There’s nothing as humbling as not knowing what to do next. Yet that’s often the reaction of the first person to arrive at a motor vehicle accident — and it’s the reason many people continue right on by. Truck drivers sometimes find themselves in just such a position, given the time they spend on the road. So what better bit of insight might you provide your drivers than the ability to assess an accident scene and confidently make decisions that might affect the lives of not only the victims but other passers-by and emergency response personnel?

Full-fledged first-aid training isn’t always practical, given the time and cost involved. So St. Catharines, Ont.-based Incident Recovery Training Group (IRTG) developed a useful alternative: its First on the Scene program teaches truck drivers how to deal with the immediate needs at any accident scene, including how to make an effective 911 call.

The course’s first component involves accident scene assessment. Drivers are taught what hazards to look for and how to secure the safety of the victims with respect to traffic, fire, exposure, and environmental hazards. As with any first aid situation, drivers are instructed not to move any of the victims unless some other life-threatening condition exists, but to attempt to account for all the individuals involved, and to comfort and protect the victims from further injury.

The second component deals with what to say to emergency response workers. Drivers are taught the type of information a 911 operator really needs, including how to pinpoint the accident’s location and how to convey an accurate description of the scene.

Sometimes medical help isn’t readily available. Part three of IRTG’s program teaches self-survival techniques — treatment of minor wounds such as burns, cuts, sprains, and fractures, as well as the recognition of symptoms of trauma such as the onset of shock, hypothermia, heat stroke, etc. This portion also includes a primer on using items commonly available in a truck — blankets, tire thumpers, bungee cords, etc. — as splints, bandages, compresses, and other first-aid devices.

“The program gives drivers the knowledge and confidence to stop and render what assistance they can,” says IRTG president Mary Ann O’Neill. “We teach the basics of hazard recognition in a manner that makes the driver’s presence at the scene helpful without a huge investment.”

This course was developed in response to enquiries received by IRTG for first-aid training for drivers. Typically, the course runs about two hours. IRTG also offers a certified Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada one-person CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) component, which adds another two hours to the program. Fees vary depending on the size of the group.

For more information, contact Mary Ann O’Neill at 905/227-5698, or e-mail irtg@sympatico.ca.