Road_to_Solo_driving_handbook (2)

Rules and responsibilities
2. Make the crash scene safe
and protect the area
• Position your car with its hazard
lights flashing, to warn other
motorists, or use headlights to
light up the scene if necessary
• Send someone down the road to
warn approaching traffic, and turn
off the ignition in damaged vehicles.
3. Check the casualties
Is the person conscious?
• For conscious casualties:
– Talk to the casualty, tell them
your name and reassure them
– Treat any injuries
– Check for and control any
heavy bleeding (see Stop heavy
bleeding on page 161).
If the person seems to be
unconscious:
• Gently touch the casualty on the
shoulder, give a simple command
e.g. ‘squeeze my hands’ to see if
they can respond.
If they do not respond:
• Check airway.
– Open the casualty’s mouth
and check for any loose or
obstructive objects e.g. loose
dentures, vomit, blood etc., and
clear from the airway
– If the airway is clear, open the
airway by gently tilting the head
back, and check for breathing.
• Check breathing.
– Look for the rise and fall of
the chest
– Listen for breathing
– Feel for the casualty’s breath
on your cheek.
– Continue to maintain an open
airway
– If the casualty is not breathing
begin cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (see page 161)
– Check for signs of life
(movement, breathing,
colour, etc.).
For conscious, breathing
casualties still in the vehicle:
• If you are certain that the vehicle
and surrounds are safe, and the
casualty is either conscious and/
or breathing, they do not have to
be unnecessarily removed until
specialist help arrives, unless
circumstances arise, such as:
– They stop breathing
– Their condition worsens
– It is no longer safe for them
to stay in the vehicle.
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