Grenfell blaze psych trauma
THE programme dealing with the mental health response to the Grenfell Tower fire is Europe’s biggest, a doctor has said.
Some 360 adults and kids are being treated for post-traumatic stress, said psychologist John Green.
As thousands of elated music fans streamed out of the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on May 22, evil was about to strike.
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi blew himself up in the lobby, killing 22 people and leaving 250 injured.
The youngest fatality was just eight. Arena first-aiders rushed to help and were joined by paramedics, who carried out life-saving procedures. The wounded were taken to eight hospitals across Greater Manchester, where staff worked tirelessly to treat them in difficult circumstances.
Surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, radiologists and hospital managers who had just finished their shifts turned around and went back into work.
One medic says: “The response from my colleagues represented everything great about this country. Empathy, tireless self-sacrifice and above all else profound unity. Staff from almost every imaginable background, race and religion came together and put their all into caring for those wounded.”
Showing courage, professionalism and compassion staff battled through the night and the days that followed to rescue and treat the victims of the attack.
When terrorists struck in the heart of London this year police officers rushed into danger to protect the public, regardless of the risk to their own safety. One died, two were seriously injured. PC Keith Palmer was fatally stabbed as he confronted Khalid Masood outside the Houses of Parliament on March 22.
Unarmed PC Palmer, 48, stopped the terrorist entering the Palace of Westminster with two large knives after mowing down crowds on Westminster Bridge, killing four and injuring 50.
The hero officer delayed the jihadi long enough for an armed officer to arrive and shoot Masood dead – but it cost his life.
On June 3, British Transport Police officer Wayne Marques, 38, was starting
his Saturday night patrol in London Bridge when he saw the knife attackers. He rushed to confront them and suffered major injuries to his head, leg and hand.
In the same attack, off-duty Emergency Response Officer Charlie Guenigault, 25, was drinking with pals when the terrorists smashed their van into a restaurant. Confronting them, he got stab wounds to his head, leg, back and stomach. All three brave men undoubtedly saved lives.