How to Stay Calm in an Accident

Car accidents happen often, yet people may not always know how to deal with them. It is very important to stay calm when an accident happens as panic may worsen a situation and lead to other complications. Being calm during a car accident will help you figure out what to do. Learn to handle a car accident and stay calm.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Call 911 if you have a cell phone. If you do not, call from a roadside phone box. If there isn't one in sight, you might have to wave down another driver and ask if they have a cell phone. The last resort is to walk to a house in a nearby neighborhood and ask to use their phone.
2. Make sure to turn off your vehicle engine if it is still running. Check yourself and passengers for injuries. Use a cloth and apply pressure to any bleeding wounds. Don't move anyone who is seriously injured unless you have to get them out of the car because there is danger.
3. Make sure that when you call the police to the scene, you know where you are located by previous street signs. You might want to call the fire department as well. The 911 dispatcher will usually ask for your name and a description of the accident location.
4. Move your car to the shoulder. If your car was in an accident and ended up in a driving lane, make sure you move it out of harm's way. Other motorists might crash into your car, causing further accidents.
5. If you can, observe your car for any liquids leaking, strange odors like gas or smoke. It sounds like an obvious step, but if you're in a panic, you'll miss these details and smoke or a punctured gas tank can lead to fire or explosions. Stay calm and look for these signs.
6. Breathe. When people get into accidents, their hearts pump faster and anxiety and panic level can rise to extremes. You need to stay calm and take deep breaths so you can handle the situation.