You’re walking down the street, and suddenly, there’s a loud crash. A car has veered off the road. People start gathering, some are panicking, others are just filming. The driver looks injured. What would you do? You are at home or at work, and someone has fallen to the ground unconscious, or has fallen down the stairs, has a fractured leg, and is bleeding profusely. What would you do? The next paragraphs will teach us the best practices for managing emergencies.
Accidents happen in a flash, and in those early moments before medical professionals arrive or before you get to the hospital, what a bystander does or doesn’t do can make a big difference. This guide walks you through the dos and don’ts when you witness an accident. You don’t have to be a doctor to help! You just need to know how to act.
Rule No. 1: Secure your Environment
The first rule in any emergency is ‘your safety first’. If you get injured, you can’t help anyone.
Look around; Is there fire, leaking fuel, moving traffic, or exposed wires? If it happens at home, check to be sure the floor isn’t slippery, and there is nothing that would bring harm to you.
If the scene is dangerous, move yourself and others away. You do not want to add yourself or others to the list of persons in need of medical attention.
If the environment is safe, then approach the victim.
Never run blindly into a dangerous scene. Your safety comes first.
Another thing is to remain calm. A calm helper saves lives. A panicked one may cause harm.
Rule No. 2: Call for Help Immediately
Even if you think you can handle it, always call for help. Shout out to people around to come to your aid. If there is an emergency services line, point out to someone directly to dial the line. In Nigeria, the general emergency number is 112.
When you call the line, be clear and say what happened, how many people are injured, and where exactly you are. While waiting, you begin first aid.
Rule No. 3: The ABCDE of Saving Lives
Doctors and paramedics are trained in ATLS, which follows the ‘ABCDE’ system.
A – This stands for Airway.
You want to check if this person is breathing or if something is blocking them from doing so.
If the person is unconscious, gently tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway.
If something is blocking the mouth like food, vomit or blood turn the head to the side and clear it carefully.
Do not put your fingers deep into your throat.
B – This stands for Breathing.
I don’t see anything blocking this person’s airway but how do I know he/she is actually breathing?
- Watch if the chest is rising.
- Listen near the mouth for breath sounds.
- Feel with your cheek for air movement.
If they are not breathing and you know CPR, start chest compressions. If you don’t, focus on calling for help fast.
C –This stands for Circulation.
You want to assess blood loss. Is this person bleeding from any part of their body?
If there is bleeding, these are things you should do before help comes or before you get to the hospital.
- Apply pressure; With your hand press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth. Keep pressure until bleeding stops or help comes.
- Elevate the bleeding limb. This helps reduce blood flow to that area.
- Apply a tourniquet.This is done if bleeding is severe, it is applied above the injury.
If help is delayed, the tourniquet should be loosened in 30minutes to prevent total loss of blood flow and death of the limb.
Do not remove objects stuck inside (like a knife) , you should hold pressure around it.
D – This stands for Disability
You check the person’s level of consciousness
Talk to the person: can they answer? Can they follow commands? If they don’t respond at all, treat them as unconscious and keep the airway open.
E – This stands for Exposure
There may be injuries that you can’t see. Quickly check the rest of the body for hidden injuries (burns, cuts, swelling).
Keep the person warm, cover with a cloth, but avoid unnecessary exposure.
Common Emergencies and the Appropriate Response
- Seizures (Fits)
Do not force anything into their mouth.
Move objects away so they don’t injure themselves.
Let the seizure finish ( usually takes 1–3 minutes)
Afterward, roll them onto their side, this is called the recovery position, so they can breathe easily.
Call for help if it lasts longer than 5 minutes or repeats.
- Fainting
Lay the person flat on their back.
Raise the legs slightly to improve blood flow to the brain.
Loosen tight clothing.
They usually wake up in a few minutes. If not, call for help immediately.
- Burns
Place the burn under cool running water for 10–20 minutes.
Remove tight clothing or jewelry near the burn, but don’t peel off stuck clothes.
Do not apply oil, butter, toothpaste, or raw eggs.
Cover with a clean, non-fluffy cloth.
- Cardiac Arrest
(When Someone Stops Breathing or Has No Pulse)
If you are trained, start CPR: push hard and fast on the chest, at least 100–120 times per minute.
If there’s an AED (defibrillator) nearby, use it. Many malls and airports now have them.
If untrained, focus on calling for help and starting chest compressions if possible.
THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO
- Don’t crowd around the victim, give them air. That is not the time to start taking pictures or videos.
- Do not move the victim unnecessarily. When moving the person to a vehicle, ensure you hold every part of their body still, and ensure you stabilize the head, neck, and limb, this would minimize the possibility of worsening the injury.
- Don’t give food or water to someone unconscious.
- Don’t pour palm oil, kerosene, or concoctions for poisoning, take them to the hospital.
- Don’t delay hospital transfer because you want to “try something first.”
- Don’t try to remove objects sticking out (like glass or metal)
How Best to Prepare for Any Emergency
Emergencies happen without warning. A little preparation goes a long way:
- Keep a first aid kit at home, in the car, and at the workplace.
- Learn CPR and basic first aid; Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, and hospitals offer training.
3. Save emergency numbers in your phone.
4. Talk with family and friends about what to do in common emergencies.
CONCLUSION
Accidents happen every day, you don’t need a medical degree to save a life. You just need the willingness to act and a little knowledge of what to do before professional help arrives.
The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) system used by doctors teaches that the first few minutes are critical. As an ordinary person, your role is to make the scene safe, call for help, and do the simple things that keep someone alive until they reach the hospital. So next time you witness an accident, you won’t just be a bystander, but someone’s lifeline. The life you save tomorrow could be a stranger’s, a friend’s, or even that of someone you love.
