How prepared are we ... EDC and real emergencies

[gregozedobe]

....and priorities (e.g. make sure you are safe yourself and don't get run over by the next car, before you help others).   

This ^   Always make the scene safe first, as you can't help much if you become a casualty as well.

A women was killed recently when she rushed in to help a motorcyclist who had crashed and was dying.  A following car didn't slow down and hit her

[eamo]

Shuya    you done well.

So far I've been fortunate, only ever assisted at minor road incidents.

First aid training is a requirement for my work but I often wonder how I would deal with/react to a serious incident.

I carry a fak in my car but in Ireland it is not a requirement. Lidl/aldi regularly sell affordable car kits here whigh I assume are the same as the German ones so really no excuse not to have one.

[Shuya]

Thanks folks for trying to cheer me up. Really.

Its always the thoughts you cant get rid of afterwards, the pictures you have seen, the feelings you had.
And all the overthinking afterwards. 

When I stopped, several cars just passed by (I guess 3...4 cars did not stop or even ask if we need any help). Sad world, indeed.
For me, I wasnt thinking at all, saw the mess, stopped, and got into action. The thinking started afterwars. Thanks adrenalin.
Was shaking half an hour later when I reached work.

As for me I am pretty good in first aid imho, since I do sportsclimbing and alpine climbing, my club does regular first aid and rescue courses with mountain rescuers and doctors, plus Ive been in one on our alpine club (whole day courses). Nevertheless I plan to do a 16 hour course at the red cross this fall or winter plus a child first aid course because of my daughter to sharpen my knowledge.
Plus I dropped the rescue knife I had  in my car (Eickhorn PRT) and got me a two handed Vic Rescuetool   

[Aloha]

 

[Smashie]

Shuya you did better than many would have done when faced with the same situation.

As others have said, it's what you have in your head that's the most important thing.

This is the way it was taught to me.

A B C D E
Airway and cervical spine control.
Breathing and ventilation.
Circulation and haemorrhage control.
Disability (Displaced brain ) or neurological status.
Exposure depending on environment.

If you can check those without moving the casualty you help the paramedics no end when they arrive at the scene.

[G-Dizzle]

As for helping in car accidents... Simply put, do what you can. Depending on where you are, the best thing to do is secure the accident site and call in the PROs.
I highly recommend first aid training for everybody, it might help more than a lot of gear. I would also stack some advanced training on top of that. Especially if you are a gun owner. I read somewhere that many accidental death could have been avoided (death not the accident) if some basic treatment of the gunshot would have been done. This of course applies particularly if you live/hunt/shoot in remote locations.
Good safety training will also teach you a bit about stress (easy to give advice on the internet < performing first aid on a stranger < performing first aid on a loved one) and priorities (e.g. make sure you are safe yourself and don't get run over by the next car, before you help others).

Oh and guys, remember the US has a new law requiring laminated glass on the side-windows of cars (no more glass-breakers) and I suspect Europe will follow (many cars have laminated side-windows already).

No more glass breakers? You can still punch it out right? Its not like bulletproof glass or anything.

[Don Pablo]

As for helping in car accidents... Simply put, do what you can. Depending on where you are, the best thing to do is secure the accident site and call in the PROs.
I highly recommend first aid training for everybody, it might help more than a lot of gear. I would also stack some advanced training on top of that. Especially if you are a gun owner. I read somewhere that many accidental death could have been avoided (death not the accident) if some basic treatment of the gunshot would have been done. This of course applies particularly if you live/hunt/shoot in remote locations.
Good safety training will also teach you a bit about stress (easy to give advice on the internet < performing first aid on a stranger < performing first aid on a loved one) and priorities (e.g. make sure you are safe yourself and don't get run over by the next car, before you help others).

Oh and guys, remember the US has a new law requiring laminated glass on the side-windows of cars (no more glass-breakers) and I suspect Europe will follow (many cars have laminated side-windows already).

No more glass breakers? You can still punch it out right? Its not like bulletproof glass or anything.

The windscreen saw on the Vic rescue tool will be extra useful. 

