First on the scene of an accident? Here are the things you should do

  

Date Posted: 9/8/2011 10:46:23 AM

Posted By: Wishstar  Membership Level: Gold  Total Points: 7507

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Road accidents have been on the increase in our country. Rarely a fortnight passes without hearing news about a road accident.

It is such a pity that people who would have survived end up dead due to lack of skills and information on the people first on the scene of an accident. The first thing that these people usually do is that they run to the vehicle and start pulling people out. DON'T?! It has been discovered that 'A high percentage of the people hurt in vehicles and pulled out by frantic rescuers are made worse, even killed'

Every crash is so different that there are no set rules. However, here are some basic advice/information to do when first at the scene of an accident.

1. As soon as you get to the crashed vehicles turn off the ignition and lights to prevent fire.

2. Put out the authorized reflective warning triangles on both sides of the accident sufficiently far away to give adequate warning to oncoming traffic. If you have no triangles send people to flag down vehicles.

3. Dial the emergency number service and give them all the available information- extent of crash, exact location, number of injured, the number and type of vehicles involved and the services required.

4. If the victims of the crash are hurt but not bleeding profusely, leave them in the vehicle(s) until trained help comes. DON'T twist, turn or move them.

5. If fire starts, don't let this panic you into immediately moving the injured. Do three things:

i. Disconnect the battery

ii. Locate the fire

iii. Attack the fire with a fire extinguisher, blanket or earth(sand)

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