The Immediate Aftermath for Relatives and Friends
Part 1 Casualty bureau and relatives
reception centre
Part 2 When you know what has happened to
your relative or friend
This guide has been written by members of Disaster Action, who have
all been involved in disasters such as Zeebrugge, King’s Cross,
Lockerbie, Hillsborough, Dunblane, Southall and Ladbroke Grove. Members
also include families bereaved by the 11th September attacks in the
United States. Our aim is to enable you to understand what may happen in
the hours, days and weeks after the disaster, giving you the opportunity
to maintain some control over events. You may be reading this in a
Relatives Reception Centre, in which case you should find Part One
helpful. If not, please look at Part Two.
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This guide has been written by members of Disaster Action, who have
all been involved in disasters such as Zeebrugge, King’s Cross,
Lockerbie, Hillsborough, Dunblane, Southall and Ladbroke Grove. Members
also include families bereaved by the 11th September attacks in the
United States. Our aim is to enable you to understand what may happen in
the hours, days and weeks after the disaster, giving you the opportunity
to maintain some control over events. You may be reading this in a
Relatives Reception Centre, in which case you should find Part One
helpful. If not, please look at Part Two.
Top
As soon as a disaster occurs, the police set up an
information-gathering centre called a Casualty Bureau (CB). This is
where the police gather all the information coming from the disaster
site, and from outside sources, about who may be involved. An emergency
telephone number will be given out through the media as soon as possible
after the disaster.
The priority for the police is to find and identify those who may be
missing.
There will also be a Relatives Reception Centre (RRC), for those
concerned about anyone who may have been caught up in the disaster.
Information from here is passed on to the CB.
As it becomes necessary, each family will be given the name of a
police officer who will be responsible for co-ordinating information
about your relative or friend and giving you any news, either in person
or on the telephone.
There may be a lot of people around you - the police, social workers
and volunteers. Make sure you know who you are talking to and check
their identification. If you give information that may help identify
your relative or friend, don't assume that it will be passed on to your
named police contact. Always speak to your police contact directly.
Whether you go to the RRC or stay at home is your choice, but there
should always be someone that your family's named police officer can get
in touch with - and make sure that your police contact knows who that
person is. Also ensure that you know who is replacing your police
officer when they go off duty.
If you go home, ask the police to telephone you at regular intervals,
even if only to say that they have no further news.
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There may be social workers or counsellors whom you can talk to at
the RRC if you want to. If you would like to talk straight away to those
with a similar experience, contact Disaster Action (see Support Groups
and Caring Organisations).
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All those involved in a disaster will need to be identified.
What the police may need from you:
- Physical description of your relative, or friend, including any
distinctive features, such as scars or tattoos.
- Clear, recent photographs of them.
- Name and address of their doctor and dentist.
- Details of items they may have been wearing or had with them -
driving licence, wallet, handbag, jewellery, keys.
- DNA sample.
This information may be used to assist in identifying your relative
or friend.
Ask your named police officer what identification methods are being
used. You also need to know whether the police will wait until
identification is certain before telling you, or whether they will say
if an identification looks likely.
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If people have been injured in the disaster they will be taken to
prearranged hospitals. If you feel that is where you would most like to
be, that is your choice. Bear in mind that treating the injured is the
medical staff’s priority, and hospitals will probably only give out
information when the police say they can.
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Finding out what has happened to your relative or friend may happen
quickly or it may take hours or even days. Throughout that time, this
officer will be your contact. The police will contact you as soon as
they have any information about your relative or friend, but if some
time has passed and you have not heard from them, telephone them again.
Don't feel that you have to wait for news alone. Being with family
and friends, if possible, can be a great help at a time of such intense
anxiety. The strain is great, and everyone will respond to it
differently. Don't be surprised if there is friction between you.
Accept offers of practical help to deal with the necessities of life.
Let someone else drive you wherever you need to go.
It may also be helpful to talk to others who are waiting for news of
their relatives and friends.
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You are likely to be approached by the media, looking for photographs
or interviews.
It is your choice whether or not to talk to them, but remember that
your aim (finding out what has happened to your relative or friend) will
not be the same as theirs. Remember that you cannot change your mind
later about what you have said.
You may be unable to stop them taking photographs, but don't be
afraid to tell them to leave you alone. If the media is bothering you or
your family, tell the police.
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You may find out that they have escaped the disaster unhurt. This is
good news, although it may be difficult to come to terms with what has
happened, even if someone has not been physically injured.
If they have been injured, you will be told by the police, either by
telephone or in person if you are at home. If necessary, ask police
advice about travel arrangements.
For everyone who has been caught up in a disaster, the future will be
different and both you and they may find you need help in facing it.
Contact Disaster Action (see Support Groups and Caring Organisations) if
you would like to talk to others with a similar experience.
Your relative or friend may have been killed in the disaster. The
first instinct of the police and others may be to protect you, and in so
doing they may try to make decisions for you. This is okay if it feels
right, but you can choose whether or not to take decisions yourself.
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While the emergency services are recovering the casualties, it will
not be possible for you to go to the disaster site. The police may
suggest that you do not visit the disaster site until it has been
cleared of debris. Talk to them about this. If it is physically
possible, go to the site if this is what you want - even if you have to
travel some distance to get there.
