The Prepared Bystanders
Are you ready to become one of The Prepared Bystanders?
- If you know you are ready and willing to help at a road incident and you have up to date first aid qualifications, then:
types of first aid kits and look at the contents contained. Cross reference with what you have.
Alternatively, if you have the money, buy a new one that meets your needs!
b. Store extra items specifically for your driving zones. e.g. in winter an extra blanket (one you could sacrifice if it gets
blood on it!) or old raincoat could be stored in a bag in the boot. If you are going out bush, make sure you have extra 15cm
wide roller bandages for pressure immobilization treatments. Do you have a safety reflective jacket?
c. Have a think about the circumstances when you will or will not stop to help, e.g. you have passengers, it is nighttime, it is
raining or snowing, you are in an unfamiliar location. Thinking this through when you are not stressed will help you be more
confident if you do come across a road crash. It is not always possible to stop and help and you must consider safety -
for you first, for others and then for the people involved.
d. Discuss with family or people you are usually travelling with about their response to road crashes, are they trained,
are they willing to help you and be directed in what to do? etc. You could even have designated roles, such as who gets out
of the car first to assess the scene, who calls the emergency services, who grabs the first aid kit, who takes the unconscious
casualty, who reassures the screaming child? All this preparation can save hesitations at the scene!
2. If your first aid qualifications have expired or you feel you can't remember what to do in an emergency or you have
never undertaken a first aid course, then please consider enrolling in one. There are many first aid organisations advertised
online, so choose one that is close to you with a price and timetable that suits your needs. There are even some free information
sessions such as the St John CPR Lab they run at large events or the new free online courses for new learner drivers - no
reason why you couldn't do that for yourself, if not to recommend it to the young people in your life! Nothing beats hands-on, but
additional theory is always valuable.
never undertaken a first aid course, then please consider enrolling in one. There are many first aid organisations advertised
online, so choose one that is close to you with a price and timetable that suits your needs. There are even some free information
sessions such as the St John CPR Lab they run at large events or the new free online courses for new learner drivers - no
reason why you couldn't do that for yourself, if not to recommend it to the young people in your life! Nothing beats hands-on, but
additional theory is always valuable.
3. I am an advocate for defensive and advanced driving lessons too. Whether you are:
a. New to Australian roads or just new to your State or Territory
b. Have only driven metro and now going bush (or other way around)
c. Recently updated your vehicle
d. Taken up motorcycle riding or 4 Wheel Driving or electric scooter ...
e. Or looking to give yourself a birthday present
then any of these times are great opportunities to test yourself in a defensive or advanced driving course. Google what is near
you. Being confident in breaking quickly and avoiding a collision is one way to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on the road.
Be part of the solution!
a. New to Australian roads or just new to your State or Territory
b. Have only driven metro and now going bush (or other way around)
c. Recently updated your vehicle
d. Taken up motorcycle riding or 4 Wheel Driving or electric scooter ...
e. Or looking to give yourself a birthday present
then any of these times are great opportunities to test yourself in a defensive or advanced driving course. Google what is near
you. Being confident in breaking quickly and avoiding a collision is one way to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on the road.
Be part of the solution!
4. An online training program directed specifically at what to do at a road crash is currently in development. Watch this space for
further information and we will let you know when we are ready to take on participants.
further information and we will let you know when we are ready to take on participants.
What if I can't wait?
If this project idea resonates with you and you would like to be involved in its creation, click the 'Register my interest' button below or send me an email via the contact page or join the Facebook and/or Instagram communities. See the links below. I am always open to enthusiastic team players on my side!
Help us get this project up and running
Once The Prepared Bystanders is ready to launch, the plan is a low cost of close to $5 per month membership. To make that happen, we need philanthropic support to cover the costs to get the project to the point of launch. We have approval for fiscal sponsorship by Documentary Australia, and you can make a tax-deductible donation on their site from this link: https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/the-prepared-bystanders/ Thank you for your support of this community.
