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Immediately dial 911. Do not assume that someone else will. If possible stop and ascertain if any one is injured. After the dispatcher answers the 911 call remain CALM and tell the telecommunicator what the problem is and give the location of the accident clearly with any special directions for reaching the accident. Also state if any of the vehicles are overturned or on their side and the extent of the damage you see. Also state how many vehicles are involved.
If you were able to stop, and after someone called 911, give aid to those injured. DO NOT pull injured people from any vehicles unless there is an immediate threat to thier life. (e.g. the car is on fire.) You could create greater injury than if you had left them in the vehicle for rescue personel to conduct the extrication.
Once you have given aid to those injured in the wreck, if possible call 911 again and give an update of how many injured, type of injuries if you know what they are. Also tell the dispacter if anyone is pinned or entrapped in the vehicles involved. A pin-in or entrapment is any one who cannot exit the vehicle by simply opening an unlocked car door.
If a Tractor Trailer or a Train is involved, tell the dispatcher the type of trailer or rail cars involved and if you see any diamond shaped placards (these indicate the presence of a potentially dangerous chemicals). If you can safely give the placard number do so. Also state if the trailer or any other vehicles are overturned or on their side and the extent of the damage you see. Tell the dispatcher if any substances are escaping, leaking or spilled from the railcars or trailers. If you see a substance leaking immediately depart the area. The substances can be extremely dangerous and could make you part of the problem incident instead of the solution. (Escaping gases will make a whistling sound.) Once you have departed after seeing a spill make your phone call as outlined in bullet #1. |