Visiting the site can help in making the disaster real to you. Some
people will prefer not to go, but you should do whatever feels best for
you.
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When someone dies in a disaster, the coroner (or procurator fiscal in
Scotland) will require a medical examination of the body. A post mortem
is likely to be done, by a pathologist, to find out how the person died.
Relatives and friends will have no choice in this, and it may delay the
release of the body.
If it can be arranged, a medical representative for the family may be
present at the post mortem. If the police suspect that the disaster was
the result of a crime, the body may not be released to the family
immediately. If the coroner is holding the body, ask him to explain why.
The body is released to the family when the coroner is satisfied
about the identification, and the police have finished their first
investigations.
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The body is in the care of the coroner until it is released to the
family. It may be suggested to you not to see the body, if the person
has been badly injured. You have a right to know the circumstances of
death, to look at the body and at photographs of your relative or friend
if you wish. It is your choice. However, you may want to make this
choice with your family, the police, or a counsellor.
As a member of the family or friend, you can see the body, provided
the next of kin agrees. What may seem morbid or unacceptable to those
not directly affected can be quite a natural thing to do.
It may help to have a doctor or professional counsellor to talk over
the options with you, and to be with you if you decide to see the body.
It is reasonable to ask about the photographs that will have been
taken of your relative or friend, and to find out where they will be
kept and for how long.
Everyone will have different reasons why they do or do not want to
see such photographs. Think about it carefully. And get as much
information as you can from those who can help you make the decision. If
you do decide to see them, now or in the future, it may help to do so
with a professional counsellor.
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You need to prepare for the possibility, however incredible it may
seem, that no body will be found.
It may take weeks, or even longer, before the police and the coroner
can be certain that an identification is not possible.
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A telephone helpline may be set up by the local authority to offer
guidance to those who need help. You should be able to get the number
from your police contact or social services.
You can go to your doctor (who can refer you to a counsellor) to talk
about how you feel, but if he or she has had no training in disasters,
they may be unsure how best to help you. There are a few clinics, mostly
in London, which specialise in helping those affected by disasters. Ask
your doctor what is available locally, or speak to Disaster Action.
There are a few clinics, mostly in London, which specialise in
helping those affected by disasters. Some of the organisations that try
to help the bereaved and those who have been affected by traumatic
events are listed below.
Some people will not want or feel the need to talk to anyone outside
the family and friends, although for others it may be essential. There
is nothing wrong with knowing that you need help and trying to find it.
If you contact a group but don't find it helpful, don't give up. It
may be that whoever you spoke to was not the right person for you. It is
never too early or too late to get help - the hard thing is to
recognise, or admit, that you need it.
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Disaster Action
Charity who members have all been bereaved in or have survived a
disaster. Shares common experience and provides support and guidance to
those affected by disasters. PO Box 849, Woking GU21 8WB. Telephone:
01483 799 066.
: :
www.disasteraction.org.uk
The Compassionate Friends
Organisation of bereaved parents offering shared experience and series
of leaflets (Monday-Friday 9.30am - 5.00pm).
53 North Street, Bristol BS3 1EN. Tel: 0117 953 9639.
: :
www.tcf.org.uk
The Traumatic Stress Clinic
Specialists in PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Provides
assessment and therapy for those who have been affected by traumatic
events such as disasters.
73 Charlotte Street London, W1T 4PL Tel: 020 77530 3666.
ASSIST Trauma Support Trust
Offer support and self help in surviving trauma.
The Penthouse, 11013 Bank St. Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 2QE.
Trauma Support Line Answer Service: 01788 560 800. Office: 01788 551
919.
Cruse - Bereavement Care
Offers counselling, advice and opportunities to meet other bereaved
people throughout the UK. 126 Sheen road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1UR.
Tel: 020939 9530. To talk to a counsellor telephone 08457 585565
(Monday-Friday 3pm - 9pm).
Victim Support
Offers practical help and advice and emotional support to victims and
their families following crime. (Monday-Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm).
Cranmer House, 39 Brixton Road, London SW9 6DZ Tel: 020 7735 9166.
: :
www.victimsupport.org.uk
Maudesley Hospital - The Traumatic Stress
Project
Provides a clinical service for people suffering from psychological
distress or disorder. (PTSD) Mon-Fri. 9.00am-5pm.
De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF. Telephone: 020 7703
6333.
BAC (British Association of Counselling)
Will give list of counselling organisations and practitioners in your
area, their specialisation and fees (some do not charge). You need to
send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: 1 Regent Place, Rugby,
Warwickshire. CD21 2PF.
Information answerphone: 01788 550 899.
: :
www.counselling.co.uk
TACT (Trauma After Care Trust)
Those affected by PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can get in touch
with TACT for names of specialists in this condition.
Buttfields, The Farthings, Withington, Glous. GL54 4DF. Freephone 0800
169 6814
Samaritans
Will refer callers to local branches (listed in telephone books)
offering a 24-hour service to all those going through a personal crisis.
10 The Grove, Slough, Berks. SL1 1QP. Tel: 01753 532713.
: :
www.samaritans.org.uk
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