LS: Hello and welcome to the Charity Show brought to you in association with Vodafone I'm Liz Speight. Now do you know someone who's a bit of an unsung hero, someone who's carried out an exceptional act of bravery in extraordinary circumstances? Well if you do now's your chance to nominate them for a very special Award, The Vodafone Life Savers Awards which will be [erm] presented at a special ceremony in London later in the year. Now ten Life Savers will be chosen either individuals or groups of people and they'll be chosen from entrants right up and down the country. And just to give you an idea some of last years winners included a group of volunteers from the RNLI based down in St Agnes in Cornwall and they rescued a couple of people who got into difficulty who were stuck in cave and the seas were really treacherous but the RNLI crew managed to pluck them to safety. Other winners also included a squadron from RAF Valley based in Anglesey and they winched five yachtsmen to safety no doubt saving many lives. So if you know anyone that might fit the bill then get your nominations in because the nominations open today. Now to discuss the Awards a little bit further I'm delighted to say we're joined in the studio by somebody who's been in a few tricky situations in his past former RAF navigator John Nichol. Welcome along John very nice to see you.

JN: Hi Liz.

LS: I'm also pleased to say that we have in the studio with us [err] Clive James who is a training officer with the St John Ambulance. Welcome along Clive,

CJ: Hello Liz

LS: very nice to see you. And on my right here not forgetting Julian Cozens who's representing Vodafone today. Welcome along to all of you.

JC: Thank you. Hello Liz.

LS: Now remember that this is an interactive show and we'd love to have your questions so if you've got any questions for any of the panel here then do [err] get them through to us all you have to do is type your question in the box that's on the screen put your name and where you're from and press submit, it'll come through to us here in the studio and we'll try to get through as many as we can. But before we crack on with your questions I must just say to John [err] you've been in a few tricky questions I have to say.

JN: Yeah. Yeah.

LS: Shot down over Iraq in 1991 during there Gulf War I bet you wished that you could just ring 999 and get someone to pick you up from that. [laugh]

JN: Some-somebody coming along with a blue light in that situation would have been very handy. I mean it's along time ago now Liz 16 years ago a lot of people might remember those famous pictures flashed around the world. In one way it's like a lifetime ago [err] but on the other hand [err] certainly [err] it's still there at the back of your mind and it get, sometimes it can feel like it's just yesterday as well.

LS: Yeah. Yeah. I can imagine it does but you're-you're hopefully you're thankfully living to tell the tale and you're

JN: Absolutely.

LS: judging, helping to judge the-the entrants this year aren't you.

JN: Yeah. I'm one of the national judges for the Life Savers Awards. Great honour [err] I was one of the regional judges last year it's fantastic to-to read the stories, to-to see the-the every day acts of incredible heroism. I love being involved with it and it's a great honour so I'm looking forward to hearing this year's nominations as well.

LS: Yeah. See what comes up.

JN: Absolutely.

LS: Now Clive moving onto you, do-do you think that people know enough about first aid these days?

CJ: Vodafone actually carried out some research a while back across the country and the -the research actually showed that although there are a lot of people out there that have had first aid training over 75% of people said they wanted to know more. So obviously although people do have training a lot of them are still thinking I want some more. Maybe it's a little, just a little bit of a confidence thing I don't know but [err] certainly people want to know more and we as an organisation obviously are trying to assist in that in any way we can.

LS: And you're at all the [erm] public events aren't you we always see you there?

CJ: most of the big ones you-you'll probably find someone form the St John Ambulance is involved there and in-in the future we're-we're an integral part of the [err] the Olympic bid as well so. You know we're St John Ambulance will be there we're assisting London Ambulance Service with the first aid cover at the Olympics.

LS: Just in case.

CJ: We've already started planning.

LS: Oh fantastic. And moving on to Julian everyone seems or carry a mobile phone these days don't they? Do-do you think that really help if an emergency situation arises?

JC: I think having a mobile phone does-does help in emergency because you know what it's like the vital seconds or minutes rather than you having to run to a phone box or something if you've got a phone you can call the Emergency Services straight away and that-that makes a big difference and that's one of the reasons we sort of got involved in this.

LS: And-and how long have you been sponsoring the Awards now?

JC: [erm] We've been sponsoring the Awards now for well this is the sixth year and I've sort of been involved very year and it's just, it's gone from strength to strength and you just get more and more amazing stories very year.

