Page 10 - QARANC Vol 14 No 8 2014

8 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Joint Medical Command Commendation Cpl Leanne Keeley
Cpl Leanne Keeley has been awarded a Certificate of Commendation for excellence, exceptional effort, committed service for dedication to duty over and above the norm. This was awarded by Commander Joint Medical Command, Surgeon Rear Admiral CJG McArthur QHP FRCGP at a ceremony at DMS Whittington in November 2013.
The citation read; “As a Health Care Assistant assigned to DMRC Headley Court, Cpl Keeley’s performance has been exceptional. She eagerly volunteered and undertook the duties of a senior gapped post, as the facilities Bed Manager. This was at a critical time when bed occupancy remained incredibly high. Cpl Keeley improved the bed allocation process to maximise occupancy and to align allocation with patient clinical need. She showed incredible initiative in planning and demonstrated moral courage with a tenacious mature attitude. In doing so she has single- handedly improved patient care.
For her outstanding performance, Cpl Keeley is awarded
Commander Joint Medical Command’s Certificate of Commendation”.
Heroic moment – Surrey Police Chief Constable’s Award for Bravery
On 4 Aug 13 when travelling back early morning from Cobham to Aldershot, myself and my partner found ourselves struggling against all the diversions in place due to the yearly Cycle race.
When travelling down the Horsley Road, Effingham we were stopped by a policeman who had pulled over mid road. We could clearly see smoke coming from the woods on the right and at this point the policeman asked if we had a fire extinguisher as a car was on fire in the woods.
At this point we were unsure as to whether the car was empty so I asked if he needed any help. I explained I was a nurse. The policeman advised me a young man was trapped and so my help was definitely needed as he needed medical attention.
Upon approaching the car I could see that it had crashed into the woods, taking a telegraph pole down, leaving the car facing the road with the driver’s side trapped against a tree. The front of the car was totally crushed and flames were coming from the engine. There was debris everywhere and the man in the drivers seat was conscious and crying out in pain. I was unsure at this point whether his legs were trapped, so I began to triage him. I assessed
the situation and it came to the point where the fire was becoming out of hand and becoming life threatening to not only the driver but myself and the policeman. Therefore we decided to extract the man as the fire was the immediate threat.
Due to the car being inaccessible via the drivers side, we had to pull him out via the passenger seat. Luckily his legs weren’t trapped and we managed to pull him up onto the roadside a safe distance away from the car. Moments later the fire got considerably worse, going into the main body of the car, we could hear the tyres bursting. Still at this point there was no sign of the ambulance or fire brigade, I carried on assessing the man’s injuries and ensured he was now immobilised. A cyclist arrived at this point, advising he was a Dr and began to help me with the mans first aid. The fire brigade now turned up and began to try control the fire. This took quite a while as it had got so out of hand.
We had ascertained there was possible pelvic injury and superficial wounds to the man, the Dr thought there was no spinal damage and due to the fire increasing we had to again pull the man further back up the road.
Shortly after, the ambulance and
police arrived. We handed over to them and then the police began to take my statement of the events. All three services thanked me for my assistance, whilst the fire brigade said that we definitely made the right decision to extract the man from the vehicle as it potentially saved his life.
Once statements had been given, we went on our way and thought no more about it.
A few months later I was requested to go and the see the Adjutant, I was advised that I had been nominated for the Surrey Police Chief Constables Award for Bravery for my actions on this day. I certainly did not see this coming!!!
On 4 Dec I attended the presentation at Guildford Cathedral, where I was presented with a certificate and citation about the events on the morning of 4 Aug 13. I was able to take my family and partner as my guests along with the Commanding Officer of Frimley Park Lt Col Day, OCN – Lt Col Grieves and my Clinical Lead Flt Lt Brown. I also got to meet the policeman – PC Stephen Braine who I worked alongside on the day. It was a gratifying and humbling moment and one I will always treasure being recognised in such a way.
Cpl Laura Bone, MDHU Frimley Park