Emergency first aid applied at the scene of a road accident can mean the difference between life and death, and also reduce the severity of injuries suffered. The more drivers who learn emergency first aid makes our roads safer for all.

What is emergency first aid?

Emergency first aid is the provision of aid at the scene of an accident before trained paramedic teams arrive at the scene. It can involve the treatment of superficial burns, staunching of blood loss and the provision of CPR.

Emergency first aid training will teach you the correct way to help injured people who are:

• not breathing
• choking
• bleeding
• suffering from burns
• suffering from head, neck and spine injuries.

Call for an ambulance: If someone is seriously injured in a road accident, make sure you, or someone with you, call 000 for an ambulance.

Motor accidents and the law

You must pull over: If you’re in a car accident, failure to pull over and consult with the other driver can result in a steep fine, a licence disqualification, and/or imprisonment. If you don’t pull over, you could be considered to have committed a hit-and-run. You must pull over immediately – even for minor incidents – before taking any further action.

Once you’ve pulled over, assist others immediately: Did you know that in NSW, you’re legally obligated to assist others in the event of a car crash? It doesn’t matter if the accident was your fault or not – if you’re physically capable, you must give assistance.

If you know emergency first aid, the effectiveness of your assistance will be greatly improved and may even save a life.

Remove debris: Depending on your physical condition after the crash, you should remove hazardous debris from the road as soon as possible. If you’re too injured to remove the debris, then obviously you should sit tight until help arrives. But things like broken glass, car bumpers, or anything that fell out of your vehicle can cause another accident nearby. The last thing you want in this situation is to be responsible for more damage or injuries.