| rdfs:comment | - The Lifesaving Medals were first authorized in an Act (18 Stat 125, 43rd Congress) that furthered the United States Life-Saving Service. The Secretary of the Treasury was directed to, amongst other provisions of the act, to create "medals of honor", to be distinguished as life-saving medals of the first and second class, and bestow them upon any persons who endanger their own lives in saving, or endeavouring to save lives from perils of the sea, within the United States, or upon any American vessel.
- 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).
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| abstract | - 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. Nero Tennys posthumously received the Lifesaving Medal, First Class, after he saved the Centurion Vos'elk'eetash during the Battle of Renthiv.
- The Lifesaving Medals were first authorized in an Act (18 Stat 125, 43rd Congress) that furthered the United States Life-Saving Service. The Secretary of the Treasury was directed to, amongst other provisions of the act, to create "medals of honor", to be distinguished as life-saving medals of the first and second class, and bestow them upon any persons who endanger their own lives in saving, or endeavouring to save lives from perils of the sea, within the United States, or upon any American vessel. The Lifesaving Medals have had three designs in their history. The original design in 1874 was "non-portable" and could not be worn by the recipient, but rather displayed much like a trophy. In 1882 the design was changed so that the medal was suspended from a two inch wide ribbon. The ribbon was red for the Gold Lifesaving Medal and light blue for the Silver Lifesaving medal. Finally on 4 August 1949 the medals and ribbons were reduced in size so that they were more proportionate to medals awarded by the U.S. Armed Forces. The ribbons were also redesigned to have multiple colors. The laws governing the awarding of medal were amended over the years, and is currently awarded by the Coast Guard. The Commandant of the Coast Guard makes the final determination in authorizing the award. "The Gold Lifesaving Medal or the Silver Lifesaving Medal may be awarded to any person who rescues or endeavors to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other perils of the water. The rescue or attempted rescue must either take place in waters within the U.S. or subject to the jurisdiction thereof, or one or the other of the parties must be a citizen of the U.S. or from a vessel or aircraft owned or operated by citizens of the U.S." The Lifesaving Medal is issued in two grades, being silver and gold. "The Gold Lifesaving Medal may be awarded to an individual who performed a rescue or attempted rescue at the risk of his or her own life, and demonstrates extreme and heroic daring. The Silver Lifesaving Medal may be awarded to an individual who performed a rescue or attempted rescue where the circumstances do not sufficiently distinguish the individual to deserve the medal of gold, but demonstrate such extraordinary effort as to merit recognition. If neither the Gold nor Silver Lifesaving Medal is appropriate, then a Certificate of Valor or an appropriate Coast Guard Public Service Award may be considered." Until the mid-20th century, the Lifesaving Medal was often bestowed upon members of the military; however in recent times the decoration has become somewhat rare. This is due primarily to the creation of a variety of additional military decorations that are often considered more prestigious than the Lifesaving Medal. The United States Navy often issues the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, instead of the Lifesaving Medal, for sea rescues involving risk of life. "Military personnel serving on active duty would normally not be recommended for Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals; however, military personnel may be recommended for a Lifesaving Medal if the act of heroism was performed while the individual was in a leave or liberty status. In all other circumstances, a military award should be considered." The Lifesaving Medal is authorized for wear on U.S. military uniforms. The Lifesaving Medal is unusual among U.S. medals because it is actually struck from precious metal, silver or gold, depending on the grade. Most other medals are struck from inexpensive alloys. Multiple awards of the Lifesaving Medal are denoted by award stars on the decoration’s ribbon and a gold clasp, inscribed with the recipient’s name, is worn on the actual medal. Since 1874, more than 600 Gold Lifesaving Medals and more than 1,900 Silver Lifesaving Medals have been awarded.
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