London Bombings
A witness, one of the survivors, of these terrible bombings described fire crews waiting in the wings whilst victims died without first aid. Apparently they were under orders not to put themselves in danger in case there was a second explosion. If this is correct it is a national disgrace.
The emergency services have a duty, it is inherent in the vocation, to put themselves at risk in the course of protecting, aiding and rescuing victims. We do not need to go back to the blitz to know how true this tradition is. It gives the whole country a sense of pride in its emergency services, akin to that of the armed forces.
If some daft adherence to some safety protocol comes between that duty and its application, then it, together with those mindless zealots who apply it, must go. There is no place for it or them in any situation which calls for bold and heroic action to save lives and help the suffering. This is not a country deaf to screams of agony.
What a tawdry contrast to those brave firemen in New York, over two hundred of whom died trying to rescue the trapped on 9/11. I have said before that if you create a procedure manual you empower the fool. I will now add that you also licence the coward.