Brave@Heart Awards 2015: Fire and Rescue Service
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon presented members of the Fire and Rescue Service with Brave@Heart Awards in recognition of their outstanding bravery in exceptional circumstances.
Watch Manager Allan Brown
An off duty Fire officer was Christmas shopping in Glasgow with his children when the fateful bin lorry accident happened. After ensuring the safety of his family he rushed to the aid of those who had been struck by the lorry and those who were nearby. He was able to use his First Aid skills and experience in dealing with emergency incidents to assist an exceptionally chaotic scene. On arrival of the emergency services he was able to brief the Officer in Charge and to advise on the condition of the casualties and fatalities he had helped. This vitally important information allowed the emergency services to prioritise action and ensure help was given to those most in need first. The fire officer acted above and beyond the call of duty in selflessly volunteering to help and care for those most directly affected by the incident.
Crew Manager Gavin Strachan
A fire officer responded to a call to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service to force entry to reach a casualty who was unable to get to her front door. Arriving before the ambulance crew he gained entry to the property to find a woman in the late stages of labour close to giving birth on her bathroom floor. He immediately contacted Ambulance Control only to be informed the paramedics were still approximately 20 minutes away. The officer decided there was no time to waste and proceeded to deliver the now imminent baby. Using knowledge and skills and equipment from the fire appliance he successfully delivered the baby. The first few minutes were challenging as the baby appeared not to be breathing, however after clearing the airway the baby started to cry loudly much to the relief of the mother and attending crew. A local doctor arrived shortly after and confirmed both child and mother were well. The fire officer’s quick response resulted in a happy and healthy mother and baby.
Click for the following recipients:
Three 14 year old heroes, Hannah Nolan, Joe McCafferty and Stuart Watson