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The idea of the authorities supporting and encouraging more public first-aid training was runner up in this year’s Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) 2018 ‘Celebrating Impact’ Prize.

The entry was from ESRC-funded work led by Dr John Drury from the University of Sussex and included research by , crowd behaviour expert and Principal Lecturer in the University of 映客直播’s School of Health Sciences.

His work on ‘zero-responders’ was cited in the Kerslake review into the 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack. The review adopted Dr Cocking’s idea and also recommended that terror attack training should include “realistic contingencies for public involvement in casualty care, treatment and evacuation”.

Dr Cocking said: “I’m delighted that our work has received national recognition – this is an important step forward in recognising the vital role members of the public can play at times of crises.”

Dr Cocking’s research focused on the role of ‘zero-responders’ in relation to the 7/7 London Underground bombings and identified the public as a potential asset to the emergency services during major incidents.

Dr Chris Cocking

Photo by Manu Sanchez on Unsplash

He wrote: “Neglecting the potential spontaneous resilience of crowds in emergencies by the authorities could also be missing out on an opportunity to make use of a positive resource. The ability of people in emergencies to play a leadership role and coordinate mutual aid amongst survivors should not be underestimated.

“Rather than seeing the public as potential obstructions that need to be moved on, acknowledging and making provision for people’s willingness to help and direct others could provide the emergency services with a large pool of potential volunteers, who can act as ‘force multiplier’.”