What to do at an accident scene

Accident scenes are places where emotions run high and as you could be in a collision at any time, it is best to arm yourself beforehand with information about what you should and should not be doing when the unlucky occurrence happens.

ER24 spokesman, Chitra Bodasing Harduth urges people to be prepared.

Below are some tips to help you should you encounter a road-related incident;

• If you are involved in a collision, stop the vehicle.
• Do not leave or flee the scene. Get your vehicle to a safe area on the side of the road if possible to avoid further possible incidents.
• Give your name and address, the name and address of the vehicle owner, where necessary as well as the registration number and your driver’s licence details, when required to do so.

• Report the incident at a police station within 24 hours.
• While on the scene of a collision, try to stay calm. Assess the situation to determine the best way to handle it. Make use of hazard lights and an emergency triangle to alert passing motorists so that you limit the risk of secondary collisions. Assess traffic flow and determine if it poses a danger to anyone including those involved in the collision or others.
• Ascertain the nature or extent of the incident – Is everyone who was travelling in your vehicle accounted for, or has someone been ejected from the vehicle, for example? Are passengers in your vehicle injured? Are people in other vehicles involved in the collision injured? Are people trapped in vehicles? Is there a fire? Are patients lying on the road?

• Call emergency services immediately or instruct someone to do so immediately. You should always have important contact details, such as emergency services and the SAPS, stored on your phone. Remember that the information you are requested to provide and the information you supply is often the first point where a life can be saved.
• Where first aid is needed, start immediately if you are able to do so. Carry a first aid kit in your vehicle. If a patient you are with is unconscious, open their mouth to check if there is something inside causing an obstruction. Check if the person is breathing. If the person is breathing, leave them in the position you found them in and monitor them. If the patient is not breathing and you have been trained to do so, initiate CPR.
• If a wounded person is bleeding heavily, use gauze or sterile dressings from the first aid kit and place it on the wound. If gauze or sterile dressings are not available, use a towel, T-shirt or blanket, for example. Press the gauze or other material tightly, applying direct pressure to the wound. Maintain that pressure until emergency services arrive. Do not stop pressing to check if there is continued bleeding or to look at the wound.
• Never move an injured person unless it is for their own safety (for example, if the vehicle is on fire or if there are other threats). Remember that moving a person could make their condition worse, hence it is not advisable unless it is vital to do so.

• If there is a fire, use a fire extinguisher. Try to carry a fire extinguisher in your vehicle and ensure you know how to use it.
• While it is important to assist a patient, you should also ensure your safety. Do not attempt anything that may jeopardise your own safety. You are of no use to anyone if you are injured while attempting to help others. Also remember, never touch a person’s blood or try to assist them without proper protection such as gloves.
• Remember to guard children and ensure they are safe or supervised on an accident scene.

Other important information:

If you are a passing motorist, pay attention to the road ahead, slow down and drive cautiously. If you stop to assist patients, ensure that you stop your vehicle in a safe area where you do not pose further danger or an obstruction. Everyone should be trained in first aid and CPR.