One of the recommended steps to take after a car accident is checking for injuries. Everyone involved should do this to avoid worsening injuries. But how can you check yourself for injuries?
Here is how you can do this:
Check for visible injuries
The first thing to do is check if you have visible injuries, such as cuts, burns, swelling or bleeding.
Check if you can move
Confirm if you can move while you are still in your seat. If you feel pain, do not move any further. Call for medical help – you may have sustained a serious injury.
Check for pain
If you can’t feel pain when moving around, touch every body part, from head to toe. Doing this can help you discover pain in your chest, stomach and other parts that may have gone unnoticed when you tried to move.
Take your time when checking for pain, as an adrenaline rush may mask it.
Confirm if you feel nauseated
If you feel nauseous or dizzy after a car accident, chances are you have sustained an internal injury. And in some cases, you may vomit. If this happens, do not move even if you don’t feel pain or have visible injuries.
Check the passengers
You need to check if your passengers are injured if you have any. Ask them to take the above-discussed steps as well. If any of them feels pain, can’t move or is nauseated/vomiting, call medical help immediately.
Checking for injuries after a crash is a crucial step to take before getting out of the vehicle to exchange information with the other driver and take pictures of the accident scene. Get legal help to know what to do next.