Picture this scenario, you are in your car driving along, listening to the radio, focusing on the road ahead, going about your day and for once, not complaining about the traffic! You arrive at an intersection and stop at the traffic lights. All of a sudden, in the blink of an eye, you notice a car running a red light and witness a collision. Running traffic lights are a common cause of accidents in Australia which can lead to injury or worse, fatality. As a witness or bystander is only natural to initially go through a bit of shock. Once the initial shock wears off, you may need to assist the injured in the interim until emergency services arrive.
So, what should you do if you are first on the scene of a car accident?
Prioritise the safety of yourself and the victim or victims:
Park your vehicle across the scene of the accident with your hazard lights on to ensure any oncoming traffic is alerted to slow down and stop. Your first priority should be to protect yourself and the victim from any immediate danger. If you are the only one on the scene, call 000, they will help you assess the scene and any injuries to victims.
Assessing injuries:
If the victim is still conscious, reassure them that help is on the way, and comfort them. Check for bleeding, and if so cover it immediately with a dry cloth, bandage or towel to try and stop the bleeding. Try and ascertain some basic information from the victim such as their name, age, how they are feeling, where there were heading to etc. as this can be useful to help keep them conscious and for emergency services once they arrive on scene.
If the victim is unconscious, do your best to stop any bleeding, check for a pulse / breathing and perform CPR if necessary.
Assist emergency services:
Once police and paramedics arrive at the scene of the accident, follow instructions and provide your statement, a verbal account of what exactly you witnessed and any details you have managed to extract from the injured.
If witnessing an accident has had a traumatic impact on you, ensure you reach out to your GP, a counsellor or mental health professional for help.
At Novus Auto Glass Mitcham, we recommend all drivers carry a first aid kit in their vehicles, and better still, learn lifesaving CPR!