A fall from a bicycle, a collision between two scooters or a traffic accident on the way to school: accidents in children’s environments usually happen unexpectedly. In such moments, it is primarily adults who are required. They secure the situation, call for help and take care of the injured. Children, on the other hand, do not have to be able to do everything themselves. For them, the most important things are: keep your distance, get help, listen to adults and only stay with injured persons if they are safe themselves.
First secure, then help
“From a medical perspective, the same sequence always applies, regardless of the type of accident or the age of those involved,” explains Andreas Schneider, plant physician at Mercedes-Benz in Sindelfingen. First comes personal safety. Helpers should only approach if there is no immediate danger from traffic, fire, or other risks. This is followed by an overview: What happened? How many people are affected? Does the injured person respond when spoken to? Are they breathing normally?
Assess risks realistically
At accident scenes, dangers are often underestimated. Even on quiet roads, additional traffic can suddenly appear. In addition, injuries are not always immediately visible. “Shock reactions are often overlooked. Those affected appear pale or unusually quiet, although the body is under severe strain,” says Schneider. Internal injuries or head injuries are also not always clearly apparent. If adults cannot reliably assess the situation, they should not wait or play it down but call the emergency services and describe the situation as accurately as possible. The emergency call center will then decide together with the caller what assistance is necessary.
Children should know that in an emergency they are allowed and expected to get help. In Germany and in all countries of the European Union, the standard emergency number is 112. It can be reached free of charge and works from landlines as well as mobile phones. In Germany, 110 is additionally used for the police, while fire brigade and ambulance services can be reached via 112.
When traveling, it is also useful to know important emergency numbers. Outside Europe, the systems differ in some cases significantly. For example, in the USA the central emergency number is 911 for police, fire brigade, and emergency medical services. In India, 112 is set up as a nationwide central emergency number; in addition, ambulance numbers such as 108 or 102 are in use depending on the region. In China, the emergency numbers are organized separately: police 110, fire brigade 119 and emergency medical services 120.
In any case, it is advisable to check the country-specific emergency numbers before traveling and to discuss them together with children.
Protect children and give clear instructions
Not only the injured person, but also the surrounding environment should be consistently kept in view. If children are nearby or involved, they should be brought out of the danger zone immediately. Children strongly orient themselves towards the behavior of adults. “Children are not good at assessing dangers and need clear instructions,” emphasizes Schneider. A calm, firm sentence such as “Stay here, this is safe” provides orientation.
Children should be clearly told what they can do and what is not their responsibility. They should not direct traffic, nor move injured people and should not have to decide alone whether medical help is necessary. However, they can fetch an adult, wait in a safe area, make an emergency call or reassure an injured person—provided they do not put themselves in danger.
Explain the emergency call and reduce hesitation
Children should understand that helping does not mean taking over everything themselves. “You can explain to children that the body sometimes needs help from professionals, just like a car in a workshop,” says Schneider. Such images make it clear why an emergency call is important.
Professional help is always necessary for both children and adults if there is unconsciousness, breathing problems, severe pain, bleeding or head injuries. With children, adults should also become attentive if they behave differently than usual after an accident, are unusually quiet, seem confused or complain of dizziness. When in doubt, it is better to call emergency services once too often.
Avoid typical mistakes
Due to uncertainty, mistakes often occur at accident scenes: injured persons are lifted up or moved without checking, wounds are underestimated, or an emergency call is not made because the situation initially appears harmless. Leaving injured persons alone can also be problematic. “These mistakes can significantly worsen injuries,” warns Schneider.
Until professional help arrives, even laypersons can do a lot. Injured persons should be reassured; in the case of bruises, careful cooling can help; bleeding wounds should be treated with pressure. It is equally important to keep those affected warm. “Even simple measures can make a big difference,” emphasizes Schneider. At the same time, injured persons should not be given anything to eat or drink while it is unclear what injuries are present.
Be a role model
“Children need safety, role models and simple rules,” Schneider concludes. If adults remain calm, act in a structured way and explain what is happening; children learn correct behavior in emergency situations. Whether on the way to school, while playing or in road traffic: prudent behavior provides orientation—and that is exactly what makes the difference in an emergency.