The reality is that anything that happens in the cabin has been delegated by the Captain to the cabin crew, who are his/her eyes and ears behind the flight deck door. Cabin crew in Europe are required to hold an attestation from EASA stating they are competent to fulfill a safety critical job and are able to perform a range of moderately physically demanding roles despite working in a mildly hypoxic environment and subjected to hypobaric environment and, particularly in shorthaul, cyclical pressure change. EASA and FAA reports after major incidents have continually shown the importance of having well trained cabin crew in the cabin to deal with safety related incidents when they occur. Not to undermine the importance of lollipop ladies to the safety of children leaving school, but to compare them is like comparing apples and oranges.