33Paramedics Mark and Lisa are hoping that Ron, an old seafaring buddy,
0:32:33 > 0:32:35can get his boat working so they can use it as a ferry.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37Battery's flat.
0:32:37 > 0:32:38- ENGINE SPUTTERS - Ooh!
0:32:38 > 0:32:40THEY CHEER
0:32:45 > 0:32:48It looks like the Tiny Ron will be a big help to John.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53All right, John? If you want to keep on with the gas and air, how's the pain at the moment?
0:32:53 > 0:32:55It's OK, it's the ankle that I can feel.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01OK, legs coming first down here.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04The team carefully shimmy along the narrow jetty,
0:33:04 > 0:33:08as nobody, least of all John, wants to end up in the drink.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16John and skipper Ron worked as sailors together and have been out on the high seas many times,
0:33:16 > 0:33:18but nothing's ended up quite like this.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20You're doing really well.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23- Brace, lift.- OK, lower down.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25All aboard!
0:33:30 > 0:33:33With its unlikely crew of helicopter paramedics,
0:33:33 > 0:33:37the makeshift medical launch disembarks for the mainland.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39This is rare, that we get to travel on a boat!
0:33:39 > 0:33:44- Let's just recap. We've done land, air and sea today.- Absolutely.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47- Just don't make a habit of it, John! - No, not again.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54MJ's seamanship is about to be called into question.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06- Do you want me to do it? - Not a bad effort.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09I'd say, for my first time ever...
0:34:09 > 0:34:14It's been a bit of a palaver, getting John this far, but with just one more awkward transfer...
0:34:14 > 0:34:16There we go.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19..and one more awkward obstacle to overcome...
0:34:23 > 0:34:24..John is finally on dry land.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28- Thank you for all your help. - You're welcome, no problem at all.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31Despite a painful injury, he's remained in good spirits throughout.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34I'll release the pressure now, sweetheart, OK?
0:34:34 > 0:34:36MJ wants to absolutely make sure
0:34:36 > 0:34:40she doesn't need to manipulate John's ankle before he leaves for hospital.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42- Can you feel me touching your foot? - I can.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44- Does it feel the same as the other foot?- Yeah.
0:34:44 > 0:34:50- If I touch over there? If I touch over there? Yep. Same?- Yep.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52- Over that side, yeah?- Yeah.- Good.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55The air medics can now bid farewell to John.
0:34:55 > 0:35:00Excellent. We're going to leave you in the hands of this lovely crew.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02- Thank you very much indeed. - Emma's doing a great job.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04- Well done.- Lovely, thank you.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07- And all the best. - Speedy recovery, John.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11Ron has also said a quick goodbye after helping out his old shipmate.
0:35:11 > 0:35:16We used to work on the Lord Nelson together, and we were known as the Old Gits!
0:35:16 > 0:35:20- RON LAUGHS - He's a good guy.
0:35:20 > 0:35:26While John is taken to the nearby hospital in Reading, it's anchors away for the air ambulance crew
0:35:26 > 0:35:29as they take a more familiar mode of transport back to base.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Glad to see John kept his good humour there.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Although he ended up in a land ambulance,
0:35:35 > 0:35:39the doctor was brought to him courtesy of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42This helicopter covers Dorset and Somerset,
0:35:42 > 0:35:47but South Western Ambulance is the only trust which has the use of four helicopters in all.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Today they're offering the fastest response to emergencies.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52I thought we'd have a chat with the crew.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55We'll start with Jon, shall we? Jon's a paramedic.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58- Yes, that's right. - So how does it work?
0:35:58 > 0:36:02Where does the patient go, and what have you got on board here?
0:36:02 > 0:36:04The patient goes on board this stretcher.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07When we go to a job, all this comes off and goes with us.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09That's the initial response, what we'll need.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12The patient is loaded on there and slide in through that door.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16How much kit have you got on board, compared to an ambulance?
0:36:16 > 0:36:19You've got a much smaller space, so presumably you've got less kit?
