Traffic accidents are an increasing cause of death and injury around the

world, and several countries have launched road safety campaigns in

recent decades to decrease mortality and morbidity on their roads
1.

What causes traffic accidents?

There are unsafe factors

Traffic accidents occur for various reasons. While problems with roads or safety facilities lead to some
accidents, the majority of traffic accidents are caused by drivers' failure to abide by regulations, consider
pedestrians, and acknowledge dangerous behaviors.

Unsafe road environments

Unsafe road environments refer to external factors uncontrollable by drivers, such as visibility impairment by
darkness, slippery surface, insufficient safety facilities, inadequately repaired vehicles, pedestrians or other
vehicles that suddenly get in the way.

Insufficient driver knowledge

Traffic accidents are often caused by ignorance. Most driver knowledge is acquired through experience. This
is why so many new circumstances lead to accidents. If you know what happens when you speed or suddenly
stop under special circumstances including rain, snow or a winding road, you would be careful not to speed or
brake suddenly.

Failure to recognize danger

While there are some drivers who slow down upon recognizing potential dangers of certain situations, others
do not see any possible peril. These differences in danger recognition stem from experiences and, in
particular, different standards. Drivers with stronger desire to arrive at their destination as soon as possible are
more likely to take risks.

Improper thinking

There are many types of improper thinking that lead to reckless driving. Such thinking includes believing that it
is ok to violate traffic regulations as long as you do not cause accident; rushing to get to your destination even
when you are not late; and regarding pedestrians on the road as obstacles.
 Wrong driving habits

Many drivers tend to wrongly believe that their undesirable driving habits do not pose any danger just because
they have yet to cause traffic accidents. This belief can reinforce such habits and thus leads to fatal accidents.

How to prevent traffic accidents

Many traffic accidents occur because of failed prediction; therefore, you should drive in accordance with
common sense so that others can accurately predict your next moves.

Abide by traffic regulations

Everyone expects pedestrians and drivers to comply with traffic regulations. Failure to meet this expectation is
the main cause of unsafe driving. Even when other driver violates traffic regulations, you can prevent
accidents by meeting that person's expectation that you will follow traffic rules. In short, abiding by traffic
regulations is the most basic preventive measure against traffic accidents.
Avoid sudden movess

It is hard to predict sudden changes in direction or speed, or sudden move of other vehicles. While you can
use brakes to signal that you are slowing down, you should avoid sudden braking as it is likely to cause crash.
When entering roads, temporarily stop to look around for oncoming traffic.

Do not speed

Accidents often occur even when there is enough inter-vehicle distance, because the speed of the oncoming
vehicle is much faster than it appears. Indeed, it is extremely difficult to accurately judge the speed of an
oncoming vehicle from a distance. Speeding further compounds this difficulty. Speeding is even more
dangerous at night because visibility is reduced and light traffic tempts many other drivers to speed.

Clearly signal your direction

If you turn right without using the turn signal at an intersection not installed with traffic lights, you will be likely
to cause traffic accidents. Before turning or changing lane, always signal your intention by using turn signals or
hand signals.
Anticipate danger

It is important to anticipate rule-breaking actions by other vehicles or pedestrians. Being prepared for less-
than-desirable cases will prove invaluable whether or not they come true.

Take your time

The biggest reason for reckless driving and violating traffic regulations is time. Many risk heavy fines, license
suspension, and even traffic accidents just to save a few minutes. Taking time is never a waste of time; it is a
rather small price for safety
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Auto Accident Injuries: 7 Common Injuries Following Auto

Accident and Its Symptoms & Signs
Auto Accident:

Meeting with auto accident can be an horrific experience for the people involved in the
accident. It is not just the loss of your car but the lasting impact that the auto accident can have
on your body, health, and quality of life due to the injuries that you are and your loved ones
are likely to suffer from as a result of auto accident. This article covers the 7 common injuries
that a person is likely to encounter after an auto accident.

