First aid and shock — Florida Permit Test

If you come upon a crash, call 911 or *FHP and do not assume somebody else has called: it is better for emergency services to get several calls than none.

If each driver waits for the next one to call it in, nobody calls it in at all.

Don’t assume someone else has called; it’s better for emergency services to get multiple calls rather than none at all.

Do not put yourself in danger: pull as far off the road as possible, turn on your hazard lights, and be careful getting out of your vehicle.

A second crash into the people helping is the usual way a crash scene gets worse.

Pull as far of the road as possible and turn your hazard lights on to alert others.

Do not move an injured person who may have a neck or spinal injury, and do not try to remove the helmet of an injured motorcycle or bicycle rider.

Moving somebody with a spinal injury is how a survivable crash paralyzes them.

Don’t attempt to remove the helmet of an injured motorcycle or bicycle rider.

Treat an injured person for shock whether or not they appear to be in shock, because shock slows every body function and can cause death.

Shock does not announce itself, and by the time it looks obvious it is already serious.

Treat the injured for shock regardless of whether or not they appear to be in shock:

To treat for shock, keep the person calm, do not give them anything to drink, have them lie flat with their legs raised, cover them to hold body heat and maintain an open airway.

Something to drink can choke somebody who is about to lose consciousness.

Don’t give them anything to drink.

To lower the risk of somebody running into the rear of your vehicle, keep brake lights clean and working, use your mirrors, signal well in advance for turns, stops and lane changes, and avoid sudden stops.

Most of avoiding a rear-end crash is making sure the driver behind is never surprised.

Signal well in advance for turns, stops, and lane changes.

What should you assume about a crash you come upon?

That nobody may have called it in yet. If each driver waits for the next one to call it in, nobody calls it in at all. Official Florida Driver License Handbook, p.77: “Don’t assume someone else has called; it’s better for emergency services to get multiple calls rather than none at all.”