A young woman collapses in London's Oxford Street. An unsuspected cardiac condition has caused her to fall victim to a massive heart attack.
Five years ago, she would probably have been declared dead on arrival at hospital. Today, against all the odds, she has a fighting chance – thanks to a revolution that has taken place in trauma and emergency care.
The results of this unsung miracle are shown for the first time on British television in An Hour to save your life, a compelling new BBC documentary co-produced with The Open University.
It follows nine life-or-death emergencies as they unfold, recording cutting-edge lifesaving procedures which have been filmed before.
It's so detailed that it will be used as a teaching resource for The Open University's foundation degree in Paramedic Sciences.
One-quarter of all the UK's student paramedics are currently training on this programme, which allows them to carrying on working while they study.
Today's paramedics carry an array of state-of-the-art devices and drugs, and can call on a range of specialised back-up, such as 'cool cars'. These carry equipment to reduce the casualty's core body temperature, delaying cell death and limiting permanent brain damage in cases of heart attack, stroke and head injury.
"Even five years ago, paramedics could have had as little as six weeks' training," says Dr Duncan Banks, Lecturer in Biomedical Science at the OU, who is also academic consultant to An hour to save your life.
"Now it takes four years to qualify with the OU, the equivalent of two years full-time. Paramedics are so highly skilled that some are working in hospital Accident & Emergency departments."
An hour to save your life started on BBC TWO on Tuesday 4 March at 9pm.
Find out more
There's more information about some of the medical science involved in a free Open University booklet, called Trauma and Emergency Care, which accompanies the series. To find out more, see OpenLearn.
Study
The Foundation Degree in Paramedic Sciences
