25 May 2010
©InfoVolunteers and staff raced to the scene to provide support after a fatal crash involving a school coach near Keswick in Cumbria.
Two teenagers and the driver of another vehicle died on 24 May when the coach, carrying pupils aged 11 to 18, swerved and overturned. Besides the three fatalities, four people are in a critical condition and 35 ‘walking wounded’ passengers required treatment for minor injuries.
As emergency services helicopters and vehicles attended the scene, a team of six emergency response volunteers set up a reception centre at nearby Braithwaite School.
Emotional support
Speaking from the reception centre, emergency response manager David Ellis said: “Our volunteers and staff were providing first aid and emotional support at the reception centre to some of those who had been on the coach along with their families.”
The volunteers spent much of the day supporting traumatized passengers, their family and friends and those who had witnessed the incident. The Red Cross was working alongside other agencies including the Salvation Army and Churches Together in Cumbria.
The head teacher of Keswick High School, Michael Chapman, said: “We cannot thank the rescue services enough in the immediate aftermath for helping tackle the horror in our midst.”
Find out more about first aid
Find out more about emergency response
Read about our fire and emergency support service