LS: Fantastic exciting stuff. Now moving on to some of your questions that are coming in already. The first one is for John and Darren wants to know, Darren doesn't say where he's from but he wants to know “How do you enter the Awards do you simply fill in a form or do you have to write a short story?”

JN: [err] Well there's a form that you can down load from the Vodafone Website, [err] vodafone.co.uk/lifesavers [err] It's simple form I've seen it even I

LS: [laugh] Even you can do it.

JN: can fill it in Liz. It's [err] you need to say who you're nominating or perhaps some people might be nominating themselves because its not just Emergency Services, RNLI this is normal people. Normal people confronted, faced with incredible situations [erm] there was a case from the last Awards where it was two young kids thirteen and fourteen year old who'd used a surfboard at the beach to rescue three people who were drowning.

LS: Wow.

JN: [erm] These were, you know we hear a lot about the “hoody generation”.

LS: Yeah.

JN: Well this was the hoody generation they had hoody's but they were there really helping, really saving somebody's life. Download the form fill it out if you wanna' nominate yourself or somebody else very simple just tell us a little bit about what it is, it'll come through to the regional judges, then the national judges, and the winners will come down to meet the Prime Minister in Downing Street [err] towards the end of the year.

LS: So it won't take you very long to so then. You've just got to.

JN: No. No. No. It's honestly dead simple we just need to know who you are, who you're nominating, and a short account of why you're nominating somebody. Obviously you need to tell us how they saved somebody's life so that we can judge, so that we can compare all of the different sorties.

LS: And if you don't have go you never know do you?

JN: You've got to enter, to be in it to win it, you know.

LS: [laugh] Yes.

JN: That sounds like a game show or something doesn't it? [Laugh]

LS: [laugh] Exactly coin a phrase.

JN: You've gotta' be you know you, we need those entries. You know we-we had loads and loads last year but the more that we have the more that we can see how the normal, honest day to day people of the UK are out there helping people, going that extra yard just to help their fellow human beings and what greater accolade than saving another human life.

LS: Incredible isn't it. Now we have another question in from [err] John and [err] this one's for Julian he wants to know “Are there different age categories to enter?”

JC: No there's-there's no different age categories its-it's open to all. So [erm] as-as John was saying just now we-we young lads last year win an Award last year, you get grannies, granddads all ages. Although [erm] I understand that St John Ambulance have a-an Award themselves which is specially for-for youngsters which is I guess Clive is, something Clive would be able to tell you about.

LS: Yeah. So-so Clive can you tell us a little bit more about that?

CJ: Yes certainly we-we run [err] Young Life Saver [err] Award every year for children between that ages of 6 to 16 and again is exactly the same sort of [err] thing we-we try and get people to recognise the job children have done in helping prevent the death of someone or even just trying to help prevent the death of someone you know we've gotta' remember that in some cases [err] your attempts aren't always successful.

LS: Yeah.

CJ: But because, just because it wasn't successful doesn't mean those children shouldn't be recognise for the-the effort that they-they put into it and-and just the-the courage of having a go.

LS: Yeah. Exactly.

CJ: So we run as I say the Young Lifesaver Award Scheme.

LS: Okay. Another question in, David wants to know “You must get so many heart warming stories which are all huge acts of bravery how do you distinguish between the acts of bravery?” John how would, you're the judge [laugh] how would you do it?

JN: Well that's honestly there's panel of judges and that's one of the greatest problems that we have. In many ways it's a cliché but everybody is a winner.

LS: Yeah.

JN: If you've saved somebody's life isn't that a wonderful feat of

LS: Yeah.

JN: human endeavour, but we do have to make a decision [err] for the finalists [err] we do have to make a decision for the Award winners and it's just our human instinct.

LS: Yeah.

JN: You know we read the stories, we're touched by something in particular, sometimes we might have a connection [err] in that we-we know, we know somebody in a similar situation but it's you know from the judges point of view we'll look at them and judge them on a story by story basis and then at the end of the day somebody has to get that Award but all of the people that are nominated are obviously gonna' be winners aren't they?

LS: And there's ten winners isn't here? Aren't there so.

JN: Yeah.

LS: You've got quite a.

JN: So from around the regions and [err] different [err] you know all, everybody's nominated for many different things. You know we've had [err] people from the Emergency Services, Police Fire Service, civilians, people in the street, people that have [err] come across [err] an accident on the road, people who's neighbours house is been burning down so.

