Care worker praised for saving elderly woman from gas-filled home

A care worker has been awarded for potentially saving her client’s life during her routine morning calls.

Heather Durham, who works for Bluebird Care, rescued Elizabeth Wright from her East Horsley home when she found a strong smell of gas. Two gas hob burners had been left on since lunchtime the previous day and the house had filled with gas as a result.

Mrs Durham called the emergency services and comforted Mrs Wright, who was dazed and very poorly, while they waited. Paramedics and fire crews quickly arrived and dealt with the situation at hand.

Mrs Wright was taken to hospital for treatment but was released later the same day.

In honour of her swift and potentially life-saving actions, Mrs Durham was awarded with a national Bluebird Care special commendation on 4 April. Brian Colvin, Bluebird Care (Guildford and Waverley) director presented her with the award during a ceremony at West Hall care home in West Byfleet, which was attended by Mrs Wright, her son Nick and Julie Gambrill from the Bluebird Care national office.

After receiving her special commendation, Mrs Durham said: “I was only doing my job. I knew I needed to act quickly to safeguard my customer but this is what I am trained to do.

“I feel honoured and grateful that my work is recognised but I am sure that my fellow care workers would have done exactly the same in similar circumstances.”

Mrs Wright thanked Mrs Durham for her actions. She said: “I am so pleased to be here to thank Heather for what she did for me. She looks after me so well.”

Mr Colvin said: “I am delighted to present Heather with such a prestigious award which recognises some of the exceptional work that care workers across the country do on behalf of customers who rely on that extra bit of help each day to support them at home.

“Care workers go about their duty providing such a valuable service to the community but their work is often unrecognised and undervalued. This is an excellent opportunity to highlight the important role they play.

“Heather dealt with this situation in a calm and professional manner calling upon her training and personal awareness to avert a potentially very serious incident.”

As a result of the incident Bluebird Care will now carry out work to raise awareness of the danger of old style gas cooking hobs which do not have automatic safety cut off valves.