How To Manage A Car Accident: Report The Road Cras
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In the minutes before the paramedics arrive, delivering car accident first aid can shape the outcome for everyone at the scene. Bystanders are the first ones on the scene, and are in the best position to start saving lives before help arrives. A crash scene is manageable when you know the steps.
Danger: Is It Safe to Approach the Car Accident?
Before providing car accident first aid, confirm the scene is safe. A bystander who becomes injured themselves cannot help anyone, and adding another casualty makes the situation worse. Look out for:
- Oncoming traffic
- Fuel leaks
- Fire or smoke
- Broken glass and debris
If the scene is safe, move in and help, otherwise stay back and call 000 from a safe distance. Depending on the situation, it may also be possible to move any injured people away from the danger.
Call for Help, Call 000 for an Ambulance
The most important action in car accident first aid is a call to triple zero (000). Do not assume someone else has already made the call. Even if other bystanders are at the scene, make the call yourself or ask to do it for you.
Make sure you stay on the line. The 000 operator can guide you through what to do next and give live CPR instructions if needed. Be the last one to hang up.
How to Help Someone Who Is Unconscious but Breathing
Providing car accident first aid to someone unconscious but breathing requires keeping their airway open while avoiding unnecessary movement.
Check their airway by placing two fingers under their chin and lifting it upward while resting your other hand on their forehead to tilt their head back slightly. If they are laying down, roll them carefully onto their side, keeping their spine as straight as possible. Unless there is an immediate danger such as fire or a risk of explosion, leave the person where you found them.
What to Do If Someone Is Not Breathing
To check for breathing, watch for chest movement, listen for breath sounds, and feel for air on your cheek. Take no more than 10 seconds. If a person is unconscious and not breathing, car accident first aid requires starting CPR immediately. If you are in any doubt, begin compressions.
To start chest compressions, place the heel of one of your hands on the centre of the person’s chest, and place your other hand on top and interlace your fingers. Press down firmly and quickly to a depth of about 5, then let their chest fully rise before the next compression. Aim for 100 to 120 compressions per minute, or 1 every 1-2 seconds.
After giving them 30 chest compressions, tilt their head back, pinch their nose closed, seal your lips around their mouth, and breathe out steadily for one second while watching for their chest to rise. Repeat for a second breath, then resume compressions. Repeat this cycle of 30 compressions to 2 breaths until help arrives, the person recovers, or until you are unable to continue.
Severe chest trauma from a car accident can cause cardiac arrest, in which case an AED can restore a normal heart rhythm. If one is available, turn it on and follow its voice instructions exactly to deliver a shock between each CPR cycle.
Control Any Bleeding
Severe bleeding is one of the most urgent injuries at a crash scene. Car accident first aid for bleeding follows one core principle: apply direct pressure and maintain it. Use a sterile bandage or gauze from a first aid kit. If none are available, use any clean, non-fluffy piece of fabric. Press your palms firmly over the wound and hold without lifting as this can disrupt clotting. If blood soaks through the fabric, place more material on top rather than removing what is already there. Elevate the injury above the heart to slow blood flow and do not remove any embedded objects.
If direct pressure cannot stop life-threatening bleeding from a limb, place a tourniquet above the injury, loop it around the limb once, tie a half knot, and tighten it until the bleeding stops.
Recognising and Treating Shock
Shock is when the body can no longer supply enough blood and oxygen to its vital organs. It can follow severe blood loss, a serious injury, or burns, and it is life-threatening without treatment. Car accident first aid for shock means recognising the signs and responding to them while waiting for the ambulance. Signs of shock include:
- Pale, cold, or clammy skin
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- A weak or rapid pulse
- Confusion or loss of consciousness
- Nausea or dizziness
If you see these signs:
- Lay the person flat on their back.
- Raise their legs about 30 centimetres, unless this causes pain or you suspect a spinal or lower limb injury.
- Loosen any tight clothing around their neck, chest, and waist.
- Cover them with a jacket, blanket, or any clothing available to keep them warm.
- Do not give them anything to eat or drink.
- Stay calm, and talk to them to help keep them calm.
What to do For Burns
Burns at a crash scene can result from contact with fire, hot engine components, airbag deployment, or fuel. Car accident first aid for burns follows these steps:
- Remove any clothing or jewellery from the area before swelling begins, unless it has burnt into the skin.
- Hold the burnt area under cool running water for 20 minutes.
- Once cooled, cover the burnt area loosely with cling wrap, a plastic bag, or a clean non-fluffy cloth.
Prepare With A Basic First Aid Course
Car accident first aid comes in many shapes and sizes, but they can all help someone injured from vehicle accidents until emergency services arrive. By enrolling in a training course, you can learn and get experience in the full range of first aid skills you need to handle a road crash or any other emergency. Car accidents don’t wait for you to get first aid and CPR training, the only way to help is to be prepared ahead of time.
FAQs
What Items Should be in a First Aid Kit?
A vehicle first aid kit should include disposable gloves, sterile gauze pads, wound dressings, bandages, scissors and tweezers, adhesive tape, antiseptic, and an emergency blanket.
Is CPR Taught in a First Aid Course?
Yes. CPR is a core component of both the HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and HLTAID011 Provide First Aid qualifications.
What Is DRSABCD?
DRSABCD is a seven-step first aid action plan used to manage emergencies in a structured order. The letters stand for Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, and Defibrillation.
