Witnessing a Motor Vehicle Collision: What you can do

Mar 12, 2017 News

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By Dr Zulfikar Bux

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine 

Our roadways are becoming more saturated with vehicles. There are more errant drivers

with less road space to maneuver and unfortunately, there are drunk drivers out there. Lives are lost or changed daily because of motor vehicle collisions on our roadways. On any given day, there is a patient in the emergency room who is the victim of a motor vehicle collision (MVC).

Road accidents account for close to five percent of deaths in Guyana; making us the number four ranked country in the world with respect to road deaths. This is very unfortunate, but it is the reality. If you are reading this article, then chances are you may have witnessed a motor vehicle collision or were at the scene of one.

If the scenario comes up that you are at the scene of a motor vehicle collision, would you know what to do?

In the event that you do witness a MVC, the following steps may help you deliver emergency first responder care to the victim(s):

 

ENSURE THE SCENE IS SAFE

As much as you may want to render assistance, it is imperative that you ensure that the scene of the MVC is safe for you to enter. Ensuring there aren’t fuel leaks, impending explosions, exposed electrical wires, spilled dangerous chemicals etc. may be the difference between you becoming a victim instead of a rescuer. Once the scene is safe for you, ensure you safely retrieve the victim and bring them to a safer area also.

 

CALL FOR HELP

Getting assistance will be vital in performing a rescue. Two hands are better than one, utilizing the help that is available is very vital in an emergency setting. The most experienced person at the scene should try to be hands-off, if possible, and direct the proceedings.

Giving others tasks and ensuring they’re completed in a safe and timely manner is very important in these emergency settings. It is important that a call be placed to the 912 emergency response number. The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is housed under the Guyana Fire Service.

Trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) will respond to the scene in approximately 15 minutes if 912 is called. Unfortunately, the EMS service only covers from Mon Repos to Little Diamond currently. Our goal is to have coverage of the entire region four by year end and national coverage within the next four years.

If you are within the coverage area, then you should try to wait on assistance as much as possible; unless the situation demands that you act immediately to save victim(s) life/lives. If you do not have access to EMS service, then you will need to act in the safest manner possible.

You can perform the following actions in chronological order as stated in the rest of this article:

 

CHECK FOR RESPONSIVENESS

All the victims of the MVC should be checked for responsiveness. Unfortunately, research has shown that victims of trauma who are unresponsive and not breathing have a low chance of survival. What this means is that attention should be given to those that are breathing first. Victims that can talk and walk should be guided to a safe retrieval scene.

 

PERFORM CPR

The intention of this article is to not teach CPR, but if you are CPR-trained and victims are in need of CPR, then you should assist or direct the delivery of same. Stabilizing the victim’s neck to prevent unnecessary movements, compressing and wrapping all bleeding wounds, and ensuring the victim lies on a flat surface with his/her limbs close to their body are some of the interventions that can be done by anyone to assist in medical care. If someone is bleeding excessively from a limb and it cannot be controlled by compression, then tie off the limb as tight as possible above the bleeding site and elevate the limb.

 

TRANSPORT THE PATIENT IN A TIMELY MANNER

The victim should be transported to the nearest hospital in a safe but efficient manner. If there are emergency-trained personnel available to transport the patient, then let them take over the scene. All patients should be transported lying flat, but towards their left of right side, if possible. By lying sideways, these patients can vomit and not choke on it.

 

HANDOVER THE PATIENT AT THE HOSPITAL

It is important that you educate medical personnel at the hospital about the events of the accident and what you may know about the patient. Do not leave without doing this. Your information may be the most vital piece of the patient care that the Doctors or Nurses may have to begin with. Ensure you give your contact information before you leave.

By doing these actions in the expressed sequence, it may be the difference between life and death. Being able to save a life is quite possibly the greatest gift you can ever give someone. So read and be prepared if you are ever called upon.

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