LS: All sorts of

JN: All sort, all sorts.

LS: walks of life all sort of situations.

JN: Yeah. And all sorts of different people.

LS: Yeah.

JN: [err] As Julian said from children up to OAPs they've al been winners before and as long as people are being [err] are getting nominated everybody stands a chance anybody can be a winner again.

LS: Yeah. Okay, now we have another question in [erm] for Clive and Rob wants to know this is a good recruitment for you. “How can I become a member of St John Ambulance?”

CJ: All you need to do is just ring your local [err] St John Ambulance County Office and they'll be able to give you details of your local divisions where they meet and [err] we-we'll be able to put you through. I mean if you ring our National Headquarters on 0207 324 4000 we'll be able to direct you through as well. So you-you're local County Headquarters will also been in your local telephone directory as well.

LS: Yeah. Or the internet probably you could find.

CJ: Yeah. Go to www.sja.org.uk and you, there'll be links to all your local County Offices as well so direct dial numbers. And as I say just ring them up, see what they say, find out where your local division, is turn up there. You-you

LS: Give it a go.

CJ: don't have to sign up for years, you just see if you like it, if you like it go back again.

LS: So what sort of person are you looking for?

CJ: Anybody.

LS: [laugh] Anybody.

CJ: Anybody.

LS: That's not des-desperation is it? Anyone can they, can have a go can't they?

CJ: No. No. No. [err] Somewhere in the St John there is role for you.

LS: Yeah.

CJ: [err] Not-not all of our members are uniformed, you know we-we need support staff as well.

LS: Yes.

CJ: So somewhere in the St John there'll be a role for everybody. We-we have no age I mean, I say we have no age limits but as long as you're over the age of 6 you can join the Badgers and work right the way through to the Fellowship

LS: Oh lovely.

CJ: which is a person who has retired from active duty but still want to help out in the background so.

LS: And it's good way of making friends I suppose as well isn't it?

CJ: It's, well I married my wife through the St John's.

LS: Oh that's nice isn't it? [laugh]

CJ: It's more than just friends in some cases. [laugh]

LS: Lovely and [err] following on from that [erm] Mark wants to know “How often do you need to do, to redo your first aid courses”. He says he did one three years ago. So does he still qualify as a first aider how quickly do things move on?

CJ: It depends most of qualifications last for three years some depending upon what type of training you're doing only have a years validation you need to check your certificates.

LS: Right.

CJ: If he did his [err] first aid training for the workplace the certificates that are issued for the workplace must be renewed every three years.

LS: Right. But hope-hopefully his workplace would know that anyway wouldn't they

CJ: Yes. Yeah.

LS: And he would he can redo it. If you've got a little bit of first aid is it dangerous to try to us it do you think?

CJ: First aid is common sense as long you only do things that are common sense like if it's bleeding try and stop them bleeding things like that. No-no nobody's gonna' be made worse by you just trying to assist, just asking “Are you okay? Do you need help?”

LS: Mmm. Yeah.

CJ: You know even people doing something like that is gonna help. But as I say people do stand have a tendency to stand back ‘'cos I don't know enough

LS: Yeah.

CJ: and I'm worried I might do things wrong'. If you do nothing sometimes that can be the worst thing.

LS: Mmm.

CJ: So.

LS: Just try and reassure people until the Emergency Service

CJ: Exactly.

LS: can get there as long.

CJ: Sometimes I'll be honest with you I was an ambulance man with London Ambulance Service for 6 years and sometimes once the ambulance actually turned up we got them into the back of the ambulance all your job was to do was to sit and hold someone's hand while you took them to hospital.

LS: Yeah. Yeah.

CJ: That's all part of first aid.

LS: Yeah. Okay. Well thanks for that now moving on to another question. Sarah wants know [erm] “How long have Vodafone been involved with the Awards show?” We touched on that earlier didn't we Julian?

JC: We did we've involved this is our sixth year so we've been there from the beginning and [erm] as I say it's gone from strength to strength it's been fantastic more and more people have entered each year and just get more and more extraordinary stories and [err] you know we're really happy to be involved.

LS: And how important for Vodafone is it to actually to support the show. Why-why to support the Awards why are you actually involved?

JC: I think we're really involved for two reasons one it's the-the recognition of the part that mobile phones play in emergency situations and we thought it was right to be involved and secondly the time when we first started we felt that there was you know a lot of [err] doom and gloom a lot of bad news around

LS: Mmm.

