Emergency Procedures and Basic First Aid Response
Scene control first
At any crash or medical emergency, the first moves are protective, not clinical: stop safely, set the parking brake, turn on hazard lights, place warning triangles or flares only if safe, shut off the engine, and call 911 with location, number of patients, and hazards. Do not move an injured person unless there is fire, traffic, or another immediate threat; unnecessary movement can worsen spinal injury. Use universal precautions - gloves, barrier device - and send bystanders for an AED.
Basic life support
Check responsiveness and breathing. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR: center of the chest, at least 2 inches deep, 100 to 120 compressions per minute, 30 compressions to 2 breaths, and attach an AED as soon as it arrives. For severe bleeding, apply firm direct pressure; a tourniquet placed high and tight on a limb is appropriate for life-threatening bleeding. Keep the patient warm, give nothing by mouth, and do not restrain a seizing person - clear space and time the seizure.
Vehicle-specific emergencies
Brake failure: pump the pedal, downshift, apply the parking brake gradually, and use terrain. Blowout: grip the wheel, avoid hard braking, ease off the accelerator. Stuck accelerator: shift to neutral, brake firmly, steer to safety. Fire: stop, shut off the engine, evacuate upwind. Submersion: release belts, open or break a side window early, and exit before the car fills.
Traps
Questions that reward moving a patient, giving water, or opening a door in deep water. Worked example: a student faints while parked. Secure the car, hazards on, call 911, check breathing, lay the student flat, and do not resume driving.