[MadPlumbarian]

Not having to use what ever you carry is the best!
Back when used to drive I had all sorts of goodies, I had a tote with:
All car fluids,
Jumper cables,
Mini tool box,
Towel,
Hand cleaner,
First aid kit
And some other junk..

Not driving: twice I’ve had to himelicked? Idk how you spell it, back when our older son was born he ended up in the hospital for 7months, and we had to take all sorts classes..
Other things that have been used would be a couple times my “mini-mini” first aid kit, the size of a credit card (use a pic sleeve) two alcohol wipes, two mini and two larger bandaids, only other thing I can think of is when moving we needed a can opener, yet everything was packed thus the sak! Of course the ant-acid tablets..
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Must I forget, going to a little party someone brought drinks yet no one had a bottle opener thus the sak came in handy again!
JR

[Old Boy]

Just finished CPR training and was blown away by the AED unit. Instructor loves it. Sadly cost about $1500. But if you have the cash may help in circumstances of cardiac arrest.

I can see someone buying it for their homes or business if you have a family member with heart problems.

[Etherealicer]

As for helping in car accidents... Simply put, do what you can. Depending on where you are, the best thing to do is secure the accident site and call in the PROs.
I highly recommend first aid training for everybody, it might help more than a lot of gear. I would also stack some advanced training on top of that. Especially if you are a gun owner. I read somewhere that many accidental death could have been avoided (death not the accident) if some basic treatment of the gunshot would have been done. This of course applies particularly if you live/hunt/shoot in remote locations.
Good safety training will also teach you a bit about stress (easy to give advice on the internet < performing first aid on a stranger < performing first aid on a loved one) and priorities (e.g. make sure you are safe yourself and don't get run over by the next car, before you help others).

Oh and guys, remember the US has a new law requiring laminated glass on the side-windows of cars (no more glass-breakers) and I suspect Europe will follow (many cars have laminated side-windows already).

No more glass breakers? You can still punch it out right? Its not like bulletproof glass or anything.

The windscreen saw on the Vic rescue tool will be extra useful. 

What Pabs said... no, you cannot punch it out anymore.

[eamo]

As for helping in car accidents... Simply put, do what you can. Depending on where you are, the best thing to do is secure the accident site and call in the PROs.
I highly recommend first aid training for everybody, it might help more than a lot of gear. I would also stack some advanced training on top of that. Especially if you are a gun owner. I read somewhere that many accidental death could have been avoided (death not the accident) if some basic treatment of the gunshot would have been done. This of course applies particularly if you live/hunt/shoot in remote locations.
Good safety training will also teach you a bit about stress (easy to give advice on the internet < performing first aid on a stranger < performing first aid on a loved one) and priorities (e.g. make sure you are safe yourself and don't get run over by the next car, before you help others).

Oh and guys, remember the US has a new law requiring laminated glass on the side-windows of cars (no more glass-breakers) and I suspect Europe will follow (many cars have laminated side-windows already).

No more glass breakers? You can still punch it out right? Its not like bulletproof glass or anything.

The windscreen saw on the Vic rescue tool will be extra useful. 

What Pabs said... no, you cannot punch it out anymore.

 

[G-Dizzle]

As for helping in car accidents... Simply put, do what you can. Depending on where you are, the best thing to do is secure the accident site and call in the PROs.
I highly recommend first aid training for everybody, it might help more than a lot of gear. I would also stack some advanced training on top of that. Especially if you are a gun owner. I read somewhere that many accidental death could have been avoided (death not the accident) if some basic treatment of the gunshot would have been done. This of course applies particularly if you live/hunt/shoot in remote locations.
Good safety training will also teach you a bit about stress (easy to give advice on the internet < performing first aid on a stranger < performing first aid on a loved one) and priorities (e.g. make sure you are safe yourself and don't get run over by the next car, before you help others).

Oh and guys, remember the US has a new law requiring laminated glass on the side-windows of cars (no more glass-breakers) and I suspect Europe will follow (many cars have laminated side-windows already).

No more glass breakers? You can still punch it out right? Its not like bulletproof glass or anything.

The windscreen saw on the Vic rescue tool will be extra useful. 

What Pabs said... no, you cannot punch it out anymore.

That is stupid. Can you kick it out? There has to be a way to get it open if you are in trouble and need to force your way out other than every motorist owning a vic rescue tool

[MadPlumbarian]

They don’t put them together like they used to, that rubber trim that wraps around the car, you push the window into it then shove that tube into the rubber wrap which seals everything tight. Just do everything in reverse to take the window out.. now just caulk around the rim and drop the glass on and press.. to take it out fish a metal wire through, then grab the other side and pull working around the window..
 
I mean a windshield is many layers, thus why if it gets hit it doesn’t shatter like a house window or a glass cup, for safety, so if you get inside you can kick it and keep pressing it around the rim to get the windshield out..
JR

[Don Pablo]

It’s a good thing that they don’t make them like they used to. Death by steering column impalation is not attractive. 

[MadPlumbarian]

It’s a good thing that they don’t make them like they used to. Death by steering column impalation is not attractive. 

Well back then they didn’t have seatbelts, I hate seatbelts and yet in all 4 accidents I was in I wasn’t even wearing one..
JR

[Etherealicer]

As for helping in car accidents... Simply put, do what you can. Depending on where you are, the best thing to do is secure the accident site and call in the PROs.
I highly recommend first aid training for everybody, it might help more than a lot of gear. I would also stack some advanced training on top of that. Especially if you are a gun owner. I read somewhere that many accidental death could have been avoided (death not the accident) if some basic treatment of the gunshot would have been done. This of course applies particularly if you live/hunt/shoot in remote locations.
Good safety training will also teach you a bit about stress (easy to give advice on the internet < performing first aid on a stranger < performing first aid on a loved one) and priorities (e.g. make sure you are safe yourself and don't get run over by the next car, before you help others).

Oh and guys, remember the US has a new law requiring laminated glass on the side-windows of cars (no more glass-breakers) and I suspect Europe will follow (many cars have laminated side-windows already).

No more glass breakers? You can still punch it out right? Its not like bulletproof glass or anything.

The windscreen saw on the Vic rescue tool will be extra useful. 

What Pabs said... no, you cannot punch it out anymore.

That is stupid. Can you kick it out? There has to be a way to get it open if you are in trouble and need to force your way out other than every motorist owning a vic rescue tool

No, I very much doubt you can kick it out, that would sorta defeat the purpose of putting laminated glass in.
However, the window helps prevent deformation of the door, so chances that you can open it normally is larger. Many people have been hurt by glass splinters from the tempered glass and many have lost limbs because they where hanging out of the car. Apparently, those two are far more problematic than getting trapped in a car (maybe except if you live in Florida).
Further benefits of the laminated glass are, its harder to get car-jacked or burglarized.
According to all those data, laminated glass does improve safety, but yeah, if you are trapped in your car, then its smurfing bad.

[eamo]

As for helping in car accidents... Simply put, do what you can. Depending on where you are, the best thing to do is secure the accident site and call in the PROs.
I highly recommend first aid training for everybody, it might help more than a lot of gear. I would also stack some advanced training on top of that. Especially if you are a gun owner. I read somewhere that many accidental death could have been avoided (death not the accident) if some basic treatment of the gunshot would have been done. This of course applies particularly if you live/hunt/shoot in remote locations.
Good safety training will also teach you a bit about stress (easy to give advice on the internet < performing first aid on a stranger < performing first aid on a loved one) and priorities (e.g. make sure you are safe yourself and don't get run over by the next car, before you help others).

Oh and guys, remember the US has a new law requiring laminated glass on the side-windows of cars (no more glass-breakers) and I suspect Europe will follow (many cars have laminated side-windows already).

No more glass breakers? You can still punch it out right? Its not like bulletproof glass or anything.

The windscreen saw on the Vic rescue tool will be extra useful. 

What Pabs said... no, you cannot punch it out anymore.

