10 things to do in case you witness a medical emergency (like accidents)

Bookmark this page as it can help you save a victim's life in case of emergency.

Every 30 minutes around nine people die in road accidents in India. According to the Law Commission of India, almost 50% of these fatalities could be avoided if the victim would have received timely medical attention within the first hour of the accident. The main reason for this being whenever an accident takes place, none of the bystanders come forward to help the accident victim fearing the legal implications that follow. And even if you try to help the victim, most of us are clueless about what to do in the case of emergency. Hence, we got Dr Santosh Datar, Medical Dirers in India and Consultant Doctor, Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd to share few things a person should do if they witness an accident or any other kind of medical emergency.

1. Call emergency services: The immediate action to be taken is to call an ambulance for transferring the patient to the nearest hospital. The emergency service provider should be given accurate information such as your location, the number of victims and other details on the exact condition of the victim. One should ask the other bystanders for more information as to how the accident took place in case you were not present at the time of the accident. It is always good to give as much information as possible since it will help EMTs in responding better to the situation. (Read: 11 first aid tips you should know in case of a road-traffic accident)

2. Remain calm: This is the most important thing one should keep in mind, as it is crucial for the victim and the Good Samaritan. This will help you make rational decisions to deal with the accident. If you feel yourself panicking in any way, take a deep breath or delegate tasks to others at the scene. Also, avoid allowing any other person who is panicking to affect you. This will be of great help to reduce the damage.

3. Check the condition of the victims: First and foremost one should ensure that scene is safe before you go near the victim. Post that, if the victim is conscious it is important to ask the important victim details like blood group, allergies, any health problems like Hypertension and if he is under any medication for the same. This will be of great help to inform the paramedics on board. If the victim is not accompanied by a family or friend, it will help to call the victim s emergency contact to seek immediate help and inform them to reach the accident spot or nearest hospital. (Read: 8 first aid steps you should take in case of a heart attack)

4. Don't move the victim unless it's a must: You don't see what's going on under their clothing, and a bad move can paralyze the injured. Unless someone is in a dangerous position, it's best to act very gently, and you should be very careful when moving the person.

5. Check the airway: Breathing is necessary for any person s life. If a person loses consciousness, it is important to check if the person is breathing. People crowding around the victim also restricts air flow which may lead to the patient feeling claustrophobic and may cause unnecessary panic.

6. Comfort the victim: Talking to and encouraging the victim can help calm the person down until emergency services arrive. Hold the victim s hand if you can, this can be a significant help for a person s sense of survival. Doing so must also ensure that they do not touch body fluid of victim such as blood, vomit etc. with their bare hands. (Read: Drowning first aid, emergency treatment and complications)

7. Handover care to the emergency personnel: As soon as emergency services arrive, let the personnel take over the person s care. These individuals are better trained to handle car accidents and any injuries. It is also important to inform them about the course of events that took place along with important medical data of the victim.

8. Look around the accident spot quickly: One should look around quickly as this will help in giving accurate information to the emergency medical services. If you can smell some gas leakage or see any smoke you should call the fire brigade. Also, if you see any children who are not injured at the spot, they should be taken to a safe location.

9. Think of what you ve seen - You re a witness: One should think about the accident that has taken place and recollect all the facts related to the accident since you are a witness to it. It is also important to understand that as a Good Samaritan you will not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury or death of the victim and you can take disciplinary action against public officials who reveal your personal details.

10. Help keep traffic moving: There are more spectators in an accident than people who actually come forward to help. This causes a block for the moving traffic. People also slow down on the highway to have a look at what is happening. You should take help from people around to ask people to move along instead of making a spectacle of the accident.

The Golden Hour, defined as the first hour after an accident, is the most crucial time to deal with the medical emergency. It is of utmost importance that a patient reaches the hospital or is provided with emergency medical aid during this period since this can help in minimizing the impact of the accident. Hence, if the points mentioned can be kept in mind, it can go a long way in saving a victim s life. Life is precious and the untimely loss of a life can result in dire consequences for the family and relatives. A helping hand at the right time can be crucial in bridging the gap between life and death. (Read: First aid for electric shock Here s what you should do)

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