# Respond to vehicle accident

Part of the Second Class guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/second-class/guide/index.md)

*6. First Aid and Emergency Preparedness*

> **6e.** Tell how you should respond if you come upon the scene of a vehicular accident.

Coming upon a crash you had no part in is a specific, disorienting situation — the scene itself can be dangerous, and knowing the right order of actions keeps you from becoming a second victim.

## Your Response, In Order

1. **Check for danger first** — oncoming traffic, fuel leaks, downed power lines. Park safely away from the scene and turn on hazard lights before you approach.
2. **Call for emergency help immediately**, giving your location as precisely as you can (see [requirement 6d](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/second-class/guide/req6d/)).
3. **Don't move injured people** unless they're in immediate danger, such as fire — moving someone with a possible spinal injury can make it worse.
4. **Provide first aid within your training** while waiting for responders — control severe bleeding, watch for shock, and reassure the injured.
5. **Direct traffic or warn other drivers** if it's safe to do so, without putting yourself in the road.

> **Safety First!**
>
> Your own safety comes first. A bystander who becomes a second casualty on a busy road doesn't help anyone — assess the scene for danger before you ever step out of a safe position.

## What Not to Do

Don't crowd the scene, don't move a vehicle or victim unnecessarily, and don't leave before emergency responders arrive unless you're the only one who can call for help from a location with signal. Stay ready to tell responders what you saw and what you did.

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- Previous: [Explain emergency response](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/second-class/guide/req6d/index.md)
- Next: [Be physically active 4 weeks](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/second-class/guide/req7a/index.md)