Helping people who are injured in an automobile accident is a situation that can arise at any time. Trying to remain calm and knowing the right steps to take are the best ways to react. An estimated 57% of accident victims die in the first few minutes as the ambulance is on its way.

The first rule is simple but important: don't do anything unless you are sure it is the right thing to do. Removing an injured person from a car or moving them improperly can cause new injuries or aggravate existing ones. So it is best to abstain from moving them unless their lives are in imminent danger, say, in a fire.

Another basic issue is to mark off the accident area with high-visibility highway triangles. Advising other vehicles of danger will avoid additional accidents and allow them to get through the area without problems. Needless to say, call the 112 emergency number to tell crews what happened and be specific about the place of the accident, the number of injured and the kind of accident.

It is best to see to the most serious injured first and remember that the one who screams most is not necessarily the worst off. In any case, the injured person should not remain standing. Lie them down on their back with their head turned to one side.

If you have to examine an injured person, keep several issues in mind: if the person is conscious or not, breathes, has a pulse, is bleeding or has a broken bone. To determine if they are conscious, ask the person a few questions and if they don't answer, nudge them or pinch them gently. To see if they are breathing, lean down with your cheek near their mouth or nose to feel the heat of exhaled air. You can also watch to see if the chest and abdomen move up and down. Take the pulse by placing your index and middle finger on either the side of the neck. Don't use your thumb because it has a pulse of its own.

If there is haemorrhaging, press down on the injury to stop the bleeding. If possible use bandages or feminine hygiene napkins and don't remove them even if they become soaked. Keep putting layer after layer, then apply a compression bandage. Also, elevate the bleeding member above the level of the heart.

The injured person should be kept warm, with a blanket if possible, and protected. But the clothes should not keep them from breathing. Don't use cotton, alcohol, ointments or powders to treat wounds. The right thing to do is apply antiseptics and sterilized dressings.
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