7 Common Injuries Following Auto Accident and It's Symptoms and Signs

2. Head Injury Caused by Auto Accident

Head Injury is very common in auto accident as during the high impact collision, head
tends to hit the steering wheel or the side windows leading to some serious injuries to
the head and brain.

Symptoms of Head Injury Following Auto Accident

a. Bleeding
b. Complaint of headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness
 c. Loss of memory, convulsion

d. Severe intractable pain

 Severe headache

e. Symptoms of agitation, profound confusion

f. Inappropriate answers to verbal command

g. Blurring vision and ringing in the ear

h. Semiconscious or unconscious

i. Lethargic, Weakness

Signs of Head Injury Following Auto Accident

j. Pale anemic skin

k. Low blood pressure and heart rate

l. Restless and unable to stand or sit

m. Weakness- unable to lift arms or legs

n. Signs of penetrating wound and bleeding

o. Uneven surface over the skull contour indicating possible fracture

p.
3. Face Injury Caused by Auto Accident
Facial injury is caused by impact with air bag, steering wheel, dashboard, windshield,
side window, car seats, or shattered glass.

Symptoms and Signs of Face Injury Following Auto Accident:

a. Bruises and Laceration

b. Fracture- mandible, maxilla and frontal bone

c. Dislocation- temporomandibular joint, dental injuries

d. Bleeding- moderate to severe bleeding control by pressure dressing

4. Back Injury Caused by Auto Accident

Most common back injury is neck injury secondary to whiplash injury.

Symptoms and Signs of Back Injury Following Auto Accident:

a. Severe pain
b. Bruises, laceration and bleeding observed over skin

c. Penetrating wound

d. Hematoma

e. Severe paravertebral muscle spasm.

5. Chest Injury Caused by Auto Accident
Chest Injury is again very common in auto accident, especially if it is a head-on
collision as the steering wheel is likely to hit your chest with great force thereby causing
some serious damage to the chest bone.

Symptoms and Signs of Chest Injury Following Auto Accident:

a. Chest wall pain and intercostal neuralgia

b. Fractured Rib

c. External bleeding

d. Short of breath, Difficulties in breathing

e. Pale skin and anemic

f. Blood in sputum

g. Weakness, lethargic

h. Agitation and anxious

i. Alert and not confuse

j. Memory and vision normal

k. Penetrating wound
6. Abdominal Injury Caused by Auto Accident
Victims of Auto Accident are known to sustain seat belt injury, which is associated with
a very high rate of injury to the Abdomen. There is a high chances of sustaining abrasion
and hematoma with seat belt injury to the abdomen.

Symptoms and Signs of Abdominal Injury Following Auto

Accident

a. Severe abdominal pain

b. External bleeding

c. Difficulties in breathing

d. Pale skin and anemic

e. Blood in stool, urine and vomits

f. Dizziness and confusion

g. Lethargy

h. Vomiting blood

i. Coughing blood with sputum

j. Blood in stool

k. Penetrating wound

7. Fracture Caused by Auto Accident

A very common consequence of auto accident is fracture or broken bone. Listed below
are the common fractures that a person is likely to sustain in auto accident.
Lower Extremities Fractures- Fracture of femur, tibia, fibula, ankle and metatarsal
bone.
Upper Extremities Fractures- Fracture of humerus, radius, ulna, wrist bone and
metacarpal.
 Symptoms and Signs of Fracture Following Auto Accident

a. Severe intractable pain

b. Bleeding and penetrating wound

c. Signs of fracture of bone

d. Pale skin and anemic

e. Dizziness and confusion

f. Lethargic

g. Agitation and restless

h. Weakness in fractured extremity only

i. Low blood pressure

j. Rapid heart rate

k. Unable to stand or sit

l. Unable to lift fracture limb.

8. Joint Dislocation
Joint Dislocation are very common in Auto Accident. Listed below the joints that are
likely to get dislocated in the event of an auto accident:
 Lower Extremities- Hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint and metatarsal joint.
Upper Extremities- Shoulder joint, elbow joint, wrist joint and metacarpal joint.

