Helping Auto Accident Victims

A road accident. (Wikipedia image)

Many “Good Samaritans” actually make the problem much worse for victims in this way. The essence of helping accident victims, for people without proper medical training, is keeping them safe from further harm. Such harm could result from being struck by passing vehicles, for example, especially if the accident occurred at night and the victims are lying on the road. Once protected from further danger, the victims should be left alone, except to be watched over until professional medical help arrives. The Good Samaritan’s role is not to treat the victim’s injuries, unless they are immediately life-threatening, such as major bleeding.

When first at an accident scene, the first thing to do is to park your vehicle at the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights, and signal to motorists to slow down and go around the scene. If it is dark, you may have to park on the road between oncoming traffic and the accident site, with emergency lights flashing, so other drivers will not hit the vehicles involved in the accident. This should be done especially if there are victims lying on the road who may be struck. Then signal approaching traffic to slow down and go around the accident site. If the vehicles involved have their engines on, switch them off to prevent fire. If there are passersby present, or other drivers have stopped, have them help warn approaching traffic to slow down.

Assess for a few seconds the condition of the victims. They are usually better left untouched, but if there is major bleeding, then use a folded cloth compress as a pressure bandage to stop it. If bleeding is from a head wound, then only use light pressure, as most car accident victims sustain head damage, and the skull could be fractured. Otherwise, ask victims first if they want you to help them. If they say no, wait until help arrives. If you help them even if they refuse, you will be liable under Good Samaritan laws. And remember, even if they say yes, if there is no life-threatening danger, why risk moving them? The only time you should move victims is if such danger exists, as when fire starts.

80 percent of those involved in car accidents sustain head injuries, and if they do, you must assume they also have neck and back injuries.

Bandaging wounds and applying other forms of first-aid to victims is not wise, since professional help should be on their way to the crash site. Remember, the only time you should treat a victim’s injuries is when there is an immediate threat to life, such as when his heart or breathing has stopped. Then you could attempt to revive him using cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but only if you are trained to do it. Otherwise, it is better to shield him from the sun or rain to keep him more comfortable while waiting for help, while holding his hand and reassuring him. This strengthens a victim’s sense of survival. Cover him with a blanket or a jacket to keep him warm and help prevent shock.

Protecting, not treating, accident victims is the primary role of those giving aid to them. Many in such situations feel that they are of no help to the injured unless they actually do something for their injuries. But protecting from further injury, and comforting and reassuring the injured is, in fact, a big help, and something badly needed in such situations.