Roadside First Aid

The Statistics

Although we have one of the best ‘road safety’ records in Europe and the world, accidents still happen!

Even though there is annual increase for vehicles using our roads and motorways the number of people killed on our roads has fallen from around 5,500 per year in the mid 1980s to well under 1,754 in 2012.

Sadly, driver error remains the most common cause of road accidents.

However, this still means that five people die on Britain’s roads every day.

The above figures are for road accidents in which someone was injured and were reported to the police. Although virtually all fatal road accidents are reported to the police, it is known that many involving injury are not reported, even when some of those involved required medical or hospital treatment.

It’s enough to chill your blood on the warmest day. You’re driving along a familiar road on holiday or to work. But your progress is suddenly hampered by ominous signs; an ambulance screeches past and there’s an unexpected traffic jam.

What is Roadside First Aid

First Aid is a skilled application of accepted principles of treatment of any injury or illness, using facilities or materials available at the time. It is an approved method of treating a casualty until placed in the care of a doctor or other skilled aid or removed to hospital.
Your responsibility ends when the casualty is handed over to the care of a nurse, a doctor or other appropriate person/s.

Your first priority is ensuring your own safety

When approaching an accident scene the most important element is your safety. Make sure that all traffic has stopped and it is flagged up that there has been an accident otherwise there may be additional casualties. Be aware of oncoming traffic to ensure that is not posing an additional danger.

• Switch your own hazard lights on.
• Switch off the ignition of any vehicle involved.
• Instruct someone to control the traffic, and keep back any crowds.
• Send someone to call the emergency services, make sure they know the exact location of the accident, the number of vehicles and casualties involved.
• Make sure this person reports back to you to ensure that a message has been sent to the emergency services.
• Give the casualty confidence; talk to them, listen to them, reassure them.

If the casualty has stopped breathing:

• Check for consciousness, kneel by the casualty and tell them who you are and ask them a question.
• If there is no reply, gently shake the shoulders and if there is still no response, assume they are unconscious.
• If possible position the casualty in the ‘recover position’ as soon as possible – as there could be a danger of saliva, blood, or sick entering the windpipe. Also, if an unconscious casualty is left lying on their back the tongue will fall to the back of the throat and block the airway.
• Remove any obvious obstruction in the casualty’s mouth.
• Keep the head tilted backwards as far as possible – breathing may then begin.
• If the casualty is still not breathing, pinch the nostrils together, keep the head tilted back and begin to blow into the mouth until the chest rises; withdraw, then repeat once every four seconds until the casualty can breathe unaided.
• You may have to do this until the Emergency Services arrive.

Crash helmets should not be removed 
because they can act as a splint for the skull, or the casualty could have a broken spine or neck. Only remove to control bleeding or free the victim’s airway.

If bleeding is present 
the total quantity of blood circulating in the body of an average adult is 10 to 11 pints (approximately 6 litres). When a lot of blood is lost, the vital organs are deprived of fresh supplies of oxygen, and shock develops. Apply firm hand pressure over the wound, preferably using clean material, without pressing on any foreign body in the wound. Secure a pad with a bandage.

Reassurance
until help arrives. Prompt treatment will minimise shock. Reassure the casualty, avoid unnecessary movement, keep the casualty comfortable, and prevent them getting cold. Do not leave a casualty alone.
Give the casualty NOTHING to eat or drink. They may need an operation when they get to hospital.

Roadside First Aid Always carry a first aid kit – you might never need it, but it could save a life. The more people that are trained in basic first aid and the more people that carry first aid equipment in their car, the more likely it is that somebody on the scene can provide assistance until an ambulance arrives and improve the chances of a positive outcome!