Be ready to become a roadside lifesaver

A few emergency items in your car could be lifesavers at a crash site. Photo / Supplied

It doesn't matter if you live in Ponsonby or Puhoi, there are some essential safety items you should always carry in your car in case you are involved in an accident or come across one.

You don't want to be waiting around helplessly for emergency services - police, ambulance or a tow truck - to arrive.

Instead, being able to secure the crash site or administer first aid can be a lifesaver.

The most important item you should have in your glovebox is a first-aid kit, available from pharmacies or St John.

One of the most inexpensive safety items is a fluorescent vest; I bought mine for $7 from my local bargain shop. You can fold it up and keep it in your glovebox too - and use it not only to wear but as a flag to wave down cars at the scene of a crash.

Although expensive, (from $192.26), fire extinguishers are an important item, especially if you travel frequently.

For buyers of new Hyundais, there is the bonus that their cars come with extensive safety equipment supplied.

The company supplies a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and vest in all its vehicles except the iMax van.

"Hyundai is the first and only manufacturer to have a safety kit of this kind as standard in all of its new-vehicle range," says the chief operating officer of Hyundai New Zealand, Tom Ruddenklau.

One group of people that sees firsthand the devastating effects of road crashes is St John ambulance staff. So with this expert knowledge, the organisation has some advice for Driven readers on what to do if they come across a crash.

* The people first on the scene can help save a life. Ensure that the injured people and bystanders are safe from danger, for example from oncoming traffic. Arrange for someone to stop traffic if necessary. (This is where the florescent jacket is important. )

* Call 111 and ask for an ambulance. You will be asked questions about the location and nature of the crash.

* Assess the injured people for life-threatening injuries that require immediate first aid.

Responsiveness: Check to see if the injured people are conscious by talking to them. If they are not conscious they are at risk suffering a blockage to their airway.

Airway: Check the airway of the unconscious people (you do not need to do this for people who are awake) by listening for a snoring sound as they breathe.

If you hear this sound, it means their airway is partly blocked by their tongue, which has fallen back.

If the airway is blocked, tilt the head gently back and lift the chin forward. Keep doing this until an ambulance arrives.

Breathing: Check the breathing of the unconscious people by looking at their chest. If they are not breathing they need CPR. To do CPR you will have to get the person out of the vehicle. Keep doing CPR until an ambulance arrives.

Circulation: Check all the people for visible bleeding. If there is significant bleeding, push firmly on the area with a piece of cloth (this is why a first-aid kit is helpful) and keep doing this until an ambulance arrives.

Do not move injured people unless they are in immediate danger - for example, from fire or traffic you cannot stop. If they are in such danger, move them carefully to a place of safety.

Gather all of the people who were in the crash who have got themselves out of their vehicle and sit them down in a safe area, so that ambulance officers can examine them when they arrive. If you have driven past a crash without stopping, do not call an ambulance. St John says it is common for people to see a crash on the motorway and call for help - but sometimes when the ambulance arrives, the "accident" victims have already driven off.

St John also advises people to do a first-aid training course so they can administer help and do CPR properly.

But the main tip is ... drive safely!

* For more info on products go to: www.newzealandfireextinguishers.co.nz or www.stjohn.org.nz