The term victim support is here used to describe methods of dealing with the needs of survivors of the incident, hospitalised persons, friends and relatives, evacuees, the dead, and lastly the rescuers.
Before exploring the specific problems in each area of Victim Support it is important to explain the thinking behind the British system. Most countries have some sort of victim support procedure. For some it is a named location for survivors to attend but with no facilities available except a roof and maybe a blanket. For others there are tried and tested mobilisation plans for full physical and psychological support.
It has been decided in Britain that Survivors and / or Evacuees should be housed by the Local Authority (municipality) using facilities available nearby. It is considered unacceptable that the friends and families of survivors go from shelter to shelter and hospital to hospital trying to find their loved ones.
This has led to the establishment of a CASUALTY BUREAU system by the British police. The survivors are taken to a SURVIVORS RECEPTION CENTRE On arrival they are documented, then taken into the main area of the centre. This documentation is sent to the Casualty Bureau. During the admission to hospital of injured survivors their details are taken and sent to Casualty Bureau. Details are also gathered during mortuary procedure and forwarded to the Casualty Bureau. This then becomes a documentation hub holding the location of all involved in the disaster. (Information available permitting.)
When a friend or relative becomes worried about their loved one a call can be made to the Casualty Bureau to register a suspected missing person. In certain scenarios a FRIENDS & RELATIVES RECEPTION CENTRE will be set up. On arrival they are documented, then taken into the main area of the centre. This documentation is sent to the Casualty Bureau. The Bureau will contact that centre for that relative to be informed when more information becomes available. For a telephone enquiry no contact will be made if no information becomes available.
If during the disaster people are killed then BODY RECOVERY and also MORTUARY proceedures are followed.