You are the first to arrive at the scene of an accident there are casualties what should you do

The advice on this page is basic, simple, and can save lives. You will also find a couple of videos from the UK Open University explaining what paramedics do at the scene of an accident.

1. Warn others:

Park your car with hazard lights and/or headlights on ideally facing approaching traffic. Place a warning triangle in the road.

If there are other people who can help send them back along the road to wave traffic in order to slow it down. Take care on fast moving roads ... Other drivers might not understand what you are trying to do.

Although warning others might take precious minutes it will help prevent further danger and reduce the risk for you and all involved.

2. Further reduce risks and get help

Check the scene, switch off engines, impose a no smoking ban. Keep children at a safe distance.

Send someone for help or use your mobile phone. The UK emergency number is 999 (or 112 on a mobile. Call 911 in the USA.)

Click here for a list of worldwide emergency numbers. Dial the emergency number and when the operator answers, state the service required.

Give the following information:

• Your telephone number (if you are cut off the emergency service will be able to contact you)

• The location of the incident: Road names or numbers, landmarks, map reference, sat-nav positioning reference, etc.

• Description of the incident, for example, "Motorcycle has hit a bus - the motorcyclist is not moving"
  

3. Assess casualties/injuries

The quiet casualties are probably the worst injured. Reassure the noisy ones that help is on the way.

4. Simple first aid:

After completing the tasks above you can help those who need attention.

• Don't move casualties: You may cause further injury. The only exception would be if there was further imminent risk and danger to life, for example fire.

• Check for breathing: If the casualty is not breathing, clear the mouth (false teeth, chewing gum, sweets) very gently tilt the head back and, holding their nose, gently blow into them at five second intervals allowing the chest to exhale naturally. See the links below for detailed information and methods.

• Stop bleeding: Firm pressure on a wound will stem bleeding.

• Don't give casualties anything to eat or drink: This can cause complications for medics and delay life saving treatment.

Learn more:

Note that the information above is a very bare minimum. There are also different schools of thought on best practice - with modern thinking being that a 'hands only' chest compression method works just as well as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Attend a first aid course to learn the basics of first-aid. It's easy to save lives with simple skills that can be learned in just a few hours.

Stay calm - stay safe!

Legal and other advice

The UK Highway Code, Rule 286, states:

If you are involved in a collision which causes damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property, you MUST

• Stop - you must stop if you are involved in an accident.
  

• Give your own and the vehicle owner's name and address, and the registration number of the vehicle, to anyone having reasonable grounds for requiring them
  

• If you do not give your name and address at the time of the collision, report it to the police as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours
  

For full information about breakdowns and accidents from the Highway Code click here.

The video below gives advice about action at the scene of an accident.

As a first responder, the first thing you should do upon arriving at an accident scene is to check for any hazards to yourself, casualties or bystanders. A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. 

This may somehow look weird to do first, surely your first priority should be to help your casualty? Whilst this seems common sense, it is actually the wrong thing to do.

The most important thing is your own safety. The reason for this is simple, you can’t provide help if you become a victim yourself! Assessing the area will enable you to help others and get time to analyze the complete situation with a better viewpoint.

It is important for first aiders and first responders to follow these simple steps that could prevent the situation from becoming worse.

• Park safely and ensure the car engine is off.
• Use the triangle to inform other motorists to slow down or use an alternative route
• Wear high visibility clothing
• Contact the traffic police officers

If the scene is too dangerous to approach, the best thing to do is to stay at a safe distance and call for help from an emergency service operator. 

Once the area is safe, treat anyone with life threatening injuries first and call an ambulance immediately. Treat the casualties in the position you find them unless there’s eminent danger. At this point, it is important to remember that one might not realize that they have an injury immediately. In most occasions, the adrenaline that pumps in during the accident might mask the degree of your injuries and the pain involved.

If the victim is breathing, check his mouth for any obstruction. Use your index and middle finger to clear the airway and place him/her in the recovery position.

If there is no pulse and the victim is unresponsive and not breathing, perform CPR where you give 30 chest compressions and 2rescue breaths. However due to COVID-19 avoid rescue breaths unless you have a face shield or the casualty is well known to you.

Treat bleeding by applying continuous pressure to the open wound using a clean cloth or soft pad. Press down with your palms and let the casualty raise the arms above the heart.

Neck and spinal injuries are expected in a road accident. If the victim is unconscious or the neck is not normally placed, it’s best to not move them unless they are in immediate danger. Rough handling or moving the victim with suspected neck and spinal injuries can cause more harm.

To assist in a fatal road accidents, it is strongly advised that you complete a practical first aid course. It is important for everyone to learn the basics of first aid. Learn how to save lives when seconds matter with simple skills that can be learned in just a few hours.

Serious car accidents require attention.

What Should I Do If I’m First on the Scene of a Car Accident?

We’ve all been there: a major car accident occurs, and traffic slows down simply so drivers can rubberneck and check out the situation. But when you witness a serious car accident, you shouldn’t just look on and do nothing. Somebody needs to take action, and if you decide to take on this responsibility, there are some things you should know. Being first on the scene of a car accident can be stressful, but you have the potential to help save lives. Keep in mind that every situation is different, but this should serve as a general guide for you to know what to do in this situation.

Approach Cautiously

When you approach the scene of an accident, be sure you park a safe distance from the crash. It’s best if you park a minimum of 100 feet away. This way you can assess the situation and keep yourself out of harm’s way. This also allows room for emergency vehicles to reach the scene. Size up the scene, including possible injuries and the severity of the damage. Be on the lookout for hazards like flames, fuel that may have leaked, or scattered broken glass.

Signal the Accident

Turn on your car’s hazard lights, and set out traffic triangles if you have them (which you should, as part of your car emergency kit). The important thing is that you make it known that help is needed at the site.

Call 911

The next thing you should do is call 911. You will need to provide specific details about the accident, such as the location of the crash, how many people are involved, how severe the injuries are, and any other relevant information. If another witness arrives at the same time as you, ask them to call 911 while you help those involved in the accident, if possible.

Help Victims Who Need It

If it’s safe to approach the scene, you can assist the individuals involved. However, you should not move any of the victims, unless they are in immediate danger. You should also not attempt to treat any injuries unless you are professionally trained. Your job is to help keep them as calm as possible, and out of harm’s way, until help arrives. Let them know that help is on the way, and be as supportive as you can. They are likely very scared and in pain, so holding their hand and reassuring them that everything is going to be alright can go a long way.

Handle the Vehicles

After you’ve checked on the victims, you can help by putting the involved cars in “park” and turning off the ignition. Remember, only do this if it is safe! Don’t put yourself in danger.

Once help arrives, you can let the professionals take it from there. Be proud of yourself for helping at the scene of an accident—you served a vital role.