CCC - I'm not saying a paramedic needs to be carried and it is not the medical but the aviation training that might have saved the day.
Following the initial indications of a MRGB problem, before the emergency descent was initiated (or even during) a properly trained rearcrew member could have had a quick once round the cabin checking not only for signs of leaks or damage but also to ensure all the pax were correctly secured and seated.
The pax in the Cougar crash didn't have Stass and if they had they would probably have been trained not to use it until after the impact - again a well trained rearcrew might have been on air before impact and been more likely to be able to help the pax escape. Granted that in the Cougar crash the severity of the impact was such that that would have been unlikely but those Newfoundland oil workers weren't given the best chance of survival.
The Kegworth crash is an excellent example of the value of switched on rearcrew - just a shame they didn't go and hammer on the cockpit door to ensure the message got passed - that is a failing of CRM and indicative of an 'us and them' rearcrew vs front crew philosophy.
The legislative requirement for rearcrew is exactly what is missing - the lawmakers say more than 19 pax so the operators put 19 or less seats in - is that really a pro-safety attitude or just a cynical way of keeping pay costs down?
There is no excuse for crew and pax not to have Stass nowadays.