IN CASE OF ACCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 155, 29 December 1938, Page 11

IN CASE OF ACCIDENT

TREATMENT OF VICTIMS

GOOD JUDGMENT REQUIRED

Persons who grab up an accident victim, thrust him into an automobile, and speed away to a hospital may have the besl of motives, but they are likely to do more harm than good.

In the great majority of accident cases requiring hospital care the best course is to make/the patient as comfortable as possible and allow him to lie quietly until the ambulance" arrives. Of course, good judgment should be exercised in all: cases, but unless there is a large loss of blood or unless the ambulance is not expected for a long time, the danger of inexpert handling should be avoided.

This is particularly true when the patient is suffering from shock. This condition is only aggravated by a nerve-racking ride before the patient gets medical help. In case of fracture it is dangerous to move a victim.because the break , may become compound. The" broken bone may force its way. through the, skin, which makes treatment considerably more difficult. Fractures should be put in splints at the" scene of the accident and the patient taken to hospital on a stretcher. t : -Medical authorities agree that it is, best not-to^mom an accident victim any more than actually necessary until medical help arrives, unless it is done by someone. familiar with first aid practices. Many lives would be saved and much unnecessary suffering prevented if motorists would resist the impulse to rush the injured person to a hospital or doctor by car. A smattering of fir,st aid is poor equipment for accident emergencies. If people aspire to first aid they should learn, the; business thoroughly. A great majority of motor accidents fortunately occur where skilled assistance quickly, though fortuitously, arrives. It would be a good thing if the fortuitous part could be eliminated. In America first aid has been widely extended with the roadside filling stations as depots. • ~ All cars should carry first aid equipment, not loosely, to become dangerous by reason of dust and dirt, but properly installed and protected. In this the car should be like the soldier; he carried a first aid outfit sewn inside his tunic. A fully protected and adequate outfit should easily be provided for motoring. ... One does not expect to get into an accident; one does not even expect to be on the scene of one. The history of the road, however, read in/the light of accidents, should be warning enough that one never knows. '.'-'-.