How do you react if you are first at an accident?

TRNC

TRNC

TRNC

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This morning I was first on scene at an accident on the A30 near exeter, it happened 100m in front of me and invloved a lorry hitting a farm loader vehicle from behind at 60-65mph.

I was totally amazed that only 1 other person actually got out of their cars to come and help and see if everyone was ok, the carriage way was totally blocked so its not like they were going anywhere but as the cars pulled up behind mine not one person bothered to get out and assist.

It really shocked me that people would sit and watch a serious accident which has just happened without so much as asking if they can help or seeing if those involved are alright.

So, what would you do??? Are you a sit in your car where its warm and you can ignore whats happened, or would you get out and help?
 
Well it depends how far back I am in traffic. If I litterally just saw it happen then yes I would get out but if I wasnt really sure what was going on (i.e I might be thinking the police are already there and clearing the road) then likily I would stay in my car.
 
When I witnessed a head on I got out of the car, shouted has "anyone called 999" (somebody was doing it). Checked anyone wasn't stuck in their cars. One person was stuck, with 2 other guys pulled the car door open to allow the smoke out. Kept person stuck in car calm till paramedics arrived.

Used sand from the petrol station to mop up oil and used a couple of bandages from my cars first aid box.

All in the space of 15 minutes.
 
I appreciate those who are back in the traffic are unlikely to assist unless they are off duty police, doctor or similar.

But it was those who were clearly 3rd, 4th, 5th arriving on scene literally with debris still falling and smoke clearing that I had expected to do a bit more :confused:
 
Whether it is an accident, dog running up and down a busy road, someone collapsed in the street etc... I can't not get out and see if I can be of help. Obvious exception is if everything is already in hand with others on scene as then it can be a case of too many cooks.

Got to admit though I hate those sorts of situations and always have that split second thought of... "if you keep on going no one will ever know" :o
 
ubersonic said:
A chance to finally use the JDM (yo!) road flare? Id be right in there!
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Haha, I've got one of those too (albeit about 6 years out of date! :p)

Back on topic - if I actually saw the accident happen, or was obviously one of the first on scene then I would help without a doubt (and have done a couple of times in the past), if there were enough people dealing with it, then I would most likely stay out of the way; as lordrobs said, a case of too many cooks.
 
I would stop and have stopped to see if anyone needed help or was seriously injured (thankfully not) and call for help if required.

People in general are very very selfish and I have witnessed this first hand when I was younger and stuck my Saxo in a ditch, whilst me and my friend were uninjured and were climbing out of the car/stood at the side if the road atleast 5 cars slowed and went past without even on person asking if we were ok.it was only about 10 mins later when a bloke in a van pulled up and asked if we were ok and no one else was in the car, then proceded to go and get his tractor to pull the car out and brought us a thermos of tea (obviously we were very grateful and I would not expect every person to offer this kind of help to a couple of 17yr olds in a totaled Saxo VTR, gave him £50 for his trouble after though). Anyway my point is one of us could have been badly injured and not one person stopped despite us trying to flag people down.
 
Ive stopped twice, once when a car flipped on the A12, i was a few cars back and everyone stopped and ran back to the scene (given speeds the flipping car came to a stop far quicker than brakes could) Checked someone was calling 999 and was amazed as the occupants climbed out of the smashed hatch window (old rover 200) As people than started to rubber neck and someone else hit the central reservation i went back to my car and left as it was pretty dangerous by that time.

Other one was a drunk idiot and i stopped to call police and tell them what house the driver disappeared into, gave details and again went - others had called police and someone with a van with orange flashing lights had the rd blocked and alerting others.

I would always stop if safe to do so.
 
I once binned my bike on a country road. The bike ended up smashed to bits in the middle of a blind bend. I counted 15 cars pass it, risking a head on collision with another car to get round it rather than stop and help.

I've stopped at a few in my short time on the planet, a couple fatal. Such is life, some people are either too self important but I think generally most are scared of what they might find.
 
I was once going down a little country road and someone clipped my wing mirror. The glass popped out and was hanging by the cable so I pulled over and put the hazards on. I think everyone who drove past asked if I was okay.

Nice people.
 
I carry a good first aid kit in my car and also am trained in first aid techniques ABC and CPR etc. through work. If I think I can help, I will stop but generally do not where there are several vehicles already at the scene.
 
I'm did 4 months trauma and orthopaedics during my training, stopped for a couple of accidents and you can only really do the basics without any kit. Get everyone safe if you can move then, call for help and if it's bleeding put pressure on it.
 
Minstadave said:
I'm did 4 months trauma and orthopaedics during my training, stopped for a couple of accidents and you can only really do the basics without any kit. Get everyone safe if you can move then, call for help and if it's bleeding put pressure on it.
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I used to work as a lifeguard during my studies, granted not the the same level of first aid/emergency, training but better than nothing and I will always stop and help out if possible. Fortunatly I've not had to stop for anything fatal or too serious yet. *touch wood*
 
A couple of months ago now I saw a car go into the back of another car about 5 cars in front of me. The guy in the car in front then gets out and starts kicking the other car, trying to rip the door off, turns out there's a woman in there with a young child. Well all the cars in front drove straight past, nobody stopped to help!

I ended up waiting with them while her husband, and then the police arrived to take statements as she ended up filing abuse charges against him.

Shocking that none of the other cars even stopped to help her!
 
yup. I was second on the scene at this accident





By saying second on the scene I mean directly behind the first bloke and we saw it happen ahead of us.

We truckers often play little games with each other late at night to wake ourselves up.... Kind of F1 for trucks but doing nothing stupid.. ie: I closed ten feet on you into that roundabout but you pulled away six feet afterwards etc (we're speed limited remember).

With that accident above it was pitch black on the A1 south around Newark and we saw headlights "go weird". As one we both "chilled it" and hazard flashed our way up to scene (we were on our own at that time).

Thing the First
Ensure your OWN safety (running around like a headless chook will get YOU in casualty)
2: Warn other traffic
3: Call emergency services.. 112 on mobile phone is direct link to emergency and gives GPS location to calling phone
4: Check occupants and kill ignitions. (Do NOT move injured parties UNLESS there is imminent danger of further injury (Fire etc)
5: Remove uninjured parties.
6: SHOCK .. Keep them warm and re-assure trapped occupants

7: look around you.. Is there a fuel leak ? If so BUND it
 
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