Jordon Lyon made headlines when he died trying to save his eight-year-old step-sister after she fell into a lake. Many newspapers lambasted the two police community support officers who subsequently arrived on the scene but did not immediately wade in after him. But was their response justified given they could not see the boy under the water and were not properly trained in water rescue.

In this programme, Tonight debates the issue and looks at the contradictory nature of being frontline fire or police officers. On one hand, these men and women are told by their bosses to be aware of their own health and safety and not take any unnecessary risks. Yet on the other hand, they receive commendations from their superiors when they put safety second.

Some believe that health and safety legislation, originally designed to ensure that employers provided proper equipment and training to staff, has created a culture where some frontline emergency personnel are not prepared to take the risks that even an ordinary person would to save someone’s life. But is that a fair criticism?

The Tonight team interviews the families that have lost loved ones because emergency services did not intervene and also speaks to the relatives of fire and police officers who have died in the line of duty.

Monday 22 October 2007 8:00pm - 8:30pm on ITV1.