Air

1. Introduction

Air accidents can be of natural, technical or human origin, such as mechanical breakdowns, negligence or terrorist attacks. Usually small aircraft (helicopters, light aeroplanes, gliders) do not cause disasters as such, since the number of victims and the impact of the crash is limited. This is not the case for large aircraft such as transport planes or jet fighters, although accidents involving this type of aircraft are relatively rare; when they do occur, it is often in the perimeter of airfields and in the axis of take-off and landing strips. These accidents are unpredictable and no real means of protection against them exist. The same can be said for the accidentaI return to earth of satellites (for example Kosmos 954 or Skylab). As a rule, the object disintegrates into thousands of small pieces which scatter over an area of several kilometres. The greatest danger arises from the radioactivity emanating from a nuclear reactor powering such a vector.

2. Intervention and rescue measures

The control of all accidents is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the commander (chief) and personnel of the affected means of transport. It is up to them to limit the resulting damage as much as possible. Passengers must obey the directives of the personnel on board (protective and rescue measures) and behave as they are instructed by the regulations on disaster situations, especially air, rail or maritime disasters.
As far as search, rescue and assistance operations are concerned, the means or system of transport involved and the area (country) where it occurs will determine who is the person in charge at the disaster site.

The principles of intervention are as follows:

- In the case of an air disaster occurring on, or in the immediate vicinity of, an airport (generally within a 5 kilometre radius), control of the incident is the responsibility of the airport authorities since control of the air traffic is the responsibility of the airport in question and the control tower is in charge of warning the security and intervention services. They can, if need be, call upon local fire brigades and civil defence reinforcements. Generally the special disaster rescue plans (red alert, special plans for the airport) will only be activated with the agreement of the competent political authorities.

- If the incident occurs outside the area under control of the airport authorities, the political authorities of the affected area will be in charge of the deployment of local intervention teams (police, fire brigade, civil protection, health services, etc.). Control of the rescue efforts will, if necessary, be taken over by higher authorities (regional, departmental) in collaboration with experts from the aviation services and the judiciary (establishing responsibility for the disaster, identifying victims, collection and restitution of personal belongings) and representatives of the transport company involved.

- In case of rail accidents, the alarm, reconnaissance and rescue will be controlled by the regional traffic control centre (dispatching centre) of the railways or by the nearest station.
Should the damage warrant it, the local authorities can take control of the initial intervention (first aid) by co-ordinating the action of the means available (police, fire brigade, civil defence, health services) in close collaboration with the specialist services of the company involved. Subsequently, the rescue plan or red alert for rail disasters can be activated by higher political authorities. Protection, research, rescue and assistance measures will depend upon the intervention tactics dictated by the accident and the means available.

- As regards road accidents, it is important to make the distinction between those occurring on motorways and those taking place on other roads, bearing in mind the special regulations that may govern certain communications routes or sensitive areas. Operational control of interventions on roads is initially ensured by the traffic or rescue control centre of the motorway which is alerted by witnesses (using the motorway telephone network) or by a police patrol. The rescue means will be supplied by the rescue centre ( traffic control) and by the neighbouring emergency services. If need be, specialists in dealing with dangerous substances (chemical or radioactive products, hydrocarbons, etc.) and the health services (helicopters, ambulances, specially trained medical personnel) can also be called upon to help. In general, a special plan drawn up as a precaution will be activated. Major accidents occurring on roads other than motorways come under the control of the political authorities of the area in which they occur; they ensure the initial intervention using the means at their disposal. In case of particularly bad accidents, namely fires or leakage of chemical substances or pollutants, a higher management level will be called upon to intervene and conduct the operations (special plans).

- Rescues in the case of maritime or river disasters follow the principles of solidarity between seafaring people and the norms of national and international maritime law.
In the event of an incident, the rescue measures on board are the responsibility of the captain of the vessel whose priority should be to save the passengers and then the crew. Moreover, maritime nations generally possess a national service for the sea and navigable channels which is responsible for ensuring the supervision and security of national waters and coasts and also the organisation of rescue at sea.
Because of the specified conditions of navigation at sea, on lakes and rivers, interventions should be the object, in every state concerned, of special emergency plans put into action as soon as the alert is given by a chief of operations named in advance.
In case of ecological disaster (chemical and radioactive substances, hydrocarbons), the rescue and protection measures for waterways and coasts should be implemented in close collaboration with the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UNDHA).

3. Instructions for the population

3.1 General precautions and cautionary measures for users of different means or types of transport

- Inform yourself on the dangers involved in using various types of transport.
- Study the regulations and suggested rules of behaviour published by the transport companies or crew (posters, written instructions, presentations).
- In case of imminent danger (emergency situation), make sure that you know the whereabouts of the protection and rescue apparatus.

3.2 When the accident occurs

- Keep calm and avoid panic; to the extent possible, help family and neighbours who are in difficulty.
- Follow the captain's (or driver's) orders and those of the crew.
- Keep identity papers and important personal documents (medical and vaccination certificates and details of blood type) and any personal medicines with you.
- As soon as the crash or shipwreck occurs, try to free yourself from the cabin and to escape quickly from the wreckage, especially if there is a danger of fire or dangerous leaks. Seek refuge at a sufficient distance.
- If possible,activate the rescue process by alerting the local security or specialist services (special telephone networks and numbers).
- In case of a major accident occurring in a road with traffic, direct the traffic whilst taking care of your own safety (signal and mark the accident spot).
- Do not touch or move the seriously wounded unless there is a risk of fire or toxic fumes.
- It is the duty of witnesses to alert the rescue services and to give them the exact location and nature of the accident, the type of vehicle involved, the characteristics (code number) of any dangerous substances and the likely number of victims. Witnesses should also give their names and addresses.

3.3 After the accident

- Keep calm and avoid panic.
- Follow the instructions of the intervening bodies and of the rescue personnel.
- If possible, and if necessary, collaborate with the rescuers and with the judicial authorities and experts in charge of the investigation.