Road accidents are a nightmare! It makes one feel uneasy just thinking about them. They cause agony, financial losses, and even death in some cases. Road accidents are frequently caused by irresponsible driving or human mistake, but they can also be caused by poor infrastructure or severe weather. According to the National Crime Registers Bureau (NCRB), Indian records over 4.5 lakh accidents each year. In these accidents, about 1.5 lakh people died, and another 4.5 lakh were injured. These are massive figures, and many of the 1.5 lakh people who died may have been rescued if competent first aid had been given to the sufferers in a timely manner. While providing first aid is important, carelessly managing an accident victim might cause more harm than good. If you want to take a deep dive into first-aid, you'll need to get adequate training before you can give it like a professional. However, certain dos and don'ts can be followed to guarantee you are not unintentionally harming the victim. We'll look at these dos and don'ts in this piece. Whether you've been involved in an accident or simply seen one as a bystander, the recommendations below will teach you the essentials of what to do and, more significantly, what not to do.
First Aid - Things You Should Do
First and foremost, if you have been in an accident and have been hit, check yourself for injuries and blood. You may have a quick adrenaline rush after an accident, which boosts your pain tolerance dramatically. This means you can not even realise you're harmed and continue to move normally despite the fact that you're in agony. You must properly inspect yourself for any cuts or bruises, and feel your body parts for any pain or injury by dabbing your hands on them. If you are unharmed but detect other casualties nearby, call an ambulance and the authorities right away before responding to them. Call for help if you are trapped in or under a vehicle or have fallen into a pit. Make yourself known so that assistance can arrive as soon as possible. While making noise is vital when your mind is stuck, try to remain cool because you will need to conserve energy and make quick decisions while waiting for help.
If you were not engaged in the accident and were only witnessing it, make sure you take a close look at the situation. Don't go after the first victim you see. First and foremost, do everything possible to reduce the risk of an accident and injury to other road users around the accident scene. Make others aware of the potential dangers and avoid the situation from getting worse.
Next, scan the area for victims and attend to those who appear to be the most seriously injured. Check for bleeding from the head, nose, or any other crucial body locations, such as surrounding organs. They are apparently in better condition if they are conscious and can speak than those who are unconscious or unable to communicate. Prioritise the latter ones. Your first concern should be to halt the bleeding, especially if the damage is to a vital bodily area (e.g. head). Apply gentle pressure to the wound with a cloth or a first aid kit, and use cotton to stop the flow. Hands are far superior than a cloth, cotton, or bandage. Using a tourniquet to halt excessive bleeding from a limb is recommended, but only if done correctly. Turn the person to their side if they are bleeding from the mouth or vomiting blood so they do not choke on their own vomit. Only move on to the next victim after the current one has been stabilised. If there are other persons on the scene, ask them to assist the others.
Check for a pulse and see if the victim is breathing if they are unconscious. Attempt to keep them awake by splashing water on their faces. Continue to speak to them and reassure them to keep them awake. You can ask them questions so that they will continue to answer you.
If the sufferer has a bone injury and complains of a loss of movement in a body part, swelling, splinters protruding from the tissue, or a visible breakage, do not attempt to move the body part that has been damaged. Attempting to relocate or put a shattered bone back 'in place' is exceedingly risky and, in some cases, fatal. Before the victim is sent to a paramedic, you must limit any movement of the fractured body part and minimise harm. Wrapping a thick fabric around a wounded body part can provide mild support as a temporary cast, but never try to move a damaged body part unless you are a competent medical practitioner.
If the victim is not breathing, check to see if the airway is blocked. You may need to look into the victim's mouth for any obstructions. Remove the impediment with your fingertips, then check to see if the person can breathe. You may be required to perform CPR in some circumstances (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Only do this if you've been properly instructed. Alternatively, you can inquire if anyone on the scene is skilled in CPR and ask them to assist you.
Assume the weather is hot and the victim is wearing protective or heavy gear that prevents air from reaching the body. In that situation, gently unbutton the jacket or other items of clothes that may be bothering the victim. This will allow for a free flow of air and, to some extent, comfort the victim.
On the other hand, some accident victims experience shock, which makes them feel cold. As a result, it is critical to speak with the victim and act in accordance with their wishes. If the person is shivering and chilly, try to keep them warm. Cover them with a jacket or whatever other methods you have.
Things to Avoid When Administering First Aid
As previously said, do not attempt to assist others until you are certain that you are unharmed and have not incurred any serious injuries.
If you see bleeding from the victim's head while he or she is wearing a helmet, do not attempt to remove it. It's possible that the helmet is assisting in stopping the bleeding and holding the head in place. Furthermore, the helmet provides some support in cases of neck injuries, and attempting to remove it could result in irreversible damage to the neck, which is a vulnerable location.
People tend to prop the victim's neck up during accidents, and they may even try to make them sit up. While a modest layer of cushion under the victim's head is acceptable for comfort, propping the head up too high clogs the airway, making it harder for the victim to breathe. If you aren't a professional paramedic, don't try to prop the victim's head up or force them to sit. Allow paramedics to care for such casualties while you wait for medical assistance. Similarly, do not attempt to remove anything pierced or lodged in any region of your body. If the object is removed, the victim will begin to bleed excessively.
If you suspect a neck or spinal injury, do not move the victim. Allow them to remain in their current situation. Continue to converse with them and try to keep them awake. You'll be able to tell if their neck or spine is out of alignment.
Allowing too many people to cluster around the victim can cause claustrophobia and panic. Request that people keep their distance and that the victim be in an open space.
If you are not trained in CPR, do not conduct it on the victim, no matter how ethically binding it may appear at the time. By doing so, you may wind up causing more harm than help to the victim.
To summarise, stay calm, keep your wits about you, cooperate, coordinate, ask for aid as soon as possible, and do everything you can to help the victims until help arrives.
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