If you were driving along a road and saw a car accident would you know what to do? Pull over a safe distance from the crashed cars. Remember to leave room for any emergency vehicles to get close enough to the accident to do their jobs. It is a good idea to pass the accident if it is safe to do so. This allows for emergency vehicles to get as close as possible to the scene, from the direction of the proper side of the road, as well as allowing you to leave more easily after the emergency services arrive. If visibility is poor do not run back down the middle of the road, you may well get knocked over. Hopefully some one else has stopped. Get a torch and get them to walk back a short distance on the SIDE of the road waving the torch to try and slow oncoming traffic. If there are flares or a reflective triangle available use those. If the accident clearly involves injuries call the emergency services now. Do as much as you can from the verge side of the road. Every year passing motorists injure good Samaritans and roadside emergency crews. Your first priority is to not make the situation worse. Go to the cars and see if anyone is in them. Turn off the car engines. If there is anyone in the cars that can easily get out encourage them to get out and move away from the cars, either up the verge, or towards your car, away from oncoming traffic. People will easily go into shock in this situation so if possible provide blankets or coats to wrap them in, or seat them in stopped cars, away from the accident. If anyone is still in the cars check if they are conscious. You can check for consciousness by nipping the patient’s ear, if they are conscious they will respond. If they appear unconscious check for a pulse, on the neck. Do this by placing your finger on the pulse point just under the jaw. If they are in slumped position this may be difficult to find without a bit of poking and prodding. You should not attempt to move some one who cannot move by themselves, and with relatively little pain, unless they are in immediate danger from fire or the position of the car. Neck injuries can be hard to diagnose and easily worsened by movement. If the accident victims are not breathing or seem to have no pulse you may have to try and remove them from the car to do CPR. This can be very difficult. It is possible to do CPR in a cramped position such as in a car seat, but it is not easy. If some one else at the accident scene identifies themselves as having more experience than you in the situation do not play hero. Just do what they ask you to do to help. When the emergency service arrive wait for them to do their jobs, give a statement or your contact details and leave. If you see an accident on the road your first priority is to not make the situation worse. Your second is to call the emergency services if no one else has, then let the professionals do their job without getting in the way. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil