One phone call can help save a life

If you spot an accident victim, don't just drive away. Report the incident to the nearest hospital. It could mean the difference between life and death

One phone call can help save a life

If you spot an accident victim, don't just drive away. Report the incident to the nearest hospital. It could mean the difference between life and death

The next time you are zipping past the state highway and you spot an accident victim writhing in pain, please stop and offer help.

Most accident victims can be saved if they are rushed to appropriate medical help in time. In 2010, 65,000 accidents were recorded across the state.

There were 72,000 accidents the year before that and in 2008, the state witnessed 75,000 accidents.

While the statistics appear daunting, you can do your bit to offer help. Apart from calling up the accident helpline numbers, ensure you offer tou00a0 help and don't look away. It could be slightly cumbersome but you may end up saving a life.

Fatal injuries

According to experts, the major cause of death of accident victims is blood loss and nearly half of them succumb to their injuries due to uncontrolled bleeding. This is followed by lack of oxygen (hypoxia) due to inadequate breathing and severe head injuries.

What you can do If you spot an accident victim

* Rush them to the hospital or call the police helpline
* Quickly note down the street name, landmark or location so that help can be rushed in sooner
* If you witness a hit-and-run, try to scribble down the vehicle number of the fleeing car. With the help of the RTO, the car owner can be traced and the accused can be brought to booku00a0
* Narrate what you saw at the accident spot to the police and if you go to the police station to register an FIR, give exact details of incident
* Furnish your contact details, the police may need your help later

Don't do the following:
Do not give water to stimulate or wake the victim as it is likely to choke him to death ufffd Do not shake the head to awaken him or to check his response. This may worsen the spinal cord injury, if there is one

Golden hour
In medical parlance, the golden hour concept states that the first hour after the accident is the most critical and, if medical help reaches within this hour, most injured people can be saved.

Helpline numbers:
98334 98334
022-2262 6655

Vital direct ambulance service numbers :
Newly launched: Dial 1298 for emergency ambulance services in Mumbai.
Mumbai emergency ambulance 102
Thane emergency ambulance 2533 1552
Navi mumbai emergency ambulance 2757 2111

A few other numbers:
Ltmg hospital (Sion) ambulances - 2407 6381 to 89
St. John ambulance services - 2262 1666
Bombay hospital ambulance services, Marine Lines - 2206 7676
Saifee ambulance - 2347 1189 / 2346 6520

SOME THINGS you must bear in mind while offering help:

1
Move the victim to a safe place away from the traffic and the mob

2
Place the victim on a flat surface, such as a wooden plank or a tarred road

3
Always support the head and neck while shifting the victim onto the ambulance or any vehicle.

4
In most cases, the victim will be in a state of shock after the accident

5
Call out to him/her to check if they are responding.

6
If they do, look for major injuries or bleeding

7
Apply pressure to the source of bleeding. This will ensure the victim doesn't lose too much blood.

8
If any major bone fracture is visible, do not move that limb. It will cause bleeding or worsen the injury

9
Check to see if the victim is breathing. If yes, wait for help to arrive and transfer him to the hospital