First-response decisions at a night road accident
At 9:40 p.m., a constable on night beat finds a two-wheeler accident on a two-lane highway. The rider, a man about 28, is sitting on the road, conscious but confused, with a deep cut on his right forearm bleeding steadily. The pillion rider, a woman about 25, is lying face down, unconscious, with noisy breathing; her helmet is still on. A crowd of about 15 people has gathered, some using mobile phone lights, and a bystander is about to pull off the woman's helmet. Another offers water to the injured man. Traffic is still moving past at speed. The constable has a first-aid box, a reflective jacket, a torch, and a radio; the ambulance is 15 minutes away. The road curves just before the spot, and there is no street light. The constable must act before the ambulance arrives and must preserve the scene for investigation.
1. List the constable's first five actions in order, explaining why each comes before the next.
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- Make the scene safe: park the patrol vehicle before the curve with hazard lights on, put on the reflective jacket, and use the torch to warn approaching traffic. Without this, the constable and the injured could be hit by a third vehicle. 2. Radio the control room for an ambulance and traffic backup, giving the exact location and number of injured. 3. Move the crowd back and stop or slow traffic; onlookers with phone lights are not a safe warning system. 4. Assess the unconscious woman: check responsiveness and breathing, but do not let anyone pull the helmet off. 5. Control the man's bleeding with direct pressure using sterile gauze from the first-aid box. The order moves from scene safety to calling for help, then to patient care.
2. How should the constable handle the woman's helmet and the man's bleeding, and why should water not be given?
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The helmet should stay on unless it blocks the airway or makes ventilation impossible. It supports the neck and reduces movement of a possible spinal injury. If breathing is noisy, the constable can support the head and jaw without twisting the neck; if vomiting occurs, the patient must be log-rolled with the head, neck and trunk kept in line. For the forearm, apply firm direct pressure with gauze, add a dressing if blood soaks through, and elevate the arm only if no fracture is suspected. A tourniquet is a last resort for uncontrolled life-threatening bleeding. Water should not be given because the man is confused and may vomit and inhale it; he may also need surgery. Keep him warm and monitored.
3. What three scene details should be recorded for the investigation before the vehicles are moved?
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Record the position of the two-wheeler, the injured persons and any debris or broken parts relative to the road edge and centre line. Record skid marks, scrape marks and the point of impact, with measurements if possible. Record the lighting, road curvature, weather and any visibility obstruction, plus the time and names and phone numbers of independent witnesses. These details matter because the bend and lack of street light may explain the crash, and because vehicle positions can be lost once traffic is allowed through.