Proper crowd control is still a problem in emergency situations and this hinders rescuers and emergency workers, an emergency doctor said.

Jonathan Joslin, consultant emergency physician at Mater Dei Hospital’s emergency department, said rescuer protocols and training had to be improved.

“As a population, we tend to congregate a lot. Protocols and training need to be improved. There are too many people in the response area who are just looking on. Emotional relatives must be taken care of but not within the hot zone.”

Dr Joslin was speaking about safety from an emergency responder’s perspective.

He stressed the importance of the rescue team members having appropriate, protective equipment to ensure they are visible and to minimise contact with body fluids, which carried the risk of hepatitis. He warned against the so-called “red mist”, a psychological state common among ambulance drivers which resulted in them being no longer able to assess driving risks realistically.

“We can’t afford to have injured drivers and damaged vehicles, which we have so few of.”

He referred to Daniel Artur Sobczak, 20, who last year plunged with his car into Msida Creek. He spent 25 minutes under water and 45 minutes without a pulse.

“This is a recent picture his mother sent us,” Dr Joslin said, showing a photograph.

“She is so grateful for saving him that she regularly keeps in touch. What we do is invaluable. Let’s keep working to save more lives.”