JC: and people weren't getting recognised for fantastically good things. Like really positive stories people saving lives and this country everybody's well they're modest. I-I've met all of the Life Savers and all of them have said “Anybody could do it, you know I-I was doing nothing special” and believe you know not anybody can do it and they have been doing special things. We.

LS: Some people could just walk away couldn't they?

JC: Some people, some people do but that, it, but you know that's not to criticise them.

LS: No.

JC: You know they may not have the confidence to do it or whatever but you know these people have done fantastic things

LS: Incredible things.

JC: so they deserve to be recognised.

LS: Yeah.

JC: But Brits, just too modest.

LS: [laugh] We like to hide our light under a bushel if that's the phrase.

JC: Absolutely.

LS: Now follow on question from that Elizabeth wants to know “Do mobile phones really make a difference in emergency situations? And has there been a noticeable difference since they became more common?”

JC: I think they do make a difference literally because you have phone on you it's immediate contact

LS: Yeah.

JC: to those Emergency Services

LS: You've not got to find your 10p and run to a phone box

JC: No,

LS: remember those old days when you had to find a phone box

JC: or find phone box.

LS: that was working and.

JC: Exactly.

LS: [laugh]

JC: Precisely. So you-you don't have that-that problem any more and I think the Emergency Services will say ‘yes it's made a difference'. It's you know that much, that much quicker

LS: Yeah.

JC: for people to get you know to be able to get the Emergency Services. And that's you know that is a positive thing that you can do if you see and accident

LS: Yes.

JC: You come across something then you can phone. I mean a chap I work with [erm] last year he was on the way into work he sort of he was actually walking down to the station and saw smoke coming out of somebody's house, it was on fire and just phoned the Fire Brigade straight away so you know otherwise that wouldn't have happened.

LS: Another ten minutes and that could have been a lot worse couldn't it?

JC: Exactly.

LS: And I know that I would worry about [erm] phoning the Emergency Services just in case ten thousand other people had also rung but

JC: You know but.

LS: I suppose it better to ring and-and.

JC: Ring than not. Yes.

LS: Yeah. Yeah. Right. Okay, moving we've had a lot of your questions coming in we're trying to get through as many as we can [erm] another one for John, Ian from Bedfordshire wants to know [erm] “What criteria do you use to judge the bravest and the most courageous acts?” That's a hard question isn't it? [laugh]

JN: He's, that's a classic question from Ian and it has to be your personal feeling.

LS: Yeah. It comes from you heart. I suppose doesn't it?

JN: It does, of course it does you know is a, is [erm] a trained Police Officer who responds to and incredible dangerous situation is he more brave or less brave than the child who tries to keep somebody alive after there's been accident and manages to phone 999 as well. And it's subjective and you know we all have our differing opinions

LS: Yeah.

JN: which is why there's panel of regional judges and then a panel of national judges [err] and so you know I don't think you can say there's any criteria.

LS: No.

JN: We want everybody who's save a life if-if I get, if I get twenty thousand forms over the couple of months Liz,

LS: And you're gonna' read them all. [laugh]

JN: I'm gonna' be happy, I'll be really pleased if I have to spend the next 6 months reading Vodafone Life Savers

LS: Yeah.

JN: Awards forms 'cos it means that people have gone out there and nominated.

LS: Yeah.

JN: So we can't give strict criteria if you've saved a life you should be nominated [err] and let-let us judge and we'll tell ya' who deserves the Awards at the end.

LS: Yeah. And is there anything that really sticks in your mind from last year obviously the winners?

JN: [erm] I think, I-I think [err] that the modest of the winners.

LS: Right.

JN: [erm] You know it was a-a great ceremony that we had at Downing Street and-and then afterwards [err] with-with dinner, [err] the modesty of the winners. You know it was that, they were saying “Well I just, I just did it 'cos I was there”.

LS: Yeah.

JN: And I one way they're right because they were presented with the opportunity of doing something.

LS: Right.

JN: But they did something and that-that's the key. They were presented with that opportunity but they took the opportunity so I would say that just meeting with those people, yes the members of Emergency Services but the normal people for want of a better expression just talking about what they'd done even for somebody like me 16 years in the military that's seen a few things still great to see that [err] there's still plenty of Great in Britain.

