Car Crash Centered First Aid Course

[bigbassin]

Are there any good car crash focused first aid courses out there, I’m in the Atlanta area if that makes a difference.

Work highway construction, and spending all my time next to the interstate I seem to see 3-4 crashes a year in addition to maybe one every other year I see during normal commuting. Typically they happen within 100’ of me and either myself or someone on the crew will be the first person on scene, within seconds due to the proximity. I may beat the ambulance by 10-15 minutes just since I’m literally standing there. My current skills involve calling 911, offering a water bottle, a blanket, directing traffic, and trying to lighten the mood if it’s obvious they will need some help.

I’ve seen two in the last couple months where folks left in a stretcher, I’d like to think I could be better prepared to help in those cases.

 

[timekiller13]

If someone is bleeding to death, call 911and try and stop the bleeding.

If they don’t have a pulse, call 911 and then do CPR.

Beyond that, it doesn’t matter.

 

[AndyB]

Spent 32 years in the fire service and nothing can prepare you for some of the trauma you can be faced with at RTC’s,…. maybe battlefield medic.

Timekiller13 is about right….but you are on the right track if you can also offer some reassurance and calm,

 

[Hnthrdr]

Yeah carrying tourniquets and knowing cpr can save a lot of lives, outside of that there isn’t too much to do. Honestly you need to be really cautious around motor vehicle accidents, don’t put yourself in a bad spot being a Good Samaritan, but sounds like you did the right thing with your current skill set. I would add keep people out of traffic/ from wandering into traffic, find a safe place to sit tight and wait for the paramedics to come

 

[mmac]

For the most part keeping them calm and not moving them is probably best. If they have a neck or head injury, you don't want them wondering around. So call 911 and then follow timekiller13...

 

[gentleman4561]

I would look into stop the bleed classes. That is most likely going to be the most productive/helpful skill that you can have.

I have twice applied tourniquets to car crash victims (one on the top end of 285) and the fact that I have a TQ most likely saved these peoples lives.

 

[tony]

Red Cross basic first aid
Stop the bleed
If your company is big enough, see if they would put together a 1st responder course.

I'm going to be the dick in room, after 30 plus years of fire/EMS unless a crash happens right in front of me, the dust is just settling, or I am on some back country road.
I call 911 and move on. Very rarely do I stop.

 

[Maidenfan539]

+1 on the stop the bleed.
Tourniquet is always with me.

I may be a downer here as well as Tony, but, I would check into your states good samaritan laws. It seems more and more people will do just about anything to make a quick buck, even on the backs of people who are only trying to help.

 

[Crowmangler]

Carrying a fire extinguisher in your vehicle should be at the top of anyone's list.
No amount of CPR or tourniquet will stop someone from burning

 

[Wellsdw]

Red Cross basic first aid
Stop the bleed
If your company is big enough, see if they would put together a 1st responder course.

I'm going to be the dick in room, after 30 plus years of fire/EMS unless a crash happens right in front of me, the dust is just settling, or I am on some back country road.
I call 911 and move on. Very rarely do I stop.

20 years here……100% right. I’ve made a difference off duty a few times over my time but “conditions dictate actions” stopping on the interstate as a bystander is a good way to become roadkill for minimal gain without equipment, training, experience.

 

[Marbles]

First responder course would be what I recommend. MVCs can cover a lot, be able to stop bleeding, know when not to move someone, and when to move them anyway are the primary things. CPR is standard in the US, but honestly pretty worthless in a traumatic cardiac arrest ; rescue breathing is more likely to be useful, which is no longer taught in lay person CPR as the AHA focuses on VF/VT type arrests.

The things that save trauma arrests are higher level when you get beyond stop bleeding and prevent further harm.

Consider doing some volunteer firefighting, honestly managing the scene would be priority number one. When I was a volunteer, if first on scene you assess and establish control, and avoid touching anyone because the only thing worse them them dying is you dying with them.