‘Don’t pull accident victims out of cars’

Press, 6 July 1978, Page 12

‘Don’t pull accident victims out of cars’

It has been discovered that a high percentage of people hurt in cars and pulled out by frantic rescuers are made worse, even killed — and this is a fact. If you are first on, the scene of an accident, your first instinct will probably be to run to the car and start pulling people out, says the magazine "Health.” The magazine cautions against such action unless there is risk of fire. The major points concerning the movement of accident victims are: On coming upon a crash, plan your actions. Park your car where it will not obstruct rescue vehicles and other road users, extinguish cigarettes: obtain help as quickly as possible by asking drivers travelling in opposite directions to telephone the Police on the 111 emergency service. Mark the accident with warning divices or have someone flag traffic down. The most immediate danger is from fire. Fire in the wiring usually begins as smouldering under the bonnet or dashboard. Don’t let this panic you into immediately moving the injured. Turn off the ignition and lights. Disconnect the battery, located the fire and attack it with an extinguisher, blanket or earth. If the victims of the crash are hurt but not bleeding profusely, leave them in the car(s) until trained help comes. Don't twist, turn or move them — except to ease breathing, and then only gently as they may have broken necks. If they are lying on the road, cover them with a blanket or coat, leave

them there, but take steps to guard them from the traffic. “People who could have been saved, had they not been moved by inexperienced volunteers, often die,” “Health” said. “Even victims with broken backs could be saved if allowed to lie unmoved. But well-meaning people lift them out of the crashed vehicles, bundle them into the back seats of the cars and rush them to hospital with serious results.” The head of an unconscious sitting victim who is slumped forward, must be held up with the chin supported forward because bending of the paralyzed larynx may cause suffocation. After this the seat must be slipped into its most packward position. If people are pinned: Often accident victims, otherwise unhurt, appear to be trapped when they are merely held by a foot twisted under a seat. If so, crawl in and gently release the foot. Make sure the car will not roll while you do this. And, if you attempt to lift it, make sure there is nobody underneath and that it won’t fall back. If the casualty must be moved “Health” recommended two methods but warned that air-ways should be checked to make sure that they are clear before such operations take place. If the crashed car has a bucket seat, then an attempt should be made to remove the casualty in position on the seat, if possible. Prepare to blanket lift by arranging a blanket concertina pattern and inserting under the knees. Pull out the top edge to back of seat under the

casualty, easing him to permit this, then draw the free edge up the back of thj top of the shoulders taking care to avoid catching the edge in coat or overcoat. Maintain observation on breathing and pulse. Make the casualty comfortable, moving him as gently and as little as possible. Don’t move accident casualties unless they are threatened bv further danger. A first-aid kit should contain: (1) Four triangular bandages. (To make, take two 1 yard squares of old linen or unbleached calico and cut diagonally.) (a) OPEN, to use as an arm sling. (b) FOLD, to use with a pad to apply pressure to large bleeding wounds such as to forehead or limbs. (2) Six l|in x 2in size sterile single piece gauze dressing packets to cover wounds. (3) One small tin of (assorted sizes) sterile adhesive dressings for small wounds. (4) One 2oz roll of cotton wool to use for cleansing wounds, or as a pad on top of sterile gauze. (A good container for your kit is a small child’s school case or a biscuit tin with a firm lid.) Do NOT remove any of the patient’s clothing, loosen collar and belts. Do NOT give any casu’ alty anything to drink. Always be prepared to hand over to anyone who is more knowledgeable than yourself about first aid procedures. DO NOT PANIC , . . vou can only do your best.