In light of the introduction of compulsory seat belt use, random alcohol breath testing and sped reduction strategies, harm minimisation for victims of road trauma at the pre-ambulance attendance phase may be an appropriate strategy for a further reduction in the road toll. Research publications were sought to identify: studies of the number of fatalities that may have been avoided by early intervention, research on legislation regarding "Good Samaritan" protection and a legal requirement to assist injured crash victims, and research either discussing strategies or making recommendations for reducing roadside death by early intervention. This review attempts to highlight the most pertinent issues and draws out the major arguments from the research currently available. Recommendation are put forward to develop and implement a first aid strategy to reduce the number of deaths that may have been avoided had basic life-saving first aid been applied at the crash scene. (Author/publisher) This item was previously published as a paper to the Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference, 2000, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, p. 399-406, and for the abstract please see ITRD record E204113.
Abstract