First There, First