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In case of accidents ...
‘There was such a mess … I just didn’t know what to do’
Many people are totally unprepared for accidents - they believe that it will never happen to them. While we hope that it will never happen to you, the difference between knowing a few basic ideas or knowing nothing at all can be the difference between life and death.
One day you could be the first, or the only, person to arrive at the scene of an accident.
Or you might be involved in an accident but uninjured yourself. Would you know what to do?
This advice is basic and simple, but it can save lives.
Warn others: Park your car with hazard lights or headlights on.
Reduce risks: Check the scene for danger, switch off engines, impose a no smoking ban.
Get help: Send someone for help or use your mobile phone (999 or 112).
Assess injuries: The quiet casualties are probably the most badly injured. Reassure the noisy ones that help is on the way.
Simple first aid:
Don’t move casualties unless there is further
danger (fire, chemical spillage, etcetera): you might cause further injury.Check for breathing: If the casualty is not breathing, clear the mouth (false
teeth, chewing gum, sweets, loose teeth), very gently tilt the head back and, holding the nose, gently blow into the mouth at five-second intervals.Stop any bleeding: Firm pressure on a wound will stem bleeding. Don’t try
to remove any item that has caused the bleeding.Don’t give anything to eat or drink: This can cause complications for
medics and delay life-saving treatment.
If you have an accident
Read The Highway Code for information about your legal duties when involved in an accident.
And finally, make sure that you are fully insured to drive your vehicle. Don’t wait until it’s too late to find out that your policy has lapsed. Apart from the heavy fine, you might have extensive claims for damages, claims that could run to millions of pounds.
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