Every year, about 20-50 million people worldwide get sick, injured, or involved in a vehicle accident. Since this incident is quite common, it is not strange if you have witnessed it and helped the victim. However, you need to know how best to help victims of road accidents. By securing the scene and providing assistance, you can help victims of vehicle accidents.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Securing the Accident Site
Step 1. Park the car on the side of the road
If you are the first person to respond to an accident or someone who can and/or is willing to provide assistance, pull the car to the side of the road. If the victim is on the road, use your car as a barrier. Make sure your car is safe on the road and does not block access to the scene of the incident or the victim.
- Turn off the car engine. Turn on the emergency turn signal to let other drivers know that you are stopping. The emergency turn signal can still be turned on even if the engine is not running.
- Provide protection for victims on the road using cars and other people at the scene. Make sure all vehicles fortifying the victim turn on their emergency lights to warn other motorists.
Step 2. Keep calm
It is important for you and the victim to maintain calm. This helps you make rational and mature decisions to deal with accidents. If you feel panicked, take deep breaths to refocus and assign tasks to others at the scene to help the victim.
Try to calm the panicked people at the scene, both victims and people around. Keeping calm and being calm can prevent panic in those around you and minimize damage
Step 3. Assess the scene for a moment
While your first instinct may be to seek help, it's a good idea to take a few seconds to examine situations that can help you provide emergency services with important information. In addition, you can find things that need to be addressed quickly before dealing with the victim.
- Pay attention to things like the number of cars involved, the number of victims, the presence of a fire, the smell of gasoline, or smoke. You may also see if any of the power cords have fallen or the glass has shattered. You may also want to find out if there are children to move to a safe location if they are not injured.
- Also make sure your safety is maintained. Don't let yourself become a victim. For example, make sure there is no fire or smoke. If you smoke, turn off the cigarette so you don't accidentally burn gasoline from the car.
Step 4. Call emergency services
After you have briefly assessed the situation, call emergency services. Give all the information you know to the emergency services staff on the phone. Ask fellow witnesses or spectators to also contact emergency services. Who's year they realized something related to accidents and casualties you might have missed. Don't forget that the more information emergency services have, the better they can respond to accidents.
- Provide operators with information, such as location, number of victims and any other details you noticed at the scene. Describe specific locations, including buildings that could serve as a benchmark for emergency services so that they can arrive as soon as possible. Inform the victim also about the injury suffered by the victim. Finally, let us know any congestion points that could delay the arrival of emergency services. Also ask the operator about how to secure the location or provide first aid.
- Make sure you stay connected to the emergency services operator for as long as possible, especially if you have to put the phone down for a while to secure a location or help a victim.
Step 5. Warn oncoming traffic
It is important to let other drivers know that there is an accident they need to avoid. You can use the help of nearby people or a beacon to warn of nearby traffic. Hopefully, other drivers will stop and help the victims,
- Turn on a beacon if it is available and you are alone at the crash site. Otherwise, make sure the emergency turn signal is on. Install flares a few meters on either side of the crash. Make sure you don't light a flare if there's a puddle of gas.
- Ask other people nearby to notify oncoming traffic to slow down the road and avoid the crash site. Make sure volunteers stay out of the way so they don't get hurt. It's a good idea to give volunteers a reflective vest, if they have one. Vests are sometimes included in vehicle safety equipment.
Part 2 of 2: Giving Help to Victims
Step 1. Check for hazards
Before you approach an accident victim, it is important to make sure the crash site is safe for you. Check for gas, smoke, or exposed wires. If there is, you should not approach the victim and immediately call emergency services.
Turn off the engine of all accident cars if the location is safe enough. This can help protect the victim and yourself
Step 2. Ask the victim if she needs help
If the victim is conscious, ask if she needs help. This step is important because not all accidents require assistance, even if it looks like the victim needs it. In the United States, you can be involved in violating Good Samaritan laws if you try to help a victim who doesn't want to be saved.
- Ask “are you in pain and need help?” If he answers yes, provide the best possible assistance. If he refuses, do not approach or provide assistance for any reason. Wait for the emergency services to arrive and let the professionals help the victim.
- Make the best decision possible if the victim refuses help and then loses consciousness. In the United States, in this case, the Good Samaritan laws will protect you. The law protects volunteers who provide assistance in an emergency from legal liability for injury or damage.
- Do not forget to approach the victim carefully even if he asks for help. The victim may panic and hurt you, or your actions (such as moving the victim when they should be left alone) may exacerbate the victim's injury.
- Check the victim's consciousness by shaking him slightly. If he doesn't respond, it looks like he's unconscious.
Step 3. Try not to move the victim
Remember that injuries can be invisible from the outside. Unless the victim is in imminent danger, such as a fire or something else, leave the victim alone until emergency services arrive.
- Make sure you approach the victim who needs to be moved by kneeling at the person's height. Otherwise, the victim may panic and exacerbate the injury.
- Remember that removing the victim from a potential explosion or fire is better than leaving it for fear of aggravating the injury. Ask yourself the following sentence, "Will he be okay if I just leave him alone?"
Step 4. Check the victim's breathing
Breathing is a must for every human being. If someone is unconscious or unconscious, you should check the victim's airway to make sure they are breathing properly. Otherwise, you will need to give CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR) to open his airways and breathing system.
- Place your hand lightly on the victim's forehead and tilt his head very slowly. Lift the chin with two fingers and place your cheek in the victim's mouth to see and feel if the victim is still breathing. You should also check if the victim's chest is still rising and falling. If so, he's still breathing.
- Initiate CPR if the victim is not breathing and you know how. If you don't know it, don't even try. Try asking someone nearby if anyone can CPR, or wait for emergency services to arrive.
- Roll the victim so that they lie on their side to protect the airway. Make sure you support the victim's neck to protect or prevent injury.
- Make sure you notify the emergency services team if the victim is still breathing and/or receiving CPR.
Step 5. Provide assistance as needed
Many experts advise only providing first aid if the victim has a life-threatening injury. If the victim has an injury that requires a bandage, a broken bone that requires splinting, or requires more complicated first aid techniques, it's best to wait for a professional to arrive, especially if you're already on your way.
- Try not to move the victim as much as possible. Talk to the victim to calm him down.
- Stack the cloth or bandage around the spine or broken bone to keep it from moving.
- Stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the injury with a bandage or cloth. Raise the injured area to chest level, if possible. If the victim is still conscious, ask him to apply pressure to the injury to help calm the shock.
Step 6. Treat shock
Victims of vehicle accidents usually experience shock over what has happened. This pretentiousness can be life-threatening if not treated; So, if you see symptoms of shock in the victim, such as pale skin, you should treat it immediately.
- Remember the phrase “pale face means serious.” A pale face is a good sign of recognizing shock.
- Loosen tight clothing and give the victim a blanket, coat, or clothing to keep her warm. If you can, elevate the victim's leg. Even simply resting the victim's leg on your knee can prevent or reduce shock.
Step 7. Calm the victim
Most likely the accident victim will feel fear and pain. Talking to the victim and encouraging him or her can help calm him or her until help arrives.
- Encourage the victim. For example, you might say, “I know you are in pain, but you are strong and help is on the way. I'm here as long as you need."
- Hold the victim's hand if you can. This gesture can go a long way in enhancing the survivor's senses.
Step 8. Switch to a professional
When the emergency services team arrives, let them deal with the accident victims. Emergency services personnel are trained to handle vehicle accidents and any resulting injuries.