Symptoms and Signs of Joint Dislocation Following Auto

Accident:

a. Severe intractable pain

b. Agitation and restlessness

c. Lethargic and dizziness

d. Weakness in dislocated extremity only

e. Pale skin

f. Low blood pressure

g. Rapid heart rate

h. Unable to stand or sit

i. Unable to lift arms or legs

j. Signs of penetrating wound

k. Signs of bleeding

l. Signs of dislocation of the joint.

Also Read:

1. Causes of Truck Accidents, Common Injuries Sustained & How A Lawyer Can Help Settle Claims

2. Automobile Accident Injuries: Types of Injury-Mild, Moderate or Severe Injuries, Medical

Management of Injuries Following Automobile Accident

3. Common Injuries in a Rear-End Collision & Role of Personal Injury Lawyer in Rear-End Collision

4. Common Injuries in a Side-Swipe Car Accident

5. Common Injuries in Head-On Collision & Role of Personal Injury Lawyers in Head-On Collision

Note: Information provided is not a substitute for physician, hospital ny form of medical care. Consult your medical care
provider for medical advice, treatment and followup.
 Copyright © 2018 ePainAssist, All rights reserved.

 3. ids.
 Hydro-cortisone cream - for skin inflammation and rashes.

Other contents to add to a good Vehicle First Aid Kit are:-

 CPR Mask - learn how to perform CPR before you need it for real.
 Elastic and crepe bandages - a few different widths.
 Gauze and non-stick dressing pads - preferably sterile.
 Gauze squares - for either applying cream, gels or antiseptic or for putting pressure on
and absorbing blood from bleeding wounds. We prefer not to use cotton balls as the
fibres can get left behind in the wound and may cause trouble later. But if that is all you
have go ahead and use them as they are better then nothing.
 Triangular bandage - For slings, padding, strapping fractured limbsto splints if a fracture
is suspected.
 Adhesive tape.
 Band aids - a variety of shapes and sizes for small cuts and scrapes.

 Instant cold packs - The kind you snap to make it cold. These are so useful with bruising,
swelling and sprains. They are single use, so if you have space grab a couple for your kit.
 Two tongue depressors or ice block sticks for finger splints.
 Normal saline 10ml vials for the double use as an eye wash or wound cleansing.
 Synthetic gloves: Put in a few pairs of these.
 Moist towelettes/wipes - for those times when you need to clean dirt or mud etc off
someone or something.
 Saline solution - for flushing wounds and eyes.
 Sunscreen/Insect repellent - to prevent sunburn and insect bites when that picnic or
football game goes just that bit longer.
 If going on a long trip take a thermometer.
 Torch - the shake or wind up type so you do not need batteries.
 Tweezers - good quality ones. The cheap quality ones often do not do the job and are
therefore frustrating.
 Curved Scissors - Scissors come in handy and have many uses. Curved medical ones are
great as they don't have sharp points. In an emergency you might need to cut clothes
away from an injury site and it is easy to poke through something and cause further
injury when you are in a hurry or under stress.
 Mobile phone - most people have one these days but worth mentioning

4.
The following is a step by step approach as guidance should you be the first on scene at
an accident:
 When approaching an accident scene it is really important to ensure your own safety. Make sure
that all traffic has stopped and it is flagged up that there has been an accident otherwise there
may be additional casualties. Be aware of oncoming traffic to ensure that is not posing an
additional danger. Note if there is any fuel spillage or potential fire risk – turn off car ignitions if
possible. Put on vehicle hazard lights and use a warning triangle if there is one available.
 If other people are around; get them to phone the emergency services – if you are on your own,
assess the situation and treat any life threatening conditions first.
 Quickly establish how many vehicles have been involved and assess the occupants of all the
vehicles to ensure no one has life threatening injuries.

