The PAS protocol is a vitally important tool when it comes to being clear about the steps that we have to follow when wanting to offer useful help to a victim.
What does it mean? PAS is protect- warn- help. If you witness an accident involving another driver, you should always provide assistance to him. But before putting it into practice, the correct order of the actions that we must carry out must be clear.
It is also important that the person who is going to help the victim is in a safe area and is not also the one who is exposed to any danger.
It should also be noted that on many occasions the seriousness of some traffic accidents leaves little room for maneuver to save the lives of the victims, however, despite not being able to apply any of the steps that we will mention below, you should always notify the emergency services.
PAS protocol, steps to follow
First step, protect
First of all, the first thing we should do is keep the situation calm at all times. Once we have this in mind, we must continue to park our vehicle in an area where it does not disturb and at a safe distance from the injured party. It is important not to hinder circulation or block the path of emergency vehicles that come to help the victim.
If you are in an area with poor visibility or when night has fallen, you must leave the 4 turn signals on so as to be visible to other passing vehicles.
At the moment you proceed to get out of the vehicle, you must wear a reflective vest and even put on the emergency triangles. This is recommended to use them on two-way roads (one must be placed in front and one behind the accident) and, in the case of one-way roads, one is placed behind the vehicle.
The area must be well protected, since otherwise the person who tries to help the victim could also end up injured.
Second step, notify
It is always advisable to leave home with a mobile device, regardless of the journey that is going to be made. This would allow you to warn before witnessing an accident.
Prior to proceed to call the free phone number 112, it is essential that a composition of the situation and the place in which you find yourself be made. Once your call is answered by the emergency service, you must identify yourself and report what happened. Detailing the place where you are will greatly facilitate the task for the services that attend to the victim.
You must remain on the phone until the services themselves tell you that you can hang up, in case you have to provide more information. If at any time the telephone connection is cut off, they will call you again from 112.
Third step, help
While emergency services arrive, you must continue to remain calm at all times. If the injured person is conscious, you should try to transmit as much calm as possible.
As a general rule, it is not advisable to move the wounded and, in the event that they are bleeding, it would be advisable to clean the wounds with clean cloths if a first aid kit is not available.
In any case, the best thing to do is to be cautious and If you do not have medical or first aid knowledge, wait for the services to arrive of emergency. Keep in mind that if you have any questions you can always call 112 again so that they can advise you what to do.
Assisting an injured person is an obligation
Providing help and requesting help for people in need is a moral obligation. And not only that, it is a duty of solidarity that all citizens have towards others. Its non-compliance is punished by the Criminal Code as a crime, specifically we are talking about crime of omission of the duty to help.
This crime is reflected in article 195 and alleges that anyone who does not help a person who is helpless and in danger, when he could have done so without his own risk or that of third parties, will be punished with a fine of three to twelve months.
En Neosalus We want to help you learn everything you need so that you know how to provide useful help in an emergency.
