37.17. What is the first thing to do when providing first aid to a casualty in a road traffic accident?
UAЩо першочергово потрібно зробити при наданні домедичної допомоги постраждалому при ДТП?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety and the correct actions of a driver/witness during a traffic accident. In real situations, the first seconds after an incident are often accompanied by panic, but the traffic rules and basic principles of first aid require acting in a way that does not create additional danger for yourself, the victims, or other road users. That is why topics about prioritizing the safety of the scene before any further actions are often included in the theoretical exam.
The question tests knowledge of the section on the driver's duties in the event of an accident (in particular, point 2.10) and the general principle of safe behavior for road users (point 1.5 of the Traffic Rules). The logic is simple: before approaching the victim, you must quickly assess the situation and make sure there are no threats such as heavy traffic and the risk of a repeat collision, glass debris, fuel leaks, fire, downed wires, or other dangerous factors. In practice, this is also consistent with the actions that the Traffic Rules of Ukraine require to be performed immediately: stopping, turning on the hazard warning lights, and placing the emergency stop sign, that is, creating safer conditions at the scene of the incident.
The analysis of the answer options shows a typical mistake made by students: the desire to immediately check breathing or restore airway patency. Such steps do belong to first aid algorithms, but they are performed only after the rescuer is sure of their own safety and the safety of the scene. If you neglect risk assessment, you can become a victim yourself, which will complicate the rescue and increase the number of injured, contradicting the requirements of the Traffic Rules and common sense.
Clause 2.10 (driver's duties in case of involvement in a traffic accident)
In case of involvement in a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged to: immediately stop the vehicle and remain at the scene of the accident; turn on the hazard warning lights and set up the emergency stop sign (or a flashing red lantern) in accordance with the requirements of these Rules; take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, call an emergency (ambulance) medical team, and notify the police.
Explanation of application: the requirement to first stop, turn on the hazard lights, and set up the emergency stop sign is aimed at ensuring the safety of the scene (eliminating/reducing the risk for the driver, victims, and other road users), and only after that — providing pre-medical assistance.
Clause 1.5 (general duty of road users regarding safety)
Road users are obliged to know and strictly comply with the requirements of these Rules and act in such a way as not to create danger or obstacles to traffic, and not to cause harm to the life or health of citizens.
Explanation of application: before taking any actions near the scene of an accident (in particular, before approaching the victim), it is necessary to assess and eliminate risks in order not to create additional danger and not to become another victim.
That is, the correct answer is "Make sure there is no danger.", given that according to the requirements of the Traffic Rules, the safety of the scene and prevention of creating/increasing danger (stopping, hazard warning lights, emergency stop sign) are ensured first, and only after that is the duty to provide pre-medical assistance fulfilled.
During a traffic accident, it is natural to want to immediately run up to the victim and start helping. However, in first aid, there is a basic principle: the rescuer's safety comes first, then assistance. If the person providing help is themselves exposed to additional danger, they will not only be unable to help, but will also increase the number of victims.
Therefore, the first action is to stop and take a few seconds to assess whether the scene is safe. On the road, the most common dangers are moving vehicles, the possibility of a secondary collision, shards of glass and debris that can cause injury, fuel leaks or the risk of fire, as well as downed wires or other factors that could cause injury even before help begins.
If you notice a risk, you should first either eliminate it (for example, warn other drivers, set up barriers around the scene, stop the dangerous factor), or, if possible and it does not cause additional harm, move the victim to a safer place. Only after this should you proceed to the next stages of first aid.
Thus, the correct answer is "Make sure there is no danger," because without assessing and ensuring safe conditions at the scene of the accident, you can become a victim yourself and disrupt the provision of assistance.