Notes:

Many professional helpers manage to minimise an initial reaction to the situation by taking on the job they were trained to do and doing it ferociously. Frequently in fact they seem unable to give up this defense and will stay at their posts long after their shifts have ended and their efficacy has fallen. By-standers though may have no such role and may have to stand helplessly by while people scream for assistance. On occasion the circumstances of a rescue may leave the professionals in the same situation and they too then must deal with a sense of helplessness and guilt.

On occasion though not able to help in a useful way people may try to help anyway they can. They may donate clothes or toys which the victims do not need at that time and which may be met with rejection. This rejection may only heighten these helpers feelings of helplessness.

By standers particularly may feel survivor guilt, or survivor elation, after the realistion that fate took them so close to death but that they survived. Survivor elation is often followed by more guilt at their elation in the scene of tragedy.