Spiral SearchWhat to Do When You Assist Victims of a Vehicle Accident
Keeping yourself safe, what dangers to look for, and how to help before responders arrive.
Call 911 right away and give the exact location, the number of vehicles, and the number of injured people.
General information, not medical advice. Reading a guide is not a substitute for a hands-on first aid or CPR class (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and local fire-rescue departments offer them). If someone may be in danger, call 911 and follow the dispatcher.
1. Make the scene safe
- Pull over well ahead of the crash, turn on hazard lights, and set the parking brake. Stay off the road. Florida's Move Over law requires drivers to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles.
- Turn off your engine. Do not smoke or use flares near leaking fuel.
- Look for oncoming traffic before you step out. Put on a high-visibility vest if you have one.
2. Dangers to look for
| Danger | What to do |
|---|---|
| Fire, smoke or fuel leak | Get yourself and others well away. Only move victims if they are in immediate danger. |
| Downed power lines or contact with a vehicle | Stay at least 20 feet away. Tell everyone to stay inside the vehicle until the utility confirms power is off. |
| Unstable vehicle (on its side, on a slope or in water) | Do not climb on it. Wait for rescue. |
| Traffic | Do not stand between vehicles. Keep people off the road. |
| Airbags not yet deployed, broken glass, sharp metal | Avoid reaching across airbag zones. |
| Hazardous materials (placards, leaks, strange odors) | Stay upwind and far away. |
| Battery acid or electric vehicle damage | Do not touch orange cables; keep away from damaged battery packs. |
3. Approach and check
- Approach the vehicle from the front or side where the driver can see you. Speak to the person.
- Tell them: “Please do not move.” A neck or spine injury is possible.
- Check for severe bleeding and treat it first (see severe bleeding).
- Check breathing. If a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, they may need CPR. See CPR guide.
- Triage if there is more than one patient: those not breathing or bleeding heavily come first. See triage.
4. Do not
- Do not move anyone unless there is fire, water or another immediate danger.
- Do not remove a motorcycle helmet unless you must do so to give CPR.
- Do not give food or drink.
- Do not remove objects stuck in the body.
5. While you wait
Keep the person still and warm, keep talking to them, and watch breathing. Give the 911 dispatcher updates. When responders arrive, tell them what you saw: how the vehicles ended up, whether anyone was thrown out, whether people were wearing seatbelts, and what you did.
Florida's Good Samaritan law may provide legal protection to people who help in good faith, but this guide is not legal advice.