daveJB, you make a good point (I think, if you didn't you should).
If you are in danger of being bombed or shot at for some minimum period (say 24 hrs - feel free to argue) then get the medal
The 30 day rule may be OK for someone whose main risks came from disembarking from the aircraft and flying out tourex 6 months later. What of the squaddie, of any Service, who is in the thick of it with 7.62s coming close and personal who is casevaced after 24 hours or so? He was certainly at risk, he was certainly there, but under the 30 days rule . . .