0:36:19 > 0:36:24We carry exactly the same as a normal ambulance does and some additional bits of kit.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27Let's see some of the bits that are a bit different.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30- This is fascinating. - This is a drill, basically.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34- It looks like a hand drill, but you use it over the old... - Yeah, that's exactly right.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37When the paramedics on scene try to get access -
0:36:37 > 0:36:40maybe someone's in cardiac arrest - it's very difficult to do,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44and we come along with this bit of equipment and assist very quickly.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48A large needle goes on the end of the drill, and I drill that straight into the bone.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50- Into the bone?- Yes.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54If you're trying to get into a vein to give medication, you can do it in the bone instead?
0:36:54 > 0:36:57In the bone. It's been proven it's just as quick,
0:36:57 > 0:36:59and this operation takes me about 20 seconds to do,
0:36:59 > 0:37:02whereas the guys on the ground who haven't got this equipment
0:37:02 > 0:37:08have probably tried for some time and not succeeded, we can just drill straight in, and we're done.
0:37:08 > 0:37:09Can you show us how it slides in?
0:37:09 > 0:37:13It's such a small space, I don't exactly see where the patient's going to go.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15No problem.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18It's just a clip there, and I just literally lift that
0:37:18 > 0:37:20and push it in.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25- And that's where the patient sits. - That's interesting - it goes into the boot. Can we have a look?
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Come back here and have a look at this. It's amazing.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30There is actually a whole boot section that opens up here.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33You've got a whole load of other kit in there, as well.
0:37:33 > 0:37:38Yeah, we don't take that initially. If we need that, we're in radio contact with the pilot
0:37:38 > 0:37:40and we give him a shout, and he'll bring it to us.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44Lovely. Come through with me, cos I want you to meet the pilot as well.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47And the pilot is Phil. Here he is.
0:37:47 > 0:37:48Nice to meet you.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51How does this compare in terms of speed,
0:37:51 > 0:37:55getting to and from accidents, by comparison to a land ambulance?
0:37:55 > 0:37:59The aircraft cruises at about 100 - 135 knots,
0:37:59 > 0:38:02which is about 150 miles an hour, in a straight line.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05You don't have to worry about traffic or anything like that.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07What sort of area can you land on?
0:38:07 > 0:38:11The smallest we're allowed to is a 25 metre square,
0:38:11 > 0:38:15- so that's about the length of a tennis court. - It's not a great deal, is it?
0:38:15 > 0:38:19No, but we create quite a lot of downdraft, so we have to be very cautious.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23Is that why they close both sides of a motorway when you land, because of the downdraft?
0:38:23 > 0:38:26Yes, and people watching us and rubbernecking as they go past.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29- It must be distracting!- Yes! - Do they clear the air
0:38:29 > 0:38:34like a road ambulance, so you can get through fast, with other air traffic?
0:38:34 > 0:38:37It can do, if we need it. We have a priority call-sign
0:38:37 > 0:38:40and air traffic will clear aircraft out of the way,
0:38:40 > 0:38:43get them to overshoot to allow us through.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46And Heathrow particularly are efficient and very, very good at doing that.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48Thank you very much. OK.
0:38:48 > 0:38:54I thought, last of all, we'd have a little chat with Simon here, who's also an air crew paramedic.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58- What makes someone want to join air ambulance? You saw an accident, didn't you?- That's right.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Something very memorable for me.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03I was only on the road as a paramedic for three weeks.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05I was called to a light aircraft crash
0:39:05 > 0:39:08and there were two patients presented to us when we got there,
0:39:08 > 0:39:12both with 60% - 70% burns and airway compromised,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15so both recognised as critically ill patients.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18We were able to call in the air ambulance within about 15 minutes,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21and very shortly after, the police helicopter,
0:39:21 > 0:39:23and we were able to utilise both of those aircraft
0:39:23 > 0:39:26to fly both patients to definitive care.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28And you went, "I want to be part of that."
0:39:28 > 0:39:30Yeah, it was very important to me that day.
0:39:30 > 0:39:35My first ever trip in a helicopter, and I'd just recently qualified, so it was very special
0:39:35 > 0:39:40- and it gave me the ambition to want to join the air ambulance. - Best job in the world?
