Several people were left injured after a three-vehicle collision. Image: Kwazulu Private Ambulance Service
Several people injured in three-vehicle collision
Multiple people were left with injuries ranging from minor to serious after a three-vehicle collision on the R69 near Vryheid
Several people were left injured after a three-vehicle collision. Image: Kwazulu Private Ambulance Service
On Tuesday morning, 7 March, the Kwazulu Private Ambulance Service Vryheid responded to reports of a collision on the R69 near Vryheid.
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Three vehicles involved in collision
Upon arriving at the scene, emergency services discovered that three vehicles had been involved in the collision.
After a quick assessment of the scene, paramedics found that 15 patients had sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious.
The paramedics treated the patients on the scene before transporting them to the hospital for further treatment.
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What to do at an accident scene
With many accidents occurring on our roads, you might find yourself on the scene of one.
Here is what you can do:
- The safety of accident victims, emergency personnel, and other road users is the most important goal when an accident occurs.
- The first hour following an accident is known as the “Golden Hour,” and doctors say seriously injured car crash victims must receive comprehensive medical care within 60 minutes to have a good chance of survival. This scenario gives rescuers about 12 minutes at the accident scene to extricate the injured and get them to the hospital.
- Consider the traffic flow at the scene. Is it a risk to you or others, including the casualty?
- Consider the impact on emergency vehicles trying to reach the scene before stopping traffic.
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- If anyone is available, send someone up and down the road to wave down traffic.
- Turn on hazard lights and ignite flares if the incident happened at night to warn oncoming motorists of the danger.
- Consider the positioning of any vehicles involved in the incident and the potential hazards they may pose (such as rolling forwards or backwards). Consider safety – constantly reassess the safety of the scene, especially if you rely on others to keep you safe.
- Turn off all of the vehicles involved in the collision.
