Five recommendations we can take from the Kerslake Report and the ongoing inquiry of the Manchester Arena attack on 22nd May 2017.

As we enter the last week of National Preparedness Month, in this blog we present you with five of the recommendations that have been suggested as a result of the Manchester Arena attack report and how these can be implemented in emergency preparedness plans going forward.

• ‘Many were concerned at the need to use makeshift stretchers, insufficient first aid equipment and the lack of blankets’

All major transport hubs and public venues should possess and provide immediate  access to basic frameless canvas stretchers to enable rapid movement and evacuation of casualties during terrorist attacks or other high-threat or dynamic-hazard incidents.

•  “I was carried out of the Arena on an advertising board. There was a lack of first aid equipment for people to access.’

 All emergency services should consider developing a capability to give their staff rapid access to basic frameless canvas stretchers to enable rapid movement and evacuation of casualties during terrorist attacks or other high-threat or dynamic- hazard incident.

• ‘Staff from Showsec provided an immediate response as the incident was unfolding. They assisted with the management of the crowds exiting the venue and provided care and first aid to those with minor injuries despite being untrained for this role.’

Another recommendation is that the Government should increase its support for public first-aid training programmes (including those for children and young people).

• “The only criticism is of how Manchester responded with the publicity campaign. The media storm around this became wholly focused on Manchester as a city as if only people from Manchester had been affected.

 It is recommended that civic leaders take on a highly visible role in response to, and recovery from major incidents to enhance community reassurance and confidence.

• ‘Due to the scale of the incident, the Head of Trains and Stations self-activated on being advised of events at 22:45hrs. She then coordinated the response from home, focusing on which staff were in the vicinity of the site rather than relying simply on the on-call structure. She also had a manager set up a meeting point outside the cordon. The Head of Trains and Stations described her role as ‘taking the lead’ and she worked through the night to rewrite the emergency train plan to bypass Victoria train station’. 

A final recommendation is that operators of all key/iconic sites should be actively encouraged and enabled to participate in Local Resilience Forum planning, training and exercising.

These recommendations are just an example of what could be done to improve the preparedness of any large venue or transport hub. At TyTek, we offer a range of products and expert advice when it comes to putting a plan and preparedness kit together. 

Contact us today for more information on emergency preparedness.