LS: Mh-hm. No [erm] staying with this same topic really Becky wants to know [err] you get so many, sort of thousands of entries coming in “You get so many moving stories how do you decide the final winner?” We've sort of touched not hat really haven't we but

JN: Yeah.

LS: is there a bit of infighting with the judges? Do you sort of say “No I think it should be this one”?

JN: [Ah] There's all, there's-there's always a bit of [laugh] what shall we call it ‘healthy discussion' shall we say.

LS: Yes. Healthy liverish.

JN: Healthy discussion but look at the end of the day somebody is gonna' get, you know somebody's gonna'' get these Awards it would be fantastic if we could award every single person in the UK

LS: Yeah.

JN: that's ever saved a life, wouldn't that-that? would be the best thing to do but we can't do that. So at the end of the day you've gotta' chose somebody and we all sit down and we argue about it

LS: Yeah.

JN: and-and see who comes out but at the end you know we're happy with the choices at the end that's for sure.

LS: Yeah. And are you surprised by some of the stories that come in?

JN: I'm always surprised by [err] the-the-the-the almost insignificant acts of courage if that makes sense.

LS: Right.

JN: So the people that perhaps wouldn't nominate themselves. I go back to the stories of the two guys, the two young lads

LS: Yeah.

JN: who went out on their surfboards. I actually had quite along chat with them after-after the Awards Ceremony I, they weren't allowed to have a drink obviously 'cos they were young

LS: Right.

JN: but I had a glass of Champagne in my hand.

LS: You had theirs then.

JN: Yeah I had theirs [laugh], and I was you know I was chatting to them and you know they were just saying “Well do you know we were just there on our board.”

LS: Yeah.

JN: “We saw them in distress what else could we do?”

LS: Yeah.

JN: And I understand that sentiment-sentiment. What else could you do? They could walk, they could turn their back there's not many people in the UK would turn that their back on somebody in distress I think in actual fact we are a Great Nation

LS: Yeah.

JN: although we do ourselves down sometimes.

LS: Yeah, yes we put ourselves down don't we?

JN: And it was their you know the-the fact that they'd gone and they'd done something and they'd said “Look you know look we were on our board and we just did it.” But they went back three times.

LS: Right.

JN: They went back three times

LS: Right. Yeah. Yeah.

JN: to rescue people.

LS: Amazing.

JN: And I find that sort of thing fantastic.

LS: Incredible. Right, well we're just over halfway through the show this is the Charity Show brought to you in association with Vodafone and we're talking about the National Life Savers Awards sponsored by Vodafone and you can nominate somebody if you know somebody who's carried out an act of bravery. Today the nominations open so get those nominations in and [erm] we have another question in they're coming in thick and fast and Matty wants to know to Clive [erm] “Do St John Ambulance think mobiles make a difference in emergency situations?”

CJ: Definitely.

LS: Have you noticed that?

CJ: Definitely [err] speaking both from [err] a volunteer side of things when-when, 'cos I'm also a volunteer member of the St John I go out in uniform as well, as well as working for them.

LS: Explain the difference then.

CJ: I'm paid by the St John Ambulance to help design the training courses we deliver to the public

LS: I see.

CJ: But in my spare time when I'm not at work I'm also a volunteer for them.

LS: Right.

CJ: And that's when I go out on duty.

LS: You can't get enough of it can you. [laugh]

CJ: [phew] I can't get away from it. And [err] I-I go out on duty and do the actual first aid myself. [err] But certainly for us the-the level of communication [err] mobile phones had given us is wonderful we're-we're in contact with the ambulance service the whole time now when we need to be. [err] Certainly from the Ambulance Service side of things when you consider and accident happens on a motorway years ago someone had to get to a roadside phone to pick up the phone,

LS: Yeah.

CJ: dial the centre, they would then have to ring.

LS: In the rain on a cold dark night.

CJ: Exactly. Now days accident happens within minutes of the, well seconds of the accident happening people on their mobile phones they are ringing the Ambulance Service, ringing the Fire, ringing the Police, getting everything going.

LS: Yeah.

CJ: That's the main this especially in-in some of the more remote parts. When you consider if someone stops breathing you've got three minutes before the brain

LS: Oh this is horrible.

CJ: starts to die.

LS: Mmm.

CJ: Seconds really do make a difference.

LS: Yeah.

CJ: And that's what the mobile phone industry has given us now when it comes to Emergency Services, seconds of difference.

LS: Yeah.

