Know how to handle accident victims and save your life!
Apr 20, 2004
SIR— On January 8, I read the article, “Enforce Traffic Phone Banâ€, in <i>the New Vision</i>. It said that 295 people had died in accidents in 2003 in Kampala alone
SIR— On January 8, I read the article, “Enforce Traffic Phone Banâ€, in the New Vision. It said that 295 people had died in accidents in 2003 in Kampala alone. More recently (Tuesday, April 6) your reporter Ayiga Ondoga stated that deaths from road accidents in Uganda had doubled in the last 10 years, rising from 992 in 1,993 to 1,996 in 2003.
Just one week ago, I myself witnessed a bad car accident.
In front of my car was an over-loaded matatu, swerving in an alarming way. Suddenly, a back tyre burst, the driver lost control and the vehicle overturned. A number of people were injured, some of them seriously. Many cars stopped after the accident but only a small number of people were willing or able to help.
One man had a single medical glove, one of the women had the materials for dressing wounds.
There are many reasons,
why people die in motor
accidents: poorly maintained vehicles, drinking before driving, reckless driving, lack of first aid knowledge, etc. Or simply being afraid of Aids?
I just want to dwell on some points, what I think can be done to improve the situation.
Do you have any first aid know-how?
Ask local hospitals and
surgeries if they run first aid courses. If not, see if you can persuade someone to organise a course.
Are you afraid of making mistakes in first aid?
It is better taking the risk of making a mistake, than risking the loss of life because of
inactivity. Even as a lay
person, you can do a lot to help save lives.
Do you have any first aid material in your car? Bandages are available for sh500 each, sterile gauze to cover a wound for sh300. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you as to what a first aid kit should contain.
Do you have medical gloves in your car? Single pairs are available in pharmacies for roughly sh1,000.
If you buy a box containing 100 pieces for about sh6,500, one glove will cost you only sh65.
This is not too much,
to be able to help save lives and protect yourself at the same time.
Your small investment could have a huge impact to save many lives on Uganda’s roads.
Susanne Dürr
Kampala
Just one week ago, I myself witnessed a bad car accident.
In front of my car was an over-loaded matatu, swerving in an alarming way. Suddenly, a back tyre burst, the driver lost control and the vehicle overturned. A number of people were injured, some of them seriously. Many cars stopped after the accident but only a small number of people were willing or able to help.
One man had a single medical glove, one of the women had the materials for dressing wounds.
There are many reasons,
why people die in motor
accidents: poorly maintained vehicles, drinking before driving, reckless driving, lack of first aid knowledge, etc. Or simply being afraid of Aids?
I just want to dwell on some points, what I think can be done to improve the situation.
Do you have any first aid know-how?
Ask local hospitals and
surgeries if they run first aid courses. If not, see if you can persuade someone to organise a course.
Are you afraid of making mistakes in first aid?
It is better taking the risk of making a mistake, than risking the loss of life because of
inactivity. Even as a lay
person, you can do a lot to help save lives.
Do you have any first aid material in your car? Bandages are available for sh500 each, sterile gauze to cover a wound for sh300. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you as to what a first aid kit should contain.
Do you have medical gloves in your car? Single pairs are available in pharmacies for roughly sh1,000.
If you buy a box containing 100 pieces for about sh6,500, one glove will cost you only sh65.
This is not too much,
to be able to help save lives and protect yourself at the same time.
Your small investment could have a huge impact to save many lives on Uganda’s roads.
Susanne Dürr
Kampala