7/7 Reports Highlights Flaws In Emergency Planning
Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Contributor London, UK (AHN) - The report investigating the July 7 bombings in London released on Monday states that emergency services involved in the rescue operations were failed by poor communications, faulty planning and lacked sufficient medical care. Though the London Assembly report praised the "brave" efforts by the rescuers it also criticized the after-response of the terrorist attack. It said that the "most striking failure" of the emergency services was in the after-care for the injured and traumatized victims. The report by the Review Committee of the elected London Assembly also said that over-reliance on the mobile phones was yet another contributing factor, despite knowing that the network would be overwhelmed during an emergency. The report criticized the use of radios used by rescuers that failed, as they did not work on the underground rail network. The failed communication was the key factor that led to the shortage of deployed ambulances on the sites. Richard Barnes, the chairman of the committee, said that London's emergency plans focused on processes rather than people, and must be changed. However, official spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said the Government would take on board the committee's recommendations, but pressed that the emergency services deserved praise for the way they reacted.
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