Lifesaving Medal

The Lifesaving Medal was the collective name for two military decorations of the Golden Empire.

The Lifesaving Medal, Second Class, was awarded to "a servicebeing who, through heroic action above and beyond the call of duty, saves the life of a citizen of the Golden Empire". The words "above and beyond the call of duty" were put in place to make it clear that doctors, medics, rescue service personnel, and others who were supposed to be saving lives were not eligible (although such personnel could receive the award if they saved lives clearly outside their areas of service).

The Lifesaving Medal, First Class, was awarded to "a servicebeing who, through action above and beyond the call of duty, in the face of the enemy, saves the life of a fellow citizen of the Golden Empire". The addition of the requirement for combat heroism made it a senior award. The First Class was often awarded to soldiers who had been killed in action saving their comrades, but had not exhibited the degree of conspicuous heroism required for the Cross of Keltrayu or another valor decoration.

The Second Class medal was a silver-framed blue plate, with the image of a silver hand clasping another by the wrist, as if catching a being from a fall. The ribbon was the same shade of pale blue, bordered in silver. The First Class followed the same design, except that the silver framing the medal and on the ribbon was replaced with gold. The First Class was the juniormost valor decoration in the Empire, below the Sacrifice Medal; the Second Class was a mid-level service decoration.