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 Dr Chris Cocking, crowd behaviour expert and Principal Lecturer in the University of Brighton’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.