Road car accident first aid
Each year, over 1,200 lives are lost on Australian roads. We don’t say that to scare but it should be a push to action. National Road Safety Week has just ended but it shouldn’t be just a calendar entry. It’s a chance for everyone to be ready to deliver first aid when it matters most.
In the chaotic moments following a crash, it’s the bystander who knows what to do. The confident, calm presence who says, “I’ve got this. Time to lend a hand.”
So ask yourself these questions:
Would I know what to do if I witnessed a car accident?
Could I provide lifesaving first aid while waiting for emergency services?
Could I help someone in trauma when every second counts?
If the answer is shaky or unsure, then please read on my friend, because your knowledge might just be the seatbelt someone else needs.
Step 1: Assess and secure the scene
For first aid responders, the difference between responding and reacting is one point five seconds worth of thought. You want to be a first aid responder not a first aid reactor. Before you move into the scene, you must first play the strategist.
Approach the accident site with caution, not chaos. Ensure traffic has halted in both directions because one emergency is quite enough, thank you.
Once you’ve ensured safety, signal to ensure everyone knows what’s going on.
Flash the hazard lights
Deploy a warning triangle if available
Cut the ignition and take a whiff - keep your eyes peeled for fire risks or fuel leaks
And if there are bystanders? Enlist them. Direct traffic, secure the scene and make the space safe so you can do what you came to do: help.
Step 2: Call 000
Dial 000 or delegate it to someone else with authority in your voice:
"You — yes, you in the red polo top — call Triple Zero and report exactly what I say!"
If reception is poor dial 112 from mobile phones. That number will connect you to emergency services.
Once connected, breathe, speak clearly, and give the essentials:
Your phone number so they can call back if needed
A description of the crash including how many vehicles, injuries and any hazards
The location as specifically as possible
Unsure where you are? Use Google Maps, long press on the screen and your latitude and longitude will be revealed. Give those numbers to the operator.
Make sure you stay on the line. Even if you must momentarily set the phone down, keep the connection alive. Operators can assist with first aid guidance if needed.
Step 3: Primary Assessment — who needs you most
In a scene with multiple casualties, your greatest asset is not speed, it’s clarity. You must prioritise. Who needs immediate attention? Who can wait a moment longer?
Begin your triage by identifying the quiet ones. Our instinct draws us toward those who are crying, screaming, or yelling “My arm! My leg!” But remember: if they can make noise, they can breathe. That is good news.
Focus instead on the silent. The still. The unconscious.
Are they responsive?
Are they breathing?
Is their airway clear?
Those whose lives are immediately at risk? Those are your first priority. Begin first aid without delay. Every second you hesitate may be one too many.
Stay calm. Stay focused.
Step 4: Address life-threatening emergencies
In serious road accidents, one of the most immediate threats to survival is a blocked airway.
Check responsiveness
Gently touch the person and speak directly to them:
“Can you hear me?”
“Open your eyes”
“What’s your name?”
“Squeeze my hand”
If they are unresponsive and breathing put them into the recovery position.
If they’re unresponsive and not breathing, start CPR.
If a defibrillator is available, use it as soon as possible. Follow the voice prompts.
Severe Bleeding
Inspect the casualty. Don’t be fooled by clean clothes or a calm expression, serious bleeding can be hidden by clothes or the position they’re lying in.
If clothing is in the way, remove it or cut it. If you have a First Aid Kit, even better. Find bandages and apply firm, direct pressure to the wound. If you don’t have a first aid kit, improvise like a resourceful MacGyver. If you are too young and you missed out on watching MacGyver…. Just do something. Get clothes, clean, non-fluffy fabric, something to get direct pressure on that bleed.
Keep that pressure constant. Don’t peek. Don’t loosen. Just hold, and hold some more, until help arrives.
Throughout it all, make sure you reassure them and keep them warm. Survival is not just physical, it’s emotional too.
Only move a casualty when you must
Ah yes, the noble instinct: to swoop in, lift the injured, and whisk them to safety, like Ryan did for Marissa in The OC. But alas in road trauma, noble instincts must bow to neurological reality.
Spinal injuries are frighteningly common in road crashes. So here’s the golden rule:
Do NOT move the casualty unless absolutely necessary.
If there’s fire, an explosion risk, or another clear danger, then move them carefully. Otherwise, stay put. If you’re unsure, assume a spinal injury.
If they’re unconscious and breathing, lying on their back, they’ll need to be placed in the recovery position, but with utmost care. Support the head, neck, and spine in a straight line. Recruit help as this is not a solo act. Twisting the spine can cause permanent damage.
If the casualty is a conscious pedestrian or motorcyclist, hit or thrown by a vehicle:
Encourage them to stay still
Support their head and neck
Keep them warm and dry
A note on fractures: If you suspect a break in the hip or femur, avoid movement but do what you can to splint or bind.
The Road Ahead
The aftermath of a road crash is no place for guesswork but it is the place for knowledge.
Keep a well-stocked First Aid Kit in your car
Stay ready to turn chaos into care
You are the difference.
The information provided in this blog offers general insights only. The content is not intended to serve as medical advice and if you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 000 immediately.