0:39:40 > 0:39:43It is, yeah. It's a privilege to be able to fly poorly people.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47We're very pleased you guys are about and I'm pleased to say I haven't used you as a customer,
0:39:47 > 0:39:50- but it's nice to know you're around.- Thank you.
0:39:52 > 0:39:57Earlier in the programme, we heard about the remarkable rescue of seven-month-old baby Jayden.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59He was moments from death after choking on pasta.
0:39:59 > 0:40:05Emergency consultant Simon Bell treated Jayden when he arrived at hospital, and he joins us now.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08It was really clear that he was in terrible trouble.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10What do you do if your baby's choking?
0:40:10 > 0:40:13The first priority is to clear the airway,
0:40:13 > 0:40:15to allow oxygen to get in the lungs.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19And you heard one of the paramedic instructions
0:40:19 > 0:40:23when mum was on the phone, to lay the baby down, and have a look inside the mouth,
0:40:23 > 0:40:26to see if there was anything that could be removed.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30Often there is, and that can be the problem solved.
0:40:30 > 0:40:35If that's not the case, then what you need to do is deliver some blows to the back.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38- You've got a little assistant? - We've got Resus Annie here.
0:40:38 > 0:40:39You lie the baby on your lap
0:40:39 > 0:40:44and you deliver five blows, quite hard, quite sharp,
0:40:44 > 0:40:45to between the shoulder blades.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49They are hard, but this is life-saving, isn't it?
0:40:49 > 0:40:53- Very much so, yes.- And the idea is to shift whatever's is choking.
0:40:53 > 0:40:58It helps to dislodge it up from the upper airway and, hopefully, out onto the floor.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00OK, if that doesn't work?
0:41:00 > 0:41:03Then you need to go and get more specialist help.
0:41:03 > 0:41:08Certainly dial 999 and then, when the pre-hospital people get there,
0:41:08 > 0:41:10they'll start to deliver some oxygen.
0:41:10 > 0:41:15OK, and with the call as well, you do any of this before you think of going to the phone, don't you?
0:41:15 > 0:41:19- Yes, always try that first. - It's really important to dislodge it.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22If you can clear the airways, you can divert the emergency.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26- Absolutely.- Very clear. Thank you very much.- No problem. Thank you.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Life-changing advice there, if you listened carefully.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31Earlier on, we got to meet the air ambulance crew,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35and I said, come and have a chat after the show.
0:41:35 > 0:41:40They got as far as the doorway and disappeared, and it might be to do with Sharon, who can explain.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Why aren't they having a cup of coffee?
0:41:42 > 0:41:47- Well, I've sent them out on a job. - OK, so what have they been called out to?
0:41:47 > 0:41:48They've gone out to the Purbecks.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52- Lovely coastal area.- That's a lovely cliff walk, isn't it?
0:41:52 > 0:41:53Very nice out there for cliff walking.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57And a lady has unfortunately fallen this morning and hurt her ankle.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59You've had to choose between two jobs?
0:41:59 > 0:42:03I have, I had to choose between two and ask the coastguard for assistance on a second one
0:42:03 > 0:42:07that's only a mile or so down the coast from the first incident.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10- Somebody who's fallen and hurt their leg?- Yeah.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12How extraordinary. Thank you very much.
0:42:12 > 0:42:13It's like the old joke, isn't it?
0:42:13 > 0:42:15"Doctor, I've broken my leg in two places."
0:42:15 > 0:42:17"Well, don't go to those two places."
0:42:17 > 0:42:19Two at the same time - that's how busy they are.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22I couldn't believe they're gone already.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26Absolutely. Did you fancy a trip? If you're ill enough, you don't care, do you?
0:42:26 > 0:42:29- I don't like helicopters. - Did you see that drill for drilling into the bone?
0:42:29 > 0:42:32- I didn't like that either. - Do you not?
0:42:32 > 0:42:34But if you're ill, you've got to have it, haven't you?
0:42:34 > 0:42:36They do just an amazing job.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39Great to look around a bit of kit like that, it's a real boy's toy.
0:42:39 > 0:42:44- That's all for today. Join us next time for more Real Rescues. - See you then. Bye-bye.- Goodbye.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk