What to do when you are in a car crash

Thousands of South Africans are preparing for their road trips to the best holiday destinations the country has to offer.

While some might reach their destinations safely, others will have to deal with the stress of being in a vehicle crash during their vacation.

This is why it is important to know what to do in the aftermath of a collision to ensure you and your family is able to continue the holiday and only worry about the damage after your holiday.

ER24 recently informed the community of Krugersdorp about the do’s and don’ts of a collision.

They gave the following tips should you encounter a road-related incident:

• If you are involved in a collision, always stop your vehicle. Park your vehicle out of harm’s way, but close to the scene to avoid further collisions.

• Do not leave/flee the scene.

• Try to remain calm on scene. Make use of hazard lights and emergency triangles to warn oncoming traffic.

• Give your address, name and surname, registration number of the vehicle, drivers’ licence details and insurance company’s name to the other person involved. Make sure you get their details as well.

• Take as many pictures of the damage of both vehicles and collision scene as you possibly can. Note the exact location of the collision.

• Report the incident to the nearest police station within 24 hours of the incident. If someone was injured in the collision, contact the police to get them onto the scene. If no one was injured, the police will not come to the scene and you will have to locate a police station. An accident report number is crucial for insurance purposes.

• Assess the situation and ask these questions: Are there any injuries? Are people trapped in vehicles? Is there a fire? Are there people lying in the road? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, contact emergency services immediately.

• If first-aid is needed, start with it immediately. If someone is unconscious, start with CPR if you are trained to do so. If a person is seriously injured, leave him/ her in the position you found him/ her. If a person is not breathing, check to see if anything is blocking that person’s airway.

• Never move injured people, unless their location is putting them in danger.

• If a wounded person is bleeding heavily put as much gauze or sterile dressing on the wound as you have, and put direct pressure on it. If you don’t have these things, use a towel, blanket, t-shirt or any other material. Do not take the pressure off the wound to check if there is bleeding. Keep the pressure on.

• If there is a fire, extinguish it.

• Note that it is vital that you keep yourself safe on scene as well. Do not attempt anything that will put your own life in danger.

• Always remember not to touch another person’s blood without some sort of protection such as gloves, plastic bags, or even mouth pieces.

• Make sure children who are not injured are looked after on scene.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.

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Randfontein Herald, Roodepoort Record, Get It Joburg West Magazine

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