Car Crash

---

First on the scene?
Here’s what to do

---

#1: Pull over and dial 911

• Park past the crash scene, at least 100 feet away
• Stay well off the road; turn on flashers/hazard lights and keep your seatbelt on
• Call 911 and give the location and a description of the accident
• NEVER assume someone else already called 911

#2: Decide whether to approach

• Calling 911 is the single most important thing you can do; you are under no obligation to do more
• If you do decide to approach, make sure you can get to the crash scene safely
• Keep the guardrail (if there is one) and the vehicle between you and traffic
• Stay alert to broken glass, fire risk, and downed wires if a utility pole was struck
• Be sensible: Getting out of your car on a busy multilane highway at night may be just too dangerous

#3: Gather supplies & get ready

• Carry your cellphone with you
• Bring a roadside emergency kit too, if you have one
• Take a few deep breaths to help settle your nerves
• You want to maintain a calm and reassuring manner with the victim

#4. Secure the scene

• Warn off other drivers by setting out reflective triangles or flares from your roadside emergency kit
• If the accident is relatively minor, tell the driver to put the vehicle in ‘park’ and turn off the engine to protect against fire

#5: Calm and comfort

• Advise the driver that you have called 911 and ask about (or observe) any injuries
• Ask how many people were in the car to make sure no one was thrown out of the vehicle or wandered off
• Inquire about serious preexisting conditions (e.g., cardiac, respiratory, diabetes, etc.) as well as use of blood thinners or mobility problems
• Call 911 back to provide additional detail, as needed, on number of victims, types of injuries, preexisting conditions, and fire risk; follow guidance from the 911 dispatcher
• Provide steady, comforting reassurance but do NOT move an injured person unless there is immediate danger of fire

#6: Stay until EMS/police arrive

• Keep talking to the victim even if he or she is in great pain; hold their hand and let them focus on your calm, reassuring voice
• If there are multiple victims, try to make sure everyone stays where they are; head injuries can cause confusion and victims have been known to wander into traffic
• Make sure you are OK before leaving (once professional help has arrived). Being on the scene of a motor vehicle accident with injuries can be very traumatic. Give yourself sufficient time to recover before driving off.

See also: Controlling Bleeding and Hypovolemic Shock