CRASH SCENE MANAGEMENT

What is the most important thing to remember about Crash Scene Management?

SELF PRESERVATION - LOOK AFTER YOURSELF!

You are no use whatsoever to help anybody involved in a crash or to relay information to the emergency services if you become a casualty yourself. The first thing to do is to look after your own safety.

Make yourself more visible to others. Consider wearing high visibility clothing whilst at the scene or put on your brightest gear. You might want to carry a lightweight yellow jacket in your panniers or under your seat to wear in case you are first at the scene of a crash.

Wear protective gloves - carry a pair with you. You don’t know who or what you are dealing with.

Be constantly vigilant regarding the movement of other traffic at the scene and look carefully in all directions before entering a live traffic lane. Remember traffic may not be using normal lanes or the position where you expect it to be at a crash scene.

Be aware that the vehicles involved may be carrying hazardous chemicals, flammable liquids in fuel tanks, compressed gases in cylinders and loads of other nasties.

Look out for airbags that have not activated, leakages from air conditioning systems. If the vehicle is on fire don’t touch anything black and sticky and watch out for components that might explode - gas struts on hatchbacks etc.

PROTECT THE SCENE

The main reason for protecting the scene of the crash is once again your own safety although it will be helpful for the Police Crash Investigator if the area is kept sterile and vital marks and evidence are not disturbed.

One person take charge and ask others to assist - most people are prepared to help if you ask them. Ideally the person in charge should not get drawn into other aspects of the scene, i.e. tending to casualties, but if you are on your own this is not always possible and you will need to prioritise.

Use whatever expertise is available in dealing with the crash and injured persons - Doctors, nurses, paramedics, first aiders etc.

Ideally stop all traffic from passing through the scene. Use your own vehicle and any others prepared to help to close off traffic lanes or divert traffic away from the crash scene.

Use whatever warning equipment is on the vehicles and consider asking someone to position themselves on the approach to the scene to give advanced warning. At night uses torches, lights or anything else that will draw attention.

Get someone to telephone the emergency services and give the exact location, a description of what is involved and the number and condition of casualties. The Ambulance Service may want to keep in contact with someone at the scene until their own staff arrive.

Don’t let people wander around the scene. Keep everybody off the carriageway and if possible out of vehicles. Be careful of people who are involved but not injured or those with injuries but still mobile who may be shocked or disorientated. Ask someone to stay with them in a safe location until the Ambulance Service arrives.

ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE LOOKED AFTER YOUR OWN SAFETY AND MADE THE SCENE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE SHOULD YOU CONSIDER GOING TO THE AID OF THOSE WHO ARE TRAPPED OR INJURED

The first aid considerations are covered under another heading on the website.

Once the emergency services arrive tell them exactly what you have done and, if you are in a position to stop and help further, then ask if you can be of any assistance.

What is the last thing to remember about Crash Scene Management?

SELF PRESERVATION - LOOK AFTER YOURSELF!