Bystander Care for the Injured: First There, First Care Campaign

Volume 3, Number 4 - June 2000

Motor vehicle fatalities often result from airway obstruction and blood loss, both of which can be treated by trained bystanders. NHTSA and the Health Resources and Services Administration are launching the First There, First Care Bystander Care Campaign to teach Americans how to provide emergency roadway assistance to the injured until "first responders" (such as paramedics or police officers) arrive. Such education is especially important in rural areas, which have fewer people but higher traffic fatality rates than urban and suburban areas. In these communities, serious delays can occur between a crash and the call for EMS simply because of the distances first responders must travel to reach the scene of a collision.

The First There, First Care campaign is designed to inform the public, build awareness, and empower people to take action. The campaign includes two important resources. The first is an awareness kit for community advocates to educate the community about the need for bystander care. The kit contains a resource guide and public information materials, including a poster, public service announcements, and fact sheets.

The second resource is a training package for medical and EMS professionals, which includes a self-paced CD-ROM to teach professionals to deliver training to community groups. The lessons include information on how to explain bystander care, teach bystander skills, and answer commonly asked bystander care questions.

For more information, or to obtain free awareness kits or training packages, fax a request to (202) 366-7721 or visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ems on the World Wide Web.

The Basic Life-Sustaining Actions of Bystander Care
	Stop to Help: Take the time to stop and help
	Call for Help (9-1-1-)
	Assess the Victim
	Start the Breathing
	Stop the Bleeding