That is stupid. Can you kick it out? There has to be a way to get it open if you are in trouble and need to force your way out other than every motorist owning a vic rescue tool

Well the cost of a vic rescue tool vs the cost of a car is tiny in fairness so yeah I like your thinking 

[G-Dizzle]

As for helping in car accidents... Simply put, do what you can. Depending on where you are, the best thing to do is secure the accident site and call in the PROs.
I highly recommend first aid training for everybody, it might help more than a lot of gear. I would also stack some advanced training on top of that. Especially if you are a gun owner. I read somewhere that many accidental death could have been avoided (death not the accident) if some basic treatment of the gunshot would have been done. This of course applies particularly if you live/hunt/shoot in remote locations.
Good safety training will also teach you a bit about stress (easy to give advice on the internet < performing first aid on a stranger < performing first aid on a loved one) and priorities (e.g. make sure you are safe yourself and don't get run over by the next car, before you help others).

Oh and guys, remember the US has a new law requiring laminated glass on the side-windows of cars (no more glass-breakers) and I suspect Europe will follow (many cars have laminated side-windows already).

No more glass breakers? You can still punch it out right? Its not like bulletproof glass or anything.

The windscreen saw on the Vic rescue tool will be extra useful. 

What Pabs said... no, you cannot punch it out anymore.

That is stupid. Can you kick it out? There has to be a way to get it open if you are in trouble and need to force your way out other than every motorist owning a vic rescue tool

No, I very much doubt you can kick it out, that would sorta defeat the purpose of putting laminated glass in.
However, the window helps prevent deformation of the door, so chances that you can open it normally is larger. Many people have been hurt by glass splinters from the tempered glass and many have lost limbs because they where hanging out of the car. Apparently, those two are far more problematic than getting trapped in a car (maybe except if you live in Florida).
Further benefits of the laminated glass are, its harder to get car-jacked or burglarized.
According to all those data, laminated glass does improve safety, but yeah, if you are trapped in your car, then its smurfing bad.

I understand and appreciate the value of all of those points, but if I am in an upside down car that is on fire and the doors will not open. I want a way to get out, fast. No time for a little window saw. That is more important to me than getting cut by he glass. If you are in that bad of an accident, the glass is not as big of a concern. If the splintering glass is really a huge concern, make it laminated, but make it so that you can shatter and force the hole section of glass out the door.

[ironraven]

Shuya, as others have said, you can't be ready for everything.

My brother was a firefighter/EMT for 20+ years, and there were times where on a fully equipped rig he couldn't do enough in the time left. In what you describe, the closest thing to EDC that might have helped was an axe in your car. Or a powered metal cutting saw. Or a lightsaber. One is low cost, but wouldn't work well, isn't worth the bulk for most people, and takes practice in it's intended use- which this isn't. The second, expensive, bulky, and most of us have no call for it. And the third, the tech isn't there yet.

The first rule is don't endanger yourself. The second rule is don't make the situation worse.

You did what you could with what you had, and you didn't break the first two rules. That's what counts. When Churchill was talking about good men doing nothing, he didn't mean they had to win. They just had to fight like hell to win. Sounds like you have nothing to be ashamed of.

[lister]

So now even the side windows have laminated glass? The future is indeed now! 

I wonder if one could use 91mm vic saw to saw through broken laminated glass like they do with bigger rescue saw in the video? Though I don't see how you could force it through the plastic layer in the first place even when the glass is already broken... 

[Tomcat_81]

 I'm quite often the first to help at smaller or bigger accidents. Each time, the "reflection phase" afterwards led me to packing new things into my car, just in case. From the very beginning I had the obligatory German first aid kit, safety vest, some sturdy leather gloves and a good knife. Recent acquisitions are a sturdy crowbar, some extra warning lights, a fire-extinguisher and safety glasses (yuk, how I hate these small shards of glass!).

Does that prepare me ? I don't really think so, because every accident turned out to be quite complex.
Some things I try to engrave into my brain are:
Stay calm.
Get a broad view.
Don't get tangled into the first and most obvious task while omitting less obvious, maybe more important tasks.
Stay calm and calm others.

So, it's more a brain thing for me.
And being the guy I am, it helps to have all that stuff with me, because it gives me a good feeling.

Tomcat