First Aid After a Car Accident: How to Respond Correctly

A traffic accident is an exceptional situation that can unsettle even experienced drivers. Between the moment of impact and the arrival of emergency services, crucial minutes often pass. What happens during this time can determine the severity of the accident's consequences. It's not just about medical measures, but first and foremost about securing the accident scene and self-protection. We explain the most important steps and what really matters in the first minutes after an accident.

The First Seconds After Impact

Immediately after an accident, those involved often experience a state of disorientation. The body releases stress hormones, the pulse quickens, and thinking becomes flooded by the situation. This state of shock is a natural reaction and affects accident victims as well as first responders who happen to arrive at the scene. The most important thing at this moment is to gather one's thoughts and proceed in a structured manner.

Before any assistance can begin, self-protection comes first. This principle may seem selfish at first glance, but it's logically imperative. Anyone who puts themselves in danger cannot help others and may themselves become a victim requiring rescue. Concretely, this means: switch on hazard lights, put on high-visibility vest, secure the accident scene. This sequence should be internalised until it becomes automatic.

The warning triangle is placed at sufficient distance from the accident scene. On A-roads and B-roads, at least 45 metres is considered appropriate; on motorways, it should be at least 150 metres, and correspondingly more on roads with poor visibility. The path to the placement location is taken along the roadside, never on the carriageway itself. Following vehicles often spot pedestrians on the road late, particularly in darkness or poor visibility conditions.

Making the Emergency Call Correctly

The emergency call to 999 (or the Europe-wide 112) is the most important step in alerting professional help. The control room needs precise information to dispatch the right emergency services. A structured emergency call significantly speeds up help and avoids follow-up questions that cost time.

The classic questions form the framework for a complete emergency call. Where is the accident location? This information is the most important of all. On motorways, junction numbers and direction of travel help; on other roads, the nearest town and prominent landmarks. Smartphones with location sharing enabled can transmit the position automatically, provided the control room has corresponding systems.

What has happened? A brief description of the accident enables the control room to make an initial assessment. A rear-end collision with bodywork damage requires different resources than a head-on collision with trapped persons. How many casualties are there and what type of injuries? Here too, a factual description helps more than emotional accounts. The number of casualties, obvious injury patterns, and consciousness levels are relevant information.

After making the emergency call, the line should not be ended immediately. The control room may have follow-up questions or give first aid instructions. The conversation only ends when the dispatcher signals this. In the meantime, the mobile phone can be put on speaker to keep both hands free for assistance measures.

Assessing the Casualties

Before specific first aid measures are initiated, the first responder gains an overview of the situation. With multiple casualties, prioritisation must occur. The so-called triage is based on the severity of injuries and survival chances. People calling loudly for help are generally less critical than those lying motionless.

Speaking to a casualty provides initial clues about their condition. Anyone who responds and can maintain eye contact is conscious. Anyone who doesn't react to being addressed may be unconscious or in shock. In this case, a careful pain stimulus follows, such as a light pinch on the back of the hand. If there's no reaction to this either, unconsciousness is present, requiring further measures.

Breathing is checked by carefully tilting the casualty's head back and clearing the airways. The helper's ear approaches the casualty's mouth. If an airflow is perceptible and the chest visibly rises, the person is breathing. If these signs are absent, respiratory arrest is present, requiring immediate resuscitation.

The Recovery Position

For unconscious persons who are breathing independently, the recovery position is the most important measure. It prevents the relaxed tongue from blocking the airways or vomit from entering the windpipe. Both risks can lead to death by suffocation within minutes without countermeasures.

Performing the recovery position begins with bending the near arm at shoulder height. The far arm is placed across the chest so that the back of the hand rests against the casualty's near cheek. The far leg is bent and used as a lever to pull the person towards you. The head is slightly tilted back to keep the airways open, and the mouth points downward so fluids can drain.

Regular monitoring of breathing remains necessary even after placing the person in the recovery position. A casualty's condition can deteriorate at any time. If breathing stops, resuscitation measures must begin immediately. Continuous monitoring only ends with the arrival of the ambulance service.

Special Considerations for Trapped Persons

Not infrequently, accident victims are trapped in the vehicle and cannot be easily freed. In this situation, particular care is required. Technical rescue is the responsibility of the fire service, which has specialist equipment for freeing trapped persons. Lay helpers should under no circumstances attempt to pull casualties from the vehicle by force.

Rescue from the vehicle by first responders is only justified when there is immediate danger to life that would be greater by remaining in the vehicle than by possible worsening of injuries. Typical examples are a burning vehicle or a car threatening to sink into water. In all other cases, it's safer to leave the trapped person in the vehicle and care for them until professional help arrives.

Caring for trapped persons includes stabilising the cervical spine if trauma is suspected. The head is fixed from behind with both hands and held in a neutral position. At the same time, it's important to talk to the injured person, inform them about the situation, and convey calm. Psychological care is an often underestimated aspect of first aid that can nevertheless have significant influence on the outcome.

Dealing with Bleeding

Severe bleeding is among the most threatening injuries that can occur in traffic accidents. The human body contains approximately five to six litres of blood. A loss of more than one litre already leads to shock symptoms; loss of two litres or more is life-threatening without medical care. Stopping bleeding therefore has high priority.

The most effective method for stopping bleeding is direct pressure on the wound. A dressing or, if necessary, a clean piece of clothing is pressed firmly onto the bleeding site and held there. The pressure should be strong enough to significantly reduce or stop the blood flow. Applying pressure is not a pleasant measure, neither for the casualty nor the helper, but it's effective and can be life-saving.

For bleeding on the extremities, elevating the affected body part supports bleeding control. Gravity reduces blood pressure in the raised limbs, which weakens the bleeding. This measure supplements the pressure dressing but doesn't replace it. Tourniquets should only be applied in absolute emergencies and require specialist knowledge, as incorrect application risks tissue damage.

Psychological First Aid

The emotional burden of a traffic accident is frequently underestimated. Not only the physically injured, but also accident witnesses and first responders can be traumatised by the experience. Psychological first aid begins at the accident scene and continues in the hours and days afterwards.

Communication, attention, and conveying safety are the cornerstones of psychological care. A calm, assured tone of voice has a calming effect on casualties and bystanders alike. Information about the current situation, such as that the ambulance is already on its way, reduces anxiety and provides a sense of control in an uncontrollable situation.

After the arrival of emergency services, the first responder's task doesn't end abruptly. The handover to the ambulance service includes all relevant information gathered during care. Observations about the accident, changes in the casualties' condition, and measures taken are valuable for further treatment. Afterwards, first responders should also look after themselves and seek psychological support if needed.