37.3. In what sequence should assistance be provided to a casualty:
UAВ якій послідовності слід надавати допомогу постраждалому:
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety in terms of the driver's actions after a traffic accident and the provision of pre-medical assistance. The theoretical exam includes not only the 'mechanics' of traffic rules but also the basic logic of life-saving, since it is often the driver who is the first to influence the consequences of an accident before the arrival of medical professionals.
The question tests the understanding of the driver's duties in the event of a road traffic accident according to the traffic rules, in particular the content of clause 2.10 of the Traffic Rules (to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance, call emergency services), as well as the general principles of priority actions in critical conditions. The logic of the sequence is based on what leads to death the fastest: massive bleeding can be fatal within minutes, so it is stopped first; then airway patency is restored, because without this, air will not enter the lungs; and only after that is adequate breathing ensured and it is assessed whether ventilation is needed.
The analysis of the answer options in this exam question comes down to the priorities of emergency assistance. Sequences where attempts are first made to 'deal with breathing' or open the airways while massive bleeding is left for later are incorrect: with active blood loss, even correctly performed breathing actions will not be effective, because the body quickly loses the volume of blood that carries oxygen. The correct option reflects the practical principle: first stop critical blood loss (that which kills the fastest), then ensure airway patency, and only then proceed to assessment and support of breathing.
Clause 1.10 (the term “Road Traffic Accident”)
Road traffic accident — an event that occurred during the movement of a vehicle, as a result of which people were killed or injured, or material damage was caused.
Brief explanation of the application of the clause: the question concerns a traffic accident situation, in which the driver is assigned the duty to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims.
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, in particular: to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, to call an emergency (ambulance) medical team and notify the police; and if it is impossible to call emergency medical assistance or in the absence of such an opportunity — to take measures to transport the victims to the nearest healthcare facility.
Brief explanation of the application of the clause: this clause of the Traffic Rules checks the very obligation of the driver to provide pre-medical assistance (and to ensure its provision/transportation), while the order (sequence) of performing pre-medical actions in the test is checked as an element of knowledge in pre-medical assistance, which is applied when fulfilling the Traffic Rules requirement to “provide pre-medical assistance.”
That is, the correct answer is “Stopping massive bleeding – restoring airway patency – ensuring adequate breathing,” given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the driver in the event of a traffic accident is obliged to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, and the primary actions of pre-medical assistance are to eliminate conditions that most quickly lead to death (primarily massive bleeding), after which airway patency and adequate breathing are ensured.
When providing pre-medical assistance at the scene of a traffic accident, it is important to act in a clear sequence in order to first eliminate those threats that can kill a person within minutes. That is why, in educational materials and pre-medical assistance instructions for drivers, priority is given to the immediate elimination of critical conditions that most quickly lead to death.
The first action must be to stop massive bleeding. If a large blood vessel is damaged, the victim can lose a critical volume of blood very quickly. In such a situation, the organs stop receiving oxygen not because the person is not breathing, but because there is not enough blood to carry the oxygen. Practically, this means: as long as blood is actively flowing out, any further actions give a much lower chance of survival. Therefore, the fastest methods to stop the bleeding are used first (direct pressure, tight bandage, tourniquet if needed), because this can often be done in a short time.
After massive bleeding is under control, the next step is to restore airway patency. The victim’s airways may be blocked by a fallen-back tongue in an unconscious state, vomit, or foreign objects. Even if the bleeding has already been stopped, without open airways, air will not enter the lungs, and thus help will not be effective. Therefore, the next step is to ensure that the airways are clear.
Only after this is adequate breathing ensured, that is, it is checked whether the victim is breathing normally, and if necessary, actions are taken to support breathing. The logic is simple: artificial respiration makes sense only when blood is no longer being lost critically and nothing prevents air from entering the lungs. Otherwise, time is spent on procedures that do not eliminate the main immediate threat.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Stopping massive bleeding – restoring airway patency – ensuring adequate breathing," since you must first eliminate the fastest fatal threat (major blood loss), then open the airways, and only after that assess and support breathing.