Completing the Jigsaw - Inside the work of UK Forensic Radiography Response Team
Summary
TLDRThe script recounts the rapid response to the 7/7 London bombings, highlighting the establishment of an emergency mortuary and the crucial role of the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team. It details the teamwork between radiographers and forensic pathologists in victim identification, emphasizing the importance of accuracy over speed. The script also discusses the team's broader role in disaster victim identification and prevention of future incidents, showcasing their readiness and the remarkable achievement of the temporary London mortuary.
Takeaways
- 🚨 Major Incident: The script describes the activation of a major incident protocol in response to the 7/7 London bombings, highlighting the quick and coordinated response required in such situations.
- 🏗️ Rapid Construction: The emergency mortuary was built quickly, with construction beginning on a Friday and readiness for operations by Saturday, showcasing remarkable logistical achievements.
- 🔍 Forensic Radiography: The importance of radiography in victim identification is emphasized, with radiographers playing a key role in mass disaster response teams.
- 👥 Teamwork: The script underscores the importance of teamwork between pathologists, radiographers, and other specialists in managing mass fatalities.
- 🦷 Dental Evidence: The reliance on dental evidence for identification in mass disasters is highlighted, with radiography being critical in these cases.
- 🛡️ Safety and Respect: The facilities were designed to manage the deceased with respect and safety for the staff, ensuring a professional and caring service.
- 🌍 Global Recognition: The expertise of the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team is recognized worldwide, with members assisting in various international humanitarian crises.
- 🔬 Research and Prevention: Radiographers also play a role in investigating the causes of incidents to inform design changes that could prevent future tragedies.
- 📈 Continuous Improvement: The script mentions the ongoing recruitment and training of forensic radiographers to be prepared for potential future disasters.
- 🏛️ National Emergency Mortuary (NEMA): The development of a national emergency mortuary is discussed, designed with input from various professionals to set a new standard for victim care and forensic science.
- 👨⚕️ Volunteer Radiographers: The script celebrates the dedication of volunteer radiographers who train in their own time to be ready for such critical work.
Q & A
What was the initial response to the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005?
-The initial response to the 7/7 bombings in London was the activation of the London Mass Fatality Plan within three hours of the first explosion, which involved bringing together specialists including coroners, pathologists, and other forensic support.
What was the role of the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings?
-The UK Forensic Radiography Response Team played a crucial role in identifying victims through radiography, working alongside forensic pathologists and providing key information for victim identification.
How quickly was the emergency mortuary constructed after the bombings?
-The emergency mortuary was constructed remarkably quickly, with construction beginning on Friday and being ready to start operations by 2 o'clock on Saturday.
What was the significance of the mortuary being built around the volunteers?
-The rapid construction of the mortuary around the volunteers demonstrated an unprecedented logistical achievement and allowed for the immediate commencement of operations to manage and identify the victims of the disaster.
Why was radiography considered essential in the identification process?
-Radiography was essential because it provided key information about dental evidence and other identifying features, which are crucial for victim identification, especially in mass disaster situations.
What is the National Emergency Mortuary (NEMA)?
-The National Emergency Mortuary (NEMA) is a facility designed for the management of mass fatalities, incorporating lessons learned from the temporary London mortuary set up after the 7/7 bombings.
How does the relationship between pathologists and radiographers contribute to the identification process?
-The relationship between pathologists and radiographers is critical as radiographers provide special information through radiography, which assists pathologists in their external examinations and helps target their investigations effectively.
What is the secondary role of the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team apart from victim identification?
-Apart from victim identification, the team also plays a role in preventing future loss of life by investigating the causes of incidents and suggesting design changes to equipment or structures to avoid similar injuries.
How did the radiographers assist in the Asian tsunami in 2004?
-The radiographers helped identify victims of the Asian tsunami in 2004, where dental identification played a significant role due to the degeneration of remains and difficulties with DNA samples.
What is the importance of getting the identification process right in mass disaster situations?
-Getting the identification process right is crucial as it provides a professional and caring service to the victims' families, ensuring accurate identification and avoiding further emotional distress.
How does the script highlight the importance of teamwork in managing mass fatalities?
-The script emphasizes the importance of teamwork by illustrating how different specialists, including radiographers and pathologists, work together to manage the situation effectively and provide the best possible care for the victims and their families.
Outlines
🚨 Rapid Response to a Major Incident: London Mortuary Activation
This paragraph describes the immediate response to the 7th of July 2005 London bombings, highlighting the activation of the London Mass Fatality Plan. Phil Allen, a radiographer at St James Hospital in Leeds, recounts the swift mobilization of the national network service and the construction of an emergency mortuary at the Honorable Artillery Company. The narrative emphasizes the unprecedented speed of the mortuary setup, which was operational by Saturday afternoon, ready to identify victims in the aftermath of the disaster. The paragraph underscores the importance of teamwork between various specialists, including coroners, pathologists, and the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team, and the vital role of radiographers in victim identification and forensic science.
🔍 The Crucial Role of Radiographers in Forensic Pathology
The second paragraph delves into the critical partnership between pathologists and radiographers in forensic investigations, especially in the context of terrorist attacks and mass disasters. It explains the process of victim identification through radiography, which is often key in cases where dental evidence is required. The paragraph also discusses the initial scan conducted by radiographers upon the arrival of bodies at the mortuary, which helps identify hazards and personal effects that could assist in the identification process. The narrative stresses the importance of accuracy over speed in identification and the collaborative efforts of various professionals to provide a caring and professional service to the victims' families. It also touches on the role of radiographers in understanding the cause of incidents to prevent future tragedies, highlighting the global recognition of the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team and their involvement in humanitarian crises.
📢 Call for New Members and the Expansion of Forensic Radiography Services
The final paragraph serves as a call to action for radiographers and emergency planning professionals to join the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team and the International Association of Forensic Radiographers. It invites interested parties to visit the team's website for more information on how to become part of this vital service. The paragraph also reflects on the success of the emergency mortuary setup after the London bombings and the recognition received from the London Assembly for the complex and sensitive task of victim identification. It concludes by praising the dedication of volunteer radiographers who train for such critical work and the ongoing efforts to prepare for disasters that hopefully will never occur.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Major Incident
💡Mass Disaster
💡Emergency Mortuary
💡Forensic Radiography
💡Victim Identification
💡Logistical Achievement
💡National Emergency Mortuary (NEMA)
💡Pathologists
💡Radiographers
💡Humanitarian Crises
💡Preventive Measures
Highlights
Major incident declared following the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London, activating the London Mass Fatality Plan.
Rapid construction of an emergency mortuary at the Honorable Artillery Company on City Road.
The UK Forensic Radiography Response Team's involvement in managing the disaster.
The importance of radiography in victim identification, particularly in mass disasters.
The logistical achievement of assembling a large mortuary within hours.
Teamwork between pathologists and radiographers in victim examination and identification.
The role of radiography in providing fundamental information for forensic pathologists.
The significance of dental evidence in identifications, supported by radiography.
The empowerment and reward of using NHS skills in a mortuary setting for victim identification.
The creation of NEMA (National Emergency Mortuary) following the success of the temporary London mortuary.
The critical relationship between pathologists and radiographers in mass disaster response.
The process of initial radiography scans for safety and identification purposes.
The importance of accurate identification in providing a caring service to victims' families.
The challenges and importance of getting the identification process right rather than fast.
The international recognition of the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team's expertise.
The secondary role of the team in preventing future loss of life through incident analysis.
The continued recruitment and training of forensic radiographers for potential future disasters.
The London Assembly's praise for the emergency mortuary and the role of volunteer radiographers.
Invitation for new members and information on the work of the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team.
Transcripts
bleep went off major incident declared
major incident declared and i looked at
the bleep and i thought this is it
[Applause]
and we got there on friday and literally
things were just being built all around
us and we were ready to start saturday
at two o'clock and that was just
phenomenal i've never seen anything move
so quickly
we've got the facilities now which meet
the needs of being able to identify
people in the event of a mass disaster
or tragedy on behalf of their loved ones
we know that we have a mass disaster we
can manage the numbers we can manage
them with respect and with safety for
the staff working
[Music]
on the 7th of july 2005 terrorists
detonated four bombs in the centre of
london
phil allen was just finishing his night
shift at st james hospital in leeds
where he works as a radiographer
got home about just before nine o'clock
in the morning turned the tv on and
obviously at that time it was full of
what was going on in london which was a
little bit confused at that time but it
was becoming
obvious that some mass disaster had
occurred
london under attack 33 confirmed dead
does terrorist target pretty well
decided that if we were going to be
needed the national network service is
available uh it's already packed a bag
in preparation
some people had rung up and said
something going on was a power cut and
we started to look on the internet and
couldn't get much information it's all a
bit it's a power cut there was a fire or
something like that then the major
incident bleep went off we are all
trained to run a major incident policy
but we'd never actually used it we only
practiced it
um bleep went off major incident
declared major incident declared and i
looked at the bleep and i thought
turn it to my other colleagues that this
is it
[Music]
within three hours of the first
explosion as the city reeled from the
impact of the four bombs the decision
was taken to activate the london mass
fatality plan
for the plan to succeed it would be
necessary to bring together a group of
specialists including coroners
pathologists and other forensic support
among them the volunteers of the uk
forensic radiography response team
it was becoming apparent that the
existing mortuaries in london might not
be able to cope with the numbers of
victims of the four bombs
a key element of the plan was the
construction of an emergency mortuary in
the grounds of the honorable artillery
company on city road um so we actually
walked into the mortary but there was
very little it was just a shell when we
first started when we first got there
and i think that's one of the most
phenomenal experiences i think i've ever
experienced is actually watching the
mortuary build being built all the way
around you and it was that fast um and
we got there on friday and literally
things were just being built all around
us and we were ready to start saturday
at two o'clock and that was just
phenomenal i've never seen anything move
