React when You Witness a Crash
Accidents, although they are scary, are a fact of life. They can happen at any time or place and involve a car, train, plane, or boat. It's very important for everyone to know how to properly react to this disaster. No need to be superman but start at step one to learn what exactly you should do.
Steps
- Stay calm. This may seem obvious but rushing into a dangerous situation without a plan can do no one any good. Take a deep breath and focus on how severe the crash is. Start filing away mental details even ones you might not consider important at the moment. Most often you will have your hands full but jot down on a notepad if possible. License plate numbers and other important things.
- Dial 911 or get someone else to.Tell them where you are and what exactly you seen. In cases of a minor crash where no one is injured enough to warrant an ambulance or the cars are driveable you can dial the local police station instead to advise you on what to do.
- Approach the scene. If it is safe to do so approach the car or otherwise. Do not move the victim, whenever possible. Head, neck and back injuries are very common with crashes and if you don't have medical training you could end up doing more harm then good. Listen to what emergency services tell you they are trained for this situation and will advise you on how best to approach this and make sure everyone is okay until help can arrive.
- Reassure the victim(s). Tell them they are okay and help is on the way. Ask them not to move.
- Stabilize the head and neck by placing one hand on each side of the head. This will keep it from moving and prevent any further injury.
- Wait for emergency services to arrive.
- The only time you should ever move someone from a crash is if you have medical training or there is an imminent risk of further danger, such as of a fire, explosion, or further crashes. Stabilize the victim as best you can and move them a safe distance from the vehicle. Ask emergency service about this if possible.
- In a situation that absolutely requires you to move the victim, do it in the least damaging way possible. Grab their shirt collar and use your forearms to support their head while pulling the body in a straight line. This is a preferred method as the victim's head is braced while moving.
- Relate everything you remember to emergency personnel. All those mental details you filed away. How severe the accident was and anything the victim(s) said or did to paramedics and police. The police will be interested in how exactly the accident happened and what caused it. Try to remember as much as possible even small details might help later on.
Tips
- You don't have to be a doctor or paramedic to know what to do in an emergency. Consider taking a course in CPR and/or first aid at the very least. They will have other advanced ones on how to further deal with emergencies. These will be helpful in everyday life, not just in an accident. It also helps with resume padding too!
- Carry a first aid emergency kit in your car if possible. Bandages, water, mylar blankets, energy bars, etc. Not only could this help in an accident but you if you're ever stuck somewhere.
- As in any crisis, your body produces adrenaline throughout the whole ordeal. Make sure you and other people are remaining calm and not putting yourself or others at risk by doing things you normally wouldn't do.
- Victims in a crash are often going to be panicked and confrontational. Do your best to keep them in place but don't risk yourself to hold them down.
