Automotive Safety – Emergencies

Car accidents are the leading cause of accidental deaths. Anyone who drives a car or other vehicle is exposed to unavoidable danger, but it is important to realize that many accidents can be prevented by taking simple safety precautions.

When choosing a car, carefully consider the number of safety factors built into the car’s design. Safety regulations now require cars to be designed to certain specifications, but beyond these minimum legal requirements there are wide variations in design.

If you already own a car, there are a number of equipment items that can improve your safety and for which you, as the owner or driver, are responsible. They are not just attractive accessories; they could actually save your life. The National Safety Council estimated that if all car drivers and passengers wore seat belts at all times, at least 12,000 to 15,000 lives would be saved each year.

Of course, it is important not only to equip your car with these accessories, but also to use them every time you drive. You must wear your seat belt on every trip, no matter how short. Whenever you travel with small children, make sure they are securely in their child seats or harnesses in the center of the rear seat. This not only protects children in the event of an accident, but also prevents them from distracting the driver. Child restraint systems are also required by law in every state in the United States. Make sure the doors are locked. If there is a dog or other animal in the car, it should ride behind a grill in the back of the car.

You should carry a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and reflective warning device in your car. The warning device can be placed on the road and used as a warning signal in the event of an accident or breakdown. Also carry a toolbox, a tire gauge, and a jack designed for your car.

Your mirrors should be aligned to allow the best possible view of the traffic behind you. A simple wide rearview mirror is safer than a convex mirror, which distorts distances and therefore makes it difficult to calculate speeds. You should have your car serviced regularly, and you should be able to check the condition of the tires, shock absorbers, oil, brakes, windshield wipers, and lights yourself. By taking care of the operating conditions of your car, you minimize the dangers of accident or breakdown.

emergencies

A responsible driver is aware that at any time he or she can be expected to deal with emergencies. The lives of passengers and others may depend on the knowledge and skill of the driver, and the driver must take all possible precautions to minimize the risks of accident or breakdown.

plan the future

Before starting any trip, the driver must make sure that his car is in good condition. Check the engine oil level, tire pressure (including the spare tire), brakes, headlights, water level in the cooling system, battery, and gasoline. Carry a plastic bottle or can in which to carry an emergency supply of water in case you run out. Check the equipment of the car; make sure the jack and toolbox are in the car and all moving objects in the trunk are secure.

For longer trips, carefully calculate your planned route before you leave and take maps with you. If possible, find out about the weather forecasts for the areas through which you intend to travel. Tell a trusted person the details of the route to be taken and your estimated time of arrival.

Check the supplies in your first aid kit, which you should keep in the car at all times. For long trips, you should also take emergency supplies of food to give you energy. Chocolate, nuts, raisins, and glucose or dextrose tablets are especially nutritious.

Also take some means of heat, light and shelter. If you don’t have waterproof sleeping bags, take plenty of fleece blankets for each person. To warm up, take a small solid fuel burner. Candles and matches can also be helpful, and a flashlight and flares should be carried in the car.

If your car breaks down in a remote area, you may need to lure rescuers through the use of some type of signaling device. This can be done using, for example, flashing lights, fire, a whistle, or a car horn. The letters SOS are an internationally recognized distress signal. In the international Morse code these letters are represented by three dots, three dashes and three dots (… —…). This pattern can be made up of flashes of light, blasts from a whistle or car horn, or light-colored sticks or strips of clothing placed on the ground. Another international relief symbol is a triangular pattern of three fires.

Careful trip planning can minimize fatigue, which reduces driver concentration and judgment and therefore increases the chances of an accident. There should be no long, uninterrupted periods of driving, and it is often sensible to share driving with someone you are traveling with. Plan your trip to avoid rush hours in big cities, and stop the car at least once every two hours to exercise or have a snack.

In case of an accident

If you are involved in or arrive at the scene of a traffic accident, you must act promptly and effectively to help injured people and protect them from further danger. The following actions must be carried out:

(1) To prevent a gasoline explosion or any other form of fire, instruct all drivers present to turn off the ignition in their cars. Spread dirt or sand over gasoline that has spilled on the road. Do not allow anyone to smoke. If a fire starts, use a fire extinguisher, blanket, or coat to put it out.

(2) To prevent further collisions, warn oncoming traffic by posting warning signs at least 50 yards (or meters) from the accident (at least 150 yards at night). Use reflective triangles, if available, or have another person give the warning and signal passing traffic. If your car is equipped with hazard warning lights, turn them on.

(3) Be sure to immediately call an ambulance and the police. Use the emergency telephone number and provide the exact location of the accident and the number of people injured.

(4) Examine all injured persons and search for anyone thrown from the accident. Do not move victims unless they are in immediate danger. Unfasten seat belts and carefully remove safety helmets. If the victim’s heart has stopped, give immediate cardiac compression. Then give first aid to all injured parties in order of priority. If an injury is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure to the wound with some clean material and secure a pad with a bandage or cloth strip. If a limb is not broken, it can be raised to decrease bleeding. Do not wipe blood from the eyes in case there are shards of broken glass.

(5) Stay with victims until an ambulance and police arrive. Reassure them about their condition and keep them warm. Do not give them anything to drink or eat. If the accident involves a vehicle that contains flammable or dangerous chemicals or other products, be sure to notify the fire department and police immediately. Make sure others present are aware of the danger and keep them away from the vehicle.