CJ: [erm] And it does make the difference is some cases between life and death.

LS: Yeah. You really feel lost of you go out and well I do if you go out in the car without your mobile phone. [laugh]

CJ: I know.

LS: I feel like, oh I hate it. You feel really vulnerable don't you?

CJ: Yeah.

LS: You think what did we do in the old days? I don't know what we did. [laugh] Anyway we have another questioning from Mia [erm] she's from Leeds and she wants to know “Where did the idea of the Life Saver Awards come from?” John do you know that?

JN: I think Julian is the, is the one who's sponsored it from there start [laugh] is probably better placed then I to answer.

JC: We had a [err] it actual fact it was [erm] an agency came to us and said we've got a [err] got a, an idea

LS: Right.

JC: For a, you know a Life Saving Award there's all sorts of other award but there's nothing that specifically looks at those and we think you'd be ideal because mobile phones are.

LS: Yeah.

JC: And we thought yes, fantastic, absolutely perfect. And then we were saying we wanted to make it very positive and-and upbeat and it sort just grew, from there.

LS: Grew from there.

JC: So it was that small idea, we got together and discussed it, and just grew and this you know what we have now.

LS: And were you surprised that there're actually so many

JC: Vodafone Life Savers Awards

LS: people saving lives out there? That 'cos if someone came to me and said “Oh we're gonna' do a Life Savers Award” you would think there must be about two or three people that do that every year. It must amaze you when nominations come in.

JC: [err] It is astonishing the-the number you get. I mean I'm not, I don't think I know a life saver well maybe I do I went to school with people

LS: I don't know anybody.

JC: who are in the RNLI so yes, they would have but I couldn't say a specific friend has done that.

LS: No.

JC: But and you see them and it seem to be more and more you get through as-as the Awards grow.

LS: Yeah.

JC: And but it's just also the diversity of-of the different ways in which people save lives and there's-there's

LS: Mmm.

JC: I think there's people that you forget about you know the Coastguard as well, there's another

LS: Yeah.

JC: example you're like course yeah, they do fantastic work and so there's all these different people

LS: They're all out there doing their jobs.

JC: and [err] it is amazing and they do some astonishing things.

LS: Yeah.

JC: And how, and people are so [erm] [err] resourceful

LS: Mmm.

JC: in saving lives. There was [err] a couple of Policemen it was last year and some-some kids fell into the Mersey

LS: Mmm.

JC: it was outside a pub and they got the beer hoses from the pub

LS: Huh and slung them in the water.

JC: tied them round and down into the water.

LS: Amazing isn't it?

JC: Yeah.

LS: Quick thinking you see.

JC: Exactly.

LS: You don't know what you're gonna' do till you're in that situation I suppose

JC: Precisely.

LS: do you?

JC: No that's it.

LS: Just hope that you can do-do your best. [laugh] Right moving on now [erm] Maria wants to know [erm] “Do I have to nominate someone from the Armed Forces, are normal civilian eligible for this bravery award? So do you have to be in the Emergency Services or the Armed Forces?

JN: No. Absolutely not. Obviously there are, there will be a member of perhaps the Military Rescue Services, the Civilian Rescue Services, the St John Ambulance but no. No. No. No. No. [laugh] We don't just want them we want norm, the norm people.

LS: Yeah.

JN: You know the man or the woman in the street somebody going off to collect their kid from school, faced with a car crash situation, somebody going to the shops to do a little bit of shopping somebody collapses in front the of them in the street, somebody [err] walking out the door and they see an neighbours house on fire, all of these sort of things such a diverse different set of circumstances. If you have or you know somebody who has saved a life nominate them [laugh] because we can judge it. So the more nominations the better and absolutely not it can be anybody, any civilians in fact I prefer more civilians but Armed Forces

LS: Yes. We know it's.

JC: Armed Forces

LS: [laugh] And who tends to nominate is it people that have been rescued, is it friends and family or?

JN: I've seen everything [err] I've seen people who have been rescued have nominated their rescuers, I've seen [err] for-for instance a p-, a husband nominated his wife.

LS: Right.

JN: I saw a wife nominating her husband who was a Police Officer, [err] we see neighbours nominating people.

LS: Right.

JN: We see things like perhaps you know somebody's seen something in the local newspaper.

LS: Oh right yeah and remembered.

JN: And thinks that's,

LS: Amazing.

