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The First Few Minutes

© Susan Staples

As you are coming out of the grocery store a teen on a bicycle is hit by a car. Would you know what to do? You make the choice of helping or not. Most states have a good "Samaritan Law" that protects those that help someone. The law is different in every state so you would have to check your own state for the details.

The first thing that needs to be done is called "Situation Assessment." This assessment can be done in a matter of seconds by just looking around. Is the scene of the incident safe for you to walk into? Are there any dangers that could hurt you? If there is anything that could be dangerous or cause you harm then you stay back and call for help. If the scene is safe for you then you need to make sure that the scene is safe for the patient. Unless there is a severe danger to the patient it is best to leave them right where they are until trained medical personnel can arrive. Moving an injured patient could lead to further injuries to that patient. If the scene is dangerous and the patient needs to be moved then you should use the following procedure to try to prevent further injuries. Bend down at the patient's head; grab their clothing at the front of each shoulder. Make sure that their head is cradled on your arms and pull the patient to safety. Of course, if the situation is severely dangerous and you need to get the patient out fast then you will have to move them anyway that you can.

Who is around that can help you? If needed have someone directing traffic. Send someone to call for help. I cannot stress enough that everyone should know how to call for help in there area. Most areas do have 911 but there are still parts of the country that aren't connected to the 911-dispatch system. These places have their own call system. Please know the number or have it posted close by.

When calling for help the dispatcher is going to have some questions for you. It is normal to be excited and talking fast, take a deep breath, slow down and give the dispatcher the information they need. The more information that you can give them, the more they will know what kind of help to send. The following is a list of questions that the dispatcher may ask you:

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