Providing First Aid Help Safely And Effectively During Road Accidents

Driving is thrilling; we can all agree on that. Driving, unfortunately, can also be dangerous when one is not careful. Even the smallest cars are powerful machines, so when you put hundreds of them on the streets – along with pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, and trucks – the occasional mishap is bound to happen.

Governments, NGOs, and carmakers are all working on making the streets safer, but a zero-accident rate is still a distant goal. Until then, as a second line of defence (the first being driving responsibly, safely, and carefully), it’s important to react well in case of a road accident. Even if you are just a bystander, knowing how to mitigate the damage to human life as much as possible is essential – it might help you save someone.

While the absence of proper roads, reckless and careless driving and the indifference of pedestrians can partially be responsible for road accident victims succumbing, a huge percentage of these deaths can be attributed to the fact that most victims don’t get correct medical aid in time. So, would you know what to do if you or someone else was in an accident?

Read on to know about some best practices when you witness an accident. A correct and timely action on your part can mean the difference between life and death for someone else.

APPROACHING AN ACCIDENT SITE

As a bystander, it’s important to approach the accident site with caution. If you are on foot, make sure the site is clear of oncoming traffic before you make your approach. If you are in a vehicle, pull over to the side before and only then get out to reach the site. You don’t want to add to the casualties by running across to help, only to collide with an oncoming vehicle.

CONTACTING EMERGENCY SERVICES

If there are people gathered around, urge one of them to call the emergency services while you take lead in helping the injured. Calling emergency services should be the first line of defence. The faster they can make it to the site, the better the chances of recovery or survival for the victims. If you are on your own, however, you need to assess the situation for yourself and address any life-threatening conditions first.

If it’s an emergency, dial the National Emergency Number 112 (India) immediately. If no passenger is seriously injured but your car is damaged, call for the Roadside Assistance Service of your vehicle manufacturer. In case it is a Ford vehicle, dial the 24×7 hotline number 1800-209-7400 or 1800-103-7400 to avail Ford Service Roadside Assistance. Ford’s Rapid Response Team will deploy technicians for the location who will assist in fixing the car on spot in case of minor repairs. If your car is completely immobilised, Ford Roadside Assistance will organise and send a recovery vehicle to transport your car to the nearest authorised Ford dealer.

Also, Ford cars are equipped with SYNC3® which features Emergency Assistance. The Emergency Assistance can call for help in the unlikely case of an accident, even if the vehicle owner can’t. The emergency call goes directly from the vehicle owner’s properly connected cell phone without the need for intermediary assistance.

We spend a lot of time in our cars. From travelling to and from work, visiting family and friends, going shopping or holidays, cars form an essential part of our lives. And that’s why Ford believes in making every effort possible to ensure that you travel safely. Which is why all our cars come fitted with a host of features that focus both on helping you avoid an accident and protecting you if a collision is imminent.

CHECKING ON THE ACCIDENT VICTIMS

Until help arrives, you should tend to the victims. Check on the quiet ones first; with people who are able to communicate or be vocal somehow, you have assurance of consciousness. The quiet victims could be unconscious or shell-shocked, and they should be addressed first to assess how grave their situation is. You need to be very careful about how you handle an accident victim; you don’t want to aggravate their injuries or make a bad situation worse. Be careful and ask lots of questions. In extreme situations, you might need to administer CPR. If you are not familiar with the protocol, try to find someone around you who is.

ADMINISTERING FIRST AID

Offering first aid in the aftermath of an accident is critical to patient recovery and survival. Trauma patients have a better chance of survival if they receive care within 60 minutes of being injured – known as the Golden Hour. Any first aid administered within this time can greatly increase the chances of the victim’s survival and reduce the severity of their injury. In case of profuse bleeding, apply pressure on the wound with a clean cloth to try and staunch the flow of blood. If you suspect a fracture, avoid applying direct pressure; instead, fashion a splint out of something and tie it to the fractured area with a piece of cloth or bandage to stabilise the broken bone. All cars should have a first aid kit in the glove compartment; find one and put its contents to use.

If you witness an accident, don’t just be a bystander. Unfortunately, according to the Ford Cartesy Survey, a whopping 41% of respondents admitted they would not take an accident victim to the hospital. This is a sad statistic, one that Ford wants to change. As part of the company’s ongoing efforts, Ford continues to advocate for safer and saner roads through Ford #Cartesy and Driving Skills for Life programs. Ford Cartesy campaign urges road users to stay cautious, compliant and courteous to make our roads safer. In line with this thought, Ford delivered a Good Samaritan message through its TVC A Helping Hand, which encourages viewers to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Our campaigns try to encourage road users to be more courteous and empathetic, whereas the safety technology in our cars makes them safer in themselves. Road safety is a multi-faceted issue that calls for a multi-faceted approach, and at Ford, we always put all our weight behind it.