Learning first aid for road traffic accidents is integral for drivers. Thousands of lives can be saved daily by timely action after an accident before the paramedics arrive at the site. This fact emphasizes the importance of road safety awareness and first-aid knowledge.
How to give first aid for road accidents?
Knowing the basics of first aid after a road accident can help prevent serious complications and even death. The first and foremost concern should be to analyze whether you, or whoever the victim is, has got any physical injury. Internal bleeding or injury can not be immediately detected.
Save the rescue or emergency service contact number in your phone and give the following first aid for road accidents;
Call for Help
Call an ambulance or immediately take the person to the nearest hospital based on the victim’s condition.
- Ensure that you have made the ongoing traffic aware of the accident. This helps prevent any further casualties. Turn on the hazard lights (flashing yellow lights)
- Turn off the vehicle ignition to avoid any hazard, as fuel may be spilled on the road.
- Arrange water for the victim to calm them down (if applicable).
Check by Yourself
If you get injured in an accident, check yourself first for the injuries. Examine yourself by moving all your limbs. Also, look for the signs and symptoms such as bruises, bleeding, and dizziness.
- If the victim is anybody else, first determine the extent of their injuries. Are they bleeding from the head, arms, neck, legs, back, abdomen, or other areas?
- Treat the person who is the quietest first; they are usually the most seriously injured or unable to breathe.
- On the other hand, people who can speak or scream can breathe and thus be treated later.
- Inquire about the patient’s name; if they respond, it indicates that they know the situation and have not suffered a severe head injury.
- Avoid moving the neck or limbs immediately without knowing the extent of the injury. This can result in bone dislocation.
- Avoid giving the person any edible food or fluids through the mouth, as it may lead to choking.
Find Out Signs of Breathing
Check the victim who is not breathing or having signs of difficulty breathing. You may use one of the below-mentioned methods to make sure the casualty is breathing normally;
- Check if you can hear the casualty breathing by listening to their chest and mouth.
- Check if the chest rises and falls like it does during inhaling and exhaling.
Perform Life-Saving Techniques
If needed, a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation technique can help restore breathing issues. The three parts of CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) include the following;
- Airway: Remove any visible airway obstruction and make the airway clear to ensure smooth breathing.
- Compression: A compression of the chest increases the blood flow to the brain, heart, and lungs. This can help the victim restore breathing. 30 chest compressions followed by 2 mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths can help the person become stable until the ambulance arrives.
- Breathing: A mouth-to-mouth rescue breath assists the road accident victim to recollect the natural breath. Breathe inside the mouth of the victim for as long as the signs of life appear.
Also, keep yourself trained for the latest life-saving techniques like EAR, which means External Air Resuscitation, in which you can enter the air in the patient through the mouth, nose, and mask.
Also Read: What to do if you witness a car accident?
Deal with Open Wounds
Accident victims are frequently overly cold as a result of their shock. Therefore, keeping them warm is critical to their survival. You can do this with whatever you have, such as a T-shirt or a jacket.
- Turn the patient to their side if there is bleeding from the mouth or if the patient is vomiting.
- Straighten out the person’s underarm and cross his chest with the arm closest to you. This eliminates the possibility of the person choking.
- If the wounds are large, apply pressure to the area with a cloth to stop the bleeding. Instead of using your fingers, press down with your palms.
Always Suspect Spinal Injury
Get assistance right away. Do not move the patient if their neck is in an awkward position (not typical) or if the patient is unconscious.
- A specific neck position indicates that the person’s neck is broken, so moving them can cause more harm than good.
- Keep your arms steady and support your head by sitting at their back. Keep your knees on the ground to aid your steady arms position.
Also, read 7 Knee and shoulder injuries that people mostly face!
Tips For Shifting A Person To The Hospital
- Use stretcher: A stretcher or a stiff board should be used to transport the patient. This is important because limiting the amount of movement helps prevent their injuries from worsening.
- Maintain the position: Keep the person’s neck and back straight. A rolled towel or thick cloth can be placed under the neck for support. Ensure that the injured person is lying down flat. The patient can be transported in the sitting position if the injury is only to a limb.
- Stop bleeding: Lift the injured part above the person’s body level and apply pressure to the area if bleeding occurs. Continue to apply pressure until you arrive at the hospital—this aids in the control and eventual cessation of bleeding.
- Keep a check on the pulse: On the way to the hospital, check to see if the person has a pulse and is breathing. Prepare to perform CPR or EAR in the vehicle when the ambulance is not available if they stop breathing.
Conclusion
Accidents can often lead to serious injuries or even death. First aid for road accidents is important to prevent fatality until medical assessment is reached. A thorough first aid course is necessary to ensure that you are not keeping anybody’s life at risk. Before getting on the road, make sure you have taken basic training to perform CPR and other emergency procedures to ensure your and others’ safety.
FAQs
1- What does ABCD stand for in first aid?
ABCD indicates the basic steps of first aid indicates how to access and treat the patient in an emergency. It is a widely used procedure used by the medical staff. The letters stand for airway, breathing, circulation, and exposure.
2- Which tests are done after the car accident?
Depending upon the condition of the injured, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans are done after a car accident. These imaging tests help the doctor identify any internal damage.
3- What is basic first aid?
Basic first aid includes cleaning minor wounds and applying a dressing or bandage. Other basic first-aid steps include using OTC medicines, massaging, and resuscitation.