Northern Ireland firefighters abandoned their picket lines in Co Derry last night to rescue two men from the scene of a head-on road crash.
More than a dozen officers using specialist equipment cut the victims from the wreckage of the accident near Dungiven.
Two children were also seriously injured in the collision.
Fire Brigades Union representative Mr Kieran Barr said the intervention was vital.
"They would have waited a long time for the arrival of the army," he claimed.
"We believe and know that the army is not that well equipped to carry out such rescues."
As the second day of the strike drew to a close, the PSNI reported a total of 237 emergency calls made in Northern Ireland since the action started. Of these 38 have been hoaxes while 93 genuine alerts were made.
The Yellow Goddesses have been called out 43 times so far.
PA