Traffic jams due to road collisions on Bedfordview and Edenvale roads are common.
These scenes can be compromised by motorists simply trying to assist those involved in collisions. William Ntladi, district manager and media liaison for the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) based in Bedfordview provided residents with information on what to do and what not to do on the scene of a collision.
Ntladi said to call your nearest emergency service for assistance.
“When you are on a scene, ensure your safety. Never be a victim as other vehicles can crash into you.”
He said that you should wear gloves when treating someone on a scene, as you can get infected by viruses.
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You should not move anyone who is injured.
“You might worsen the condition of the patient by trying to assist, as one can’t see the internal injuries, moreover those who are not trained,” said Nltadi.
Ntladi said DEMS is concerned about people who stop and assist due to a number of people not having any first aid training.
“We don’t want people to stop and assist if they are not sure of how to assist,” said Ntladi.
He said there is free first aid training available for the public.
“Road collisions fluctuate. We have more bumper bashes than anything else,” said Ntladi.
He said that most incidents happen over the weekend.
“Often crashes are caused by a driver’s attitude. Some drivers are prone to road rage. Trucks also affect road collisions as they get stuck along the roads.
“Trucks are reactive and dangerous as they also carry substances that can be harmful,” said Ntladi.
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“Social media is another concern. Motorist use their cellphones to take videos of accidents and this causes congestion and can lead to further accidents,” said Nltadi.
To contact DEMS’ direct number, call 011 458 0911.
He said this number is better to use as the information is easily handled and it is easier to dispatch resources.
He said the 10177 number may cause delays as the query might go to a different area and delay the process to the actual scene of the accident.
“Emergency services need names to be accurate with resources,” said Ntladi.
Always state your name in full and contact numbers. You will not be liable for any payments.
You need to state your physical address and nearest crossroad of the scene.
State your town, nearest landmark and your reason for needing help.
Ntladi said to never hang up and wait for a reference number and give as much information as possible and get the operator’s details and keep it.
Ntladi said that DEMS needs a reference, as wrong resources can be sent.
He said many roads in Ekurhuleni have the same name and that can cause challenges, therefore verification is necessary.
“We also get a lot of false calls on our toll-free numbers and this results in a waste of resources and lives that are being played with,” said Ntladi.
