Rid Roads of Impaired Drivers

What Will You Do?

These days it seems there are more and more crashes on the Island Highway. The chance that you will pass the scene of a crash is increasing. Do you know what to do if you are the first person to arrive at the scene of a crash? Are you willing to get involved and perhaps save a life? Do you have the skills and the knowledge you need to do that?

Chances are that you do. Even if you do not have the skills and the knowledge they are fairly easy to obtain.

The first decision you will have to make is whether or not to stop, to get involved. I have stopped along the highway several times to assist at crashes or to aid a child in need. Although the circumstances have varied widely one thing that I have often noted is how many people drive right by. I have talked about this with a variety of people and the usual response is “I didn’t feel I have enough knowledge to help”, or “I was afraid I would do something wrong and get sued.”

First, I strongly recommend that everyone take a basic first aid course. There are many available through St. John Ambulance or the Red Cross and other agencies. First Aid is one of the most important life-skills a person can have. However, you can still help without any training.

Having been in a severe crash myself I can tell you that the first person who helped me did not have any first aid knowledge, but had a cell phone, called 9-1-1 and held my hand until help arrived. I will always be grateful to that unknown person because they helped me through a very frightening experience.

Many people do not seem to be aware of the Good Samaritan Act which is law in B.C. Under the Act, “any person who renders emergency medical services or aid to an ill, injured or unconscious person, at the immediate scene of an accident or emergency that has caused the illness, injury or unconsciousness, is not liable for damages for injury to or death of that person caused by the person's act or omission in rendering the medical services or aid unless that person is grossly negligent”.

The only exception to this act is if a person is employed specifically for the purpose of giving first aid or acts with a view to gain.

So never delay emergency action because of the fear you don’t have sufficient knowledge or that you might get sued. The risk is too small to justify endangering a life.

Emergency services are usually only a short distance away and they will take on the responsibility for the injured as soon as they arrive. Then the best thing you can do is to get out of their way.

It is important that you try not to disrupt the scene or move objects from the crash unless they are a hazard. I remember when my son was killed; he was a pedestrian and was lifted right out of his shoes and thrown a long distance down the road. A well meaning individual picked up his shoes and moved them to the side of the road to “save” them. Another individual moved the vehicle that struck my son because he felt it would prevent the ambulance from getting through. Both of these actions which proved to be unnecessary ended up with the skid mark evidence and other facts not being allowed as evidence. This had a large part to do with the driver being acquitted of impaired driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death. The police refer to well-meaning individuals who move objects unnecessarily as “The Evidence Eradication Team”. Apparently, they are active at many crash sites.

I hope that you will consider all of this before you are the first one to arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle collision. Be sure to remember you will not be sued for genuinely trying to help someone and remember not to disturb the scene unless the object you are moving is a hazard. Most of all remember you may save a life or provide comfort to someone. The decision to get involved is one each individual must make but remember that together we can make a difference.

Joan Parsons
President,
Rid Roads of Impaired Drivers