From 'Casualty' to real emergency

Rebekah Gibbs - real life emergency training

Actress Rebekah Gibbs is used to dealing with crises in her role as the paramedic Nina Farr in the BBC drama 'Casualty'.

Inside Out filmed her training for a real life emergency with the Royal Navy's helicopter pilots at the Yeovilton air base in Somerset.

Inside Out's Sue Wilkinson poses the questions in this exclusive web interview.

What was it like training for a real life emergency with the Royal Navy's helicopter pilots?

It was a once in a life time experience, just incredible.

The amount of detailed and pressurized, time-specific information these guys have to deal with in life or death situations is just awe inspiring.

What were the best and worst moment moments of the exercise?

Rebekah Gibbs - used to dealing with crises in 'Casualty'

The best moment was the sense of achievement I felt after I did the drops, and the worst was just before the last dunker trial (as I did two on the same day).

I was suspended upside down in complete blackness underwater – it was probably only a couple of seconds in reality but it felt like a lifetime.

My heart’s beating just thinking about it.

Did you have any fears about doing the simulation?

When I first heard about what I had to do I thought, "Lets go for it, how exciting".

When I got there, I realised how serious you have to be about preparing yourself, and even though it was really scary at first, you have to be positive and strong.

How did you prepare yourself mentally?

Rebekah Gibbs is used to dealing with crises in 'Casualty'

The instructors talk you through a 'Five Move' procedure which is imperative that you go through one by one through the dunk.

I kept repeating them to myself over and over, and I just kept telling myself that we were working with professional people and that they were looking out for you all the time.

What thoughts were running through your head just before you did it?

Remember the procedure, be positive.

What were your first reactions once dropped into the pool?

I told myself - remain calm and follow instructions.

How did it feel after you'd done it?

It was an amazing sense of relief, I was euphoric.

How did you get on with the guys who are regulars?

Wet and wild - Rebekah survives her training 'dunk'

I got on with them really well, they were so supportive.

I felt completely safe in their hands.

Did the whole exercise go smoothly or were there any hairy moments?

Well, I’d like to say I was the model student but I have to admit on the first dunk, I did panic slightly.

When you go down underwater, you have to push the window to get yourself out and my adrenaline took over and I elbowed it!

I was thoroughly told off but it was for my own good in the end.

How does it compare with dealing with crises in your role in 'Casualty'?

Actually the procedures we have to go through to make the scenes safe for everyone who’s working on the show are very strict and detailed.

So in that sense it is quite similar in the preparation.

You have to have trust in the people you are working with and you have to pull together as a team.

What research do you do for 'Casualty' to make the role as authentic as possible?

We have a wonderful team of technical and medical advisors who give us invaluable insights into that world.

For the deeply emotional story lines, if I haven’t been personally affected, I spend a lot of time reading, researching on the internet and learning.

Links relating to this story:

• BBC Inside Out - Rebekah Gibbs interview
• BBC Casualty - Rebekah Gibbs
• BBC Casualty - Interview with Rebekah Gibbs
• Royal Navy

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