As summer approaches, most Americans are beginning to plan vacation “road trips” to the beach, amusement parks, and other destinations. With more families on the road, the chances of roadside accidents increase as well. Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Center wants to take this opportunity to advise motorists on what to do (and what not to do) if your car breaks down on the road.
Whether it’s a flat tire, dead battery, engine failure, or a fender bender, every year millions of Americans encounter some form of vehicle trouble. If you find yourself in one of these situations, responding appropriately and taking proper precautions can mean the difference between life and death. According to the Federal Highway Administration, 59,000 pedestrians are injured during roadway crashes every year, with roughly 4,000 people killed, accounting for 12% of traffic accidents.
Follow these tips to ensure proper roadside safety to avoid making a bad situation even worse:
• Know your location. Look for street signs, restaurants, mile markers, or other surrounding identifiers so when you call for help, it will arrive with minimal delay.
• If you get stuck, make sure your vehicle is as visible as possible. Put your hazard lights on immediately. If you have them in your trunk, use flares, reflective lights or brightly colored flags as well. Another trick to bring attention to your car is to lift the hood.
• If you are able to, get your car out of the line of traffic. Moving your car onto highway shoulders, medians, and exit ramps are all safer options than leaving it in the middle of the road. Never try to repair or assess damage to your car on a busy highway.
• Once you are away from traffic, the safest choice is to remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened. This is a much better option than waiting outside your car for assistance. If you must get out of your car, make sure to get out on the side furthest from the flow of traffic.
• If you cannot get off the road, do not stay in your vehicle. Exit your car or truck with extreme caution and get to a safe, out-of-the-way location and wait for help to arrive.
Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Department wants you to remember that if you encounter a roadside emergency, your well-being and that of your family should be your number one priority. Following proper roadside safety precautions and using good judgment will have a direct bearing on your personal safety.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.