3 Tips for Giving First Aid During a Road Traffic Accident

If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being involved in a road traffic accident, whether as a driver or passenger, first aid could make all the difference between life and death. Although it’s easy to freeze up when faced with an emergency situation, there are steps you can take to help those involved in the crash until medical help arrives. Follow these three tips for giving first aid during a road traffic accident and you could just save someone’s life!

1) Stay Calm

If you find yourself in the position of giving first aid during a road traffic accident, the best thing you can do is to stay calm and assess the situation. The person who was injured will likely be in shock and may not know what to do.

 You will need to get them out of any entanglement they might be in, then check their airways, breathing and circulation. If necessary, call emergency services and follow their instructions on how to proceed with treatment.

First, try to assess the individual's injuries by checking for bleeding or obvious trauma such as broken bones or burns. It's essential that you don't move someone if they have spinal injuries or any other serious neck or head injury because this could worsen an injury.

2) Assess the Situation

The first thing you'll need to assess is the severity of the situation. If the person's injuries are minor, they might only need some basic attention. If it's more serious, you'll have to call an ambulance and provide more extensive care.

If there are any medications or medical supplies in the car, you can apply them as needed. You can stop bleeding by applying pressure with clean cloths or towels; if there's no cloth available, use your hand or shirt instead. 

To keep someone from going into shock, stay calm and talk to them calmly and reassuringly; also try to keep them warm and lay him or her down on their back with their feet elevated.

3) Call Emergency Services

Call emergency services and stay on the line until they arrive. If someone else has already called, wait with them. Provide as much information as you can, including what happened, when it happened, and where it happened. 

If you see any signs of life such as breathing or coughing, then make sure to cover them up and keep them warm if necessary. This will help maintain their body temperature and reduce their chances of going into shock. 

If there are no signs of life or if the person is unresponsive, then do not try to resuscitate them unless you know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Instead call emergency services and give first aid while waiting for paramedics to arrive.