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Lessons learned from Grey's Anatomy Crises

By Korryn McMinn

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

It’s no surprise that Meredith Grey and the other doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital have faced their fair share of catastrophe. Why do they stay at a place that causes them so much distress? Well, because they’re the best in their fields and when they’re faced with crisis they know (for the most part) how to react and get the hospital stabilized again. Let’s take a look at some of the traumatic incidents that our favorite surgeons have faced over the last 13 seasons (and we’re sure there’s more to come this season...)

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Crisis: The Bomb Explosion

Yep. We’re talking the disaster that struck when Meredith Grey found herself holding a bomb that found its way inside of a patient stable in the Operating Room. When Meredith removes the explosive from the patient, the leader of the bomb quad carries it away. Meredith runs behind him, watching him as he carries the explosive away from the patient. The bomb explodes, killing the man holding it and knocking Mer unconscious.

What we learned: It’s important to remain calm. On the inside, I’m sure Meredith was losing it knowing that if her hand moved in the slightest it could set the bomb off and kill everyone around her. She almost lost it at the operating table, but those around her reminded her that though the situation is bad they believe it can be remedied. Although some people were lost, the patient and doctors in the operating room survived – all because Dr. Grey was able to remain calm.

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Crisis: The Ferry Crash

Geez. Meredith Grey just likes scaring us with her death, doesn’t she? In this episode, Seattle suffers a ferry crash that devastates the city. Some of the doctors from the hospital rush to the scene to help while others stay back to treat patients that come in. Dr. Meredith Grey went to the scene as was helping patients. While she was helping one near the water, the patient panicked and pushed her into the water – causing her to almost drown. Thankfully McDreamy saves her, and – well, we all swoon.

What we learned: In the face of a crisis that affects thousands, it’s important to do what you can to help. Though they put themselves in danger, the doctors went to help. It shows us to lend a helping hand whenever we’re able, and to help those who cannot help themselves.

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Crisis: The Hospital Shooting

I had to watch this episode in pieces because it was just. too. intense. A patient who lost his wife at the hospital while she was in surgery comes back distraught, seeking revenge on Dr. Derek Shepherd (McDreamy). When word gets around that someone has been shot, Derek places the hospital on lockdown. The shooter is running free around the hospital. Our hearts all panicked when he runs into Meredith and she told the shooter she was his “one” and he should shoot her instead (Ah, true love birds those two – MerDer forever). He ends up shooting Derek in front of Meredith, and then while Meredith’s best friend, Dr. Cristina Yang and others try to save him, the shooter comes back shouting at them because they refuse to quit working. Thankfully, the SWAT team eventually wounds him, but he ends up killing himself.

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What we learned: It’s important to have safety measures and protocol in place if this kind of thing happens. The chief at the time, Derek, put the hospital on lockdown to help protect everyone he was responsible for, or tried to anyway. He also admitted to the shooter that he made a mistake. This episode taught us that no matter how dreamy you are, it is possible to mess up - but it's important to own up to it.

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Crisis: The Plane Crash

Alright. Let’s see if I can write about this one without crying. This episode ruined me. And I’m not kidding when I say I cried publicly the day after watching it.

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A plane carrying some of the hospital’s top doctors: Derek, Meredith, Cristina along with Arizona Robbins, Lexie Grey, and Mark Sloan (McSteamy). It brought a level of pain to our favorite characters that we hadn’t ever seen before – it was emotionally and physically taxing. We lost two of our favorite doctor’s due to this plane crash. And that’s about all I can type because here come the tears…

What we learned: In the aftermath, we learned that events like this can take a toll on everyone emotionally as well at physically. The doctors, still to this day, find themselves hesitant to jump on a plane. We learned that it’s important to remember that even if they weren’t affected physically, the emotional damage can be just as bad and we have to be respectful of that.

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So, there are a ton of more crises that have happened on the show, and this post barely scrapes the surface. But rest assured, we know they’ll always recover – even if it takes a long time. Here’s to a new season that will break our hearts some more. Is it Thursday yet!?