'Lifebuoy' for traffic accident victims on National Highway 1A

Timely response

Although the accident happened more than a year ago, every time it is mentioned, Ms. NTV in Mai Hung Ward (Hoang Mai Town) still feels like she has not recovered. That day, around 8 pm, Ms. V. had something to do so she went out on her bicycle. When she reached the area across from the Mai Hung Ward People's Committee headquarters, Ms. V. was hit by a motorcyclist driving at high speed while avoiding a car going in the same direction, causing her to fall and lie motionless on the side of the road. The accident caused her to be hospitalized for nearly 2 months before she recovered.

However, according to Ms. V., there is a silver lining in every misfortune, because at that time she was assisted by the Hoang Mai Town Traffic Accident Response Team and an ambulance was called to take her to the hospital. According to doctors, with a broken cervical vertebra like hers, if she did not receive timely emergency care or if she did not move properly during first aid, she would be at risk of paralysis.

The TNTN first aid and rapid response team of Hoang Mai town's traffic accident prevention and control team protects the accident scene. Photo: TDNA

Ms. V's case is just one of more than 50 traffic accidents in the area that have been promptly responded to by the Hoang Mai Town Traffic Accident First Aid and Rapid Response Team.

Mr. Le Sy Tien - Captain of the Youth Volunteer Team to ensure traffic safety in Hoang Mai town said: After 5 years of operation, the team still maintains 15 members who are Youth Union officials in units located on National Highway 1A such as the Town Police, Quynh Lap Central Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital, Youth Union officials at the Health Stations of Quynh Thien, Mai Hung, and Quynh Xuan wards, with the motto "Fast, safe, effective".

Recalling the times he participated in first aid for traffic accident victims, Mr. Tien is still haunted by the accident between two motorbikes in Quynh Thien ward at the end of 2018. That day, it was pouring rain, the team received news of an accident so everyone quickly arrived at the scene. At that time, the two victims were bleeding profusely and were in critical condition.

After providing first aid to the two victims, one group took them to the emergency room, while the other group stayed behind to protect the scene to hand it over to the police, and helped the traffic police direct traffic. However, in this accident, only one victim was saved, while the other died due to severe injuries. According to Mr. Tien, although they arrived in time and tried their best, in such incidents, all the team members were haunted and felt a heavy sense of responsibility.

In Dien Ky commune (Dien Chau), based on the volunteer team participating in traffic safety propaganda activities, guiding traffic flow; helping subjects such as the elderly, children, the disabled... cross National Highway 1A such as at Cau Bung intersection, a place with a large concentration of schools during rush hour, in 2014, the Youth Union First Aid and Rapid Response Team for Traffic Accidents was also established. The team currently has over 10 members including the Executive Committee of the Commune Youth Union, some outstanding Youth Union secretaries of blocks and hamlets, the police youth force and 3 members of the commune health station.

The TNTN first aid and rapid response team for traffic accidents in Tan Ky and Dien Chau districts provided initial first aid to accident victims at the medical station. Photo: TDNA

Mr. Ngo Sy Trong - Secretary of the Youth Union of Dien Ky commune said that although there are still many worries and concerns about food, clothing, and money, because of doing useful work and when performing duties, the members always put themselves in the position of relatives of the victims, so everyone tries their best.

In order to perform their duties well, the health station’s members are the ones who train and provide first aid knowledge to the other members. If the victim only has minor injuries that are within the team’s ability to handle, they will be taken to the commune health station for first aid; in more serious cases, first aid will be given on the spot and transferred to a higher-level hospital.

Because traffic accidents can happen at any time, the team members do not have fixed working hours. At any time, even at midnight or early morning, the hotline is always available for people to contact 24/7. Up to now, the team has responded promptly to 40 traffic accidents, many of which are serious; performed first aid and emergency care and took more than 100 victims to the hospital for timely treatment.

Compared to the two above-mentioned localities, in Thanh Chuong, the TNTN First Aid and Rapid Response Team for Traffic Accidents was established later, at the end of May 2018. However, with the active participation of 12 members including Youth Union officials, commune police, and commune health station staff, up to now, the team has responded to and promptly handled 15 traffic accidents, including 2 car rollovers, 2 car-motorbike accidents, and 11 other motorbike accidents.

Small model, big meaning

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh - Head of the Provincial Youth Union's Propaganda Department: Up to now, in addition to the Youth Union First Aid and Rapid Response Team for Traffic Accidents in Dien Ky Commune (Dien Chau) and Hoang Mai Town established in 2014, this model has been further developed in localities such as Quynh Luu, Hung Nguyen, Thanh Chuong, Quy Hop, Quy Chau, Que Phong, Thai Hoa Town, Nghia Dan, Do Luong, Tuong Duong, Yen Thanh, Tan Ky...

Based on the general regulations on the activities of volunteer youth teams as directed by the Central Youth Union, the teams have developed their own operating regulations suitable to the local reality. In particular, the common functions of the teams are to provide first aid and rescue for traffic accident victims, coordinate with authorities to protect accident scenes, and separate lanes and traffic flows to reduce traffic congestion.

Talking about the effectiveness of the deployment of the TNTN First Aid and Rapid Response Team for Traffic Accidents, the leader of the Emergency Department, Nghe An General Hospital said: Not all traffic accident victims are quickly taken to the hospital. Therefore, first aid before hospitalization is very important, if you know how, it will help save the lives of many victims.

But in reality, when an accident occurs, people only know how to call 115, or receive first aid from passersby but not properly, because they are not experts. Therefore, there is a great need for first aid teams right in the localities. Maintaining such emergency volunteer teams is extremely important.

Youth Union of Quynh Luu district, Dien Chau participates in regulating traffic during rush hour. Photo: TDNA - Viet Hung

On the police side, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Nam Hong - Deputy Head of the Provincial Traffic Police Department said that this was not only a noble humanitarian act, helping the victims receive timely first aid. While the authorities had not yet arrived, members of the volunteer teams also contributed to traffic flow, keeping the scene undisturbed, helping to accurately investigate the cause of the incident.

According to Mr. Vo Minh Duc - Chief of Office of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee: The total length of National Highway 1A passing through Nghe An is 73.8 km, of which Dien Chau district has the longest National Highway 1A passing through all localities with 28 km, accounting for 38%; Hoang Mai town ranks second, with the length of National Highway 1A passing through 14 km...

These are areas with complex traffic situations, many intersections, and black spots for traffic accidents. Therefore, the establishment of first aid and rapid response teams for traffic accidents is necessary and needs to be expanded, contributing to minimizing losses caused by traffic accidents.

Yen Thanh District Youth Union organizes traffic safety propaganda at schools. Photo: TDNA

However, in order for the activities of the TNTN First Aid and Rapid Response Team to be maintained and promoted effectively, in addition to organizing training and equipping team members with knowledge of proper on-site first aid for traffic accident victims, it is necessary to study and support the teams with fuel costs, money to buy cotton, bandages, gauze, splints, medical equipment, etc.

In fact, apart from the TNTN First Aid and Rapid Response Team in Dien Ky Commune (Dien Chau) and Hoang Mai Town - which were the pilot models supported when they were first established, up to now all funding of the teams has to be self-funded, leading to times when operations are still difficult and efficiency is not high.