 People screaming, crying and making a noise have to be breathing – your initial priority is
therefore to check anyone quiet and not moving.
 Quickly check if quiet casualties are responsive: – if there is no response check if they are
breathing. If they are unresponsive and breathing ensure they are in a position where they are
leaning forward or to one side in a position where the airway will remain open. Move them the
minimum necessary and avoid twisting them. Keep talking to the casualty calmly as they can
hear you even if they are unconscious. Keep them warm.

 Support the head and neck to avoid them twisting – do not cover their ears, keeping talking to
them calmly and keep checking that they are still breathing
 If the person is not breathing you will need to resuscitate – if you are on your own and have not
called an ambulance – do this now and ask their advice as to the best way to resuscitate, as this
is not easy to do in a car.
 Only remove an unconscious person from a vehicle if there is an immediate danger to
their life from fire, flood, and explosion….ask the emergency services over the phone for their
advice as to what you should do. It is very difficult to remove an unconscious person from a
vehicle and there is a major danger that you could worsen their injuries and injure yourself in the
process.
 Conscious casualties should be entrusted to the care of bystanders and removed from the
wreckage to a safe area. Be aware of confused and dazed casualties who may wander into
danger. Brief the bystanders to keep the casualties warm and calm and help them to contact next
of kin. Look for any major bleeding and life threatening injuries and treat these first.
 Note the nature of the wreckage and be aware of possible injuries as a result: bodies are softer
than metalwork, so if there is major damage to the vehicle it is possible that there could be
internal injuries to the casualty – ensure the bystanders notify you if there is any change in the
casualty’s condition.
 People thrown from horses, motorbikes or bicycles are at particular risk of damaging their pelvis.
If you know how to stabilise someone’s pelvis then do this and keep monitoring them for signs of
shock as a fractured pelvis can lead to internal bleeding.
 Anyone trapped in a vehicle should be monitored carefully and the emergency services notified
immediately. If someone is crushed, note the exact time when the accident happened as this is
important in deciding on how and when to release the casualty). If there are additional people
around, show them how to support the person’s neck to avoid them twisting as there is the
possibility of a spinal injury.
 If there is severe bleeding this will need to be controlled – wear gloves and apply dressings.
 Do not allow anyone to smoke at the scene or give the casualties anything to eat or drink
following the accident in case they later need an operation.
 If a motorcyclist is involved only remove their helmet if they are unconscious and there is no
other way to assess their breathing or their airway is in danger. There is usually a way of lifting
the visor, it may be sensible to loosen their chin strap.
 If a casualty has been hit by a car and they are lying on their back unconscious and breathing –
they should be carefully rolled into the recovery position to keep their spine in line. This should
ideally be done with the support of others to avoid twisting the spine.
 (If you have received advanced training on MILS and recognition of early airway obstruction and
are confident that you are able to react quickly if their airway is in danger – then maintain MILS
and continuous airway monitoring and roll them into the recovery position immediately should
they begin to obstruct).
 If a casualty has been hit by a vehicle or thrown from one and they are conscious in the road,
they should be encouraged to keep still. Ensure that someone is directing traffic and maintaining
safety. Support their head and neck, keep them warm and dry and wait for the emergency
services.
Everyone on the road should have a suitably stocked First Aid kit and know how to use its
contents.


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3 Comments

1.
emma on June 1, 2017 at 10:18 am

There is information on first aid in the theory information for the driving test. However, in
translating these questions into the multiple choice element they have sometimes got things
wrong. My daughter questioned me on a question from her driving test and the question itself
was obscure to say the least and misleading. First Aid really should be taught properly at this
 stage. We are one of very few countries in Europe where this doesn’t happen and it is a great
opportunity to gradually upskill a whole generation.
Reply

2.
lindsay kunthasami on June 14, 2018 at 3:33 am

Hi .I wish to follow a 1st Aid course in Road Accident .Will you please send me details and
condition to join your class.With thanks. Best regards.
Reply


emma on September 12, 2018 at 10:21 am

Dear Lindsay,
We seem to have overlooked your comment, are you still interested in joining us for a first aid
course?
Best wishes,
Elsa
Reply

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