so quickly
it was a remarkable logistical
achievement
overnight in just a few hours
contractors assembled one of the largest
mortuaries in the world
later the lord chancellor was to
describe these facilities as setting the
gold standard for victim care and the
pursuit of forensic science
teamwork was at the heart of this
remarkable operation
volunteer radiographers more used to
working with hospital patients now found
themselves working on the dead alongside
the forensic pathologists we had
pathologists at our shoulders saying
what's that and what's this say well
that was a clavicle that was
a foreign body or something like that
and they could take that information
away i learned that radiography was
absolutely key history shows that a huge
proportion of identifications
are done
on dental evidence which needs the
radiography
or are done by other means that the
radiographers are involved in they're a
safety aid to those who are actually
doing the examination that provide
providing fundamental information you
could not do this without the
radiographers at the end of the day
especially for seven seven there were
families waiting outside desperate to
find out who their loved ones were
so i feel that was enormously empowering
and rewarding thing to be able to take
my skills from the nhs setting into
working with the deceased to get victim
identification
following the success of the temporary
london mortuary the association of
forensic radiographers was invited with
others to put forward its ideas for the
design and planning of a national
emergency mortuary to be known as nema
in the autumn of 2008 members got their
first opportunity to see inside this new
facility
the groups working in nema have to work
together as a united team that's the
only way we can cope and manage the
situation that's presented to us but the
working links between the pathologists
and the radiographers is a particularly
important one because the radiographers
give us some very special information
particularly in terrorist situations
where we do far more radiography the
scanning the looking for the fragments
of bombs the wire and the other material
but they're also very very important in
in inverted commons ordinary mass
disasters where we're looking for
fragments of bones old bony injuries and
of course working with the odontologists
as well in terms of identification
the relationship between the pathologist
and the radiographer is critical
as the bodies arrive at the mortuary the
radiographer conducts the first scan
so the first stage for us is initial
scan or screening without opening the
body bag and at that stage you're
looking for really
anything that may be hazardous for the
pathologists or technicians who are
opening the bag and going to be
examining the remains you're looking for
any identifying features
for example in terms of previous
fractures or perhaps of pins and plates
that have been put in
during operations but you're also
looking for
personal effects and for example small
personal effects for example earrings or
necklaces and that sort of thing which
you may immediately think well you're
going to see those but quite often if
you have bodies specifically once
they've been in fires for example in
aircraft crashes you won't see that
information whereas you will on an x-ray
so you're charting all of that when the
pathologist comes to do the external
examination they've got an indication of
what is in there they can see if there's
anything hazardous and they know where
to target their investigation to start
with we're all in this
because we want to provide
a very professional and caring service
to victims families in the event of the
worst case scenario and we cannot afford
to get that identification wrong we've
got to make sure that we provide that
service which makes sure that the
identification is absolutely right
and that's where there's some
frustrations about how long the process
takes
i don't apologize for that because it's
more important to get it right than do
it quickly
and what we've got here with the nema
set up is that they've listened to
everything that's needed by all the
pathologists
all the ordontologists all the police
officers that are involved in this
service
and actually come up with this which is
phenomenal
the expertise of the uk forensic
radiography response team is recognized
around the world
its volunteer members helped identify
victims of the asian tsunami in 2004. um
dna proved problematic because the time
taken to get samples and also the
degeneration of the
remains made it very difficult as well
and dental came into its own in the
asian tsunami in particular
others have assisted humanitarian crises
in bosnia
kosovo sierra leone
cyprus iraq and sri lanka
but as well as victim identification
they have a secondary role which may
help prevent future loss of life
specifically in in aircraft crashes for
example or transport crashes of any any
nature is why the incident happened and
what was the nature of the injuries that
were caused and can there be any design
changes made for example to an aircraft
or indeed to protective equipment
that could actually prevent those
injuries being caused and sometimes it's
necessary to do a very detailed
examination
of the trauma patterns that are
sustained you know by an individual to
find out exactly the nature of those and
how they were caused and why they were
caused so radiology can be useful in a
lot of a lot of ways some of which are
very important and if like up front and
around the identification and others
come and perhaps a little bit later and
more research orientated around the
changes that can be made to preventing
such incidents happening in the future
since the london bombings the
association of forensic radiographers
have continued to recruit suitably
qualified members and train them to cope
with a disaster that we hope will never
take place
after 7-7 the london assembly described
the emergency mortuary as a remarkable
achievement
the correct identification of the
deceased was a highly complex and
sensitive task which was completed
within just seven days
many would say that the success of the
operation was due in no small measure to
the work of the volunteer radiographers
isn't it great that we've got a team of
radiographers who are prepared in their
own time to train for this sort of work
and have over a number of years years
nurtured
a scheme that we can now have people who
are willing and capable and qualified to
walk into a mortuary and do this work
the uk forensic radiography response
team and the international association
of forensic radiographers are always
looking for new members
if you're a radiographer and would like
to be considered or if you're involved
in emergency planning or part of uk
resilience and would like to know more
about the work of the team visit their
website for more information afr.org.uk
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