JN: that is somebody, I should be nominating that person and so it comes from absolutely all walks of life.

LS: Okay. Now another question for Clive on the first aider [err] subject [err] Jamie wants to know “If I come across someone who's unconscious [err] what are the most important things to do or to remember. I'm always a worried that I would panic if I came”

CJ: Yeah.

LS: across the situation.”

CJ: The first thing is to stay calm we-we-we simple things first of all make sure it's all nice and safe. Check see if they're breathing you know tilt the head back, lift the chin, put your ear to their mouth and look down the line of their body and check for about ten seconds see if they're breathing. If they're breathing we need, really need to roll them on to their side into the recovery position. So get them on their side

LS: Right.

CJ: is the most important thing.

LS: And why-why is that important?

CJ: If you don't you could get the tongue fall to the back of the throat.

LS: Right.

CJ: People also say you know they've swallowed their tongue. You can't swallow your tongue

LS: No.

CJ: it's impossible to swallow this thing you swallow with. [laugh] But what can happen is the tongue can fall to the back of the throat so you want all the blood, the saliva anything that might be in the mouth and the tongue to roll forward.

LS: Right.

CJ: Best way of doing that is to have them on their side.

LS: And anything else you should be looking out for? I suppose don't put yourself in-in dan-danger 'cos you don't want two casualties do you.

CJ: Don't, yes, exactly. We always advocate you know make sure it's safe. I mean you will get people that will assist other people but if you know you're gonna' be injured in the process of doing something we advise don't do it.

LS: Yeah.

CJ: You know that-that's only gonna' add to the problem but certainly just keep nice and calm think about it [err] and obviously with a mobile phone now if you know someone needs help

LS: Yeah.

CJ: get the Emergency Services there as soon you can.

LS: Yeah. Get the experts long as-as soon as you can.

CJ: Yeah. Definitely

LS: And moving on from the [erm] M wants to know “What the most important first aid skill to learn?” That's quite a good question isn't it?

CJ: I-I think the most important first aid skill to learn is just to remain calm, be confident there's nothing worse in my book than having someone looking after you that's worried.

LS: That's panicking more that you are or [laugh].

CJ: If yeah. If-if you're, you're sitting there going “Yeah you're gonna' be fine, everything gonna' be un” and they're

LS: Yeah reassuring voice there in your ear.

CJ: A reassuring voice yeah. Be-be confidence you-you might not be feeling confident inside but if you can portray that.

LS: Yes.

CJ: You know just be confident “Everything's gonna' be fine, I'm gonna' take care of ya', we're gonna' get you off to the hospital, get you sorted out but I just need you to let me look after ya' you're gonna' be fine.”

LS: Yeah.

CJ: I personally speaking I think that's one of the most important things somebody can do for someone else is reassurance. Reassurance is a big part of first aid.

LS: Yeah and to know the helps coming as well

CJ: Exactly.

LS: that must be a very reassuring John. [laugh]

CJ: Exactly.

JN: It would be nice.

LS: [erm] There's another question for John actually [erm] Jules wants to know [erm] “Do you think as a s-society we as, that's we”. I'll start that one again shall I. “Do you think that we as a society still care enough about our fellow citizens to get involved when they're in danger or do more-more people [err] tend to walk on by when accidents occur?”

JN: No I-I think that we do care I think that we see so many examples of people that have helped, that have gone that extra mile that have taken and extra step forward when other people are stepping back

LS: Mmm.

JN: I've been in quite a few situations crashes on motorways, [err] somebody being assaulted in the street, people collapsing in the supermarket and people come forward.

LS: Yeah.

JN: I know and there's no criticism of those who don't come forward you may not be confident, you may not have the skills.

LS: No.

JN: that's fine just make a 999 call.

LS: Yeah.

JN: Call the Emergency Services if that's all you think you can do but no I think that were a very caring society

LS: Yeah.

JN: and I think we don't recognise it enough. I think we see too much bad news I think we do ourselves down too much

LS: Well I know Yeah.

JN: when in actual fact something like this is a great celebration of all that we can achieve when we want to.

LS: And saying thanks to those who are putting themselves out a little bit. And.

JN: Absolutely and rather [err] looking for the bad aspects in life rather looking for the bad around every corner, lets have a look at the good lets have Vodafone saying “You've done well take this Award, we say thank you to you for what you've done for your fellow human being.”

LS: Yeah. No. It should be quite an event actually [err] Julian, Chloë wants to know [erm] “Where and when will the Awards be held?”

JC: [err] The-the Awards will be, will be in the autumn and they'll be in London and essentially it's 10 Downing Street

LS: Oh very posh.

JC: that's where these people go and [err] meet the Prime Minister whoever it may be.

LS: Have a nosey round Downing Street not everyone gets to do that

JC: Absolutely.

LS: do they? [laugh]

JC: No, behind that black door, and [erm] you know that's sort of, that's where it is.

LS: And did you go last year?

JC: I didn't get to go last year

LS: Oh no.

JC: I'm afraid no.

LS: Do you think you'll get to go this year?

JC: Hopefully.

LS: [laugh] Have to put your,

JC: I'd like to have a look around.

LS: put your best suit on.

JC: Exactly. Yeah.

LS: [laugh] So it should be quite an event though then. When-when do the [erm] nominations actually close?

JC: They close on May the 18th .

LS: Right.

JC: So there's, so there's a bit of time still to do that but please you know people need to get those Awards in

LS: Yeah.

JC: 'cos there's plenty of people out there who deserve-deserves some recognition.

LS: So if I wanted to nominate then how do I go about that?

JC: Well there-there's two ways you can either go to the website. www.vodafone.co.uk/lifesavers or there's a telephone number which I think you've got.

LS: Which is [laugh] 0870 902 3333 or you of course can [erm] click on the link that's on screen and that'll take you through to [erm] some more details. So just to reiterate then the telephone number 0870 902 3333 or you can of course go to the website www.vodafone.co.uk/lifesavers and there will be quite a lot in the press and what have you as well.

JC: There will be and a lot of the local papers will-will flag this up as well so. Yes

LS: Yeah. And what

JC: you-you won't be able to miss it.

LS: what happens when you, when you, when you ring that number or go to the website what

JC: You just

LS: happens happen then?

JN: you-you go to website and you see the information, there's a, there's a form there it tells you what happened last year, who the judges are. So it's-it's pretty comprehensive and it's just, you know type in a little bit about [err] about the person

LS: Yeah. So it's pretty,

JN: you nominating or about yourself.

LS: pretty easy then.

JN: Very easy.

LS: Yeah, pretty easy. Okay, well we're cracking through the questions actually we've got time just for a few more though. [erm] one for John I think Adam wants to know [erm] “Are there specific awards for child life Savers?” Well we've sort of touched on that haven't we?

JN: No I mean the-the Vodafone Life Savers are for anybody who's saved a life. So you know

LS: So you could be a child then?

JN: Absolutely and as I say there were teenage boys last year and where, there've certainly been children in previous years who've you know gone the, done that extra thing at home or-or in those sort of circumstances so there's no specific awards for children per say but obviously St John run their own Awards Scheme for the Child Life Savers. But for the Vodafone one then no there's no child, there's specific child category but the if, if the more children that we get the better how fantastic that

LS: Yeah.

JN: our children can be seen as life savers as well, not just the adults. Now isn't that fantastic that-that some of the young people in our society younger that perhaps we decry every now and then, that know then they're not as bad as it's all made out in some of the press you know they can do good things. So lets have their nominations as well.

LS: Yeah. Now one final question Lucy from from London wants to know [erm] “Are there, is there anyone barred from entering the the competition at all?” You know if you were in the Emergency Services or if?

JC: Nope anybody can enter

LS: Anybody can have a go.

JC: you just have to have saved a life, it's a, it's a simple as that.

LS: Which is quite a big ask really isn't it? [laugh]

JC: Well it's fairly big ask it's the ultimate ask I guess but that-that's what it is. That is the rule

LS: Yeah.

JC: essentially. So it's kind of simple but it's not simple.

LS: Yeah. So get your nominations in. If you know anyone out there who's performed an act of bravery in extraordinary circumstances and there aren't that many of them around I think but it'll be surprising when the nominations come in what sort of entries you're gonna' get. It's quite exciting waiting for them to come in I suppose isn't it?

JN: Absolutely.

LS: So if you want to nominate somebody you can go onto the website site which is www.vodafone.co.uk/lifesavers or just click on the link that's on the screen and that will take you through and it will tell you how to apply. Or you can phone the special hotline number which is 0870 902 3333 0870 902 3333. And we all look forward to receiving your entries, so [err] yes. Good luck and [erm] we'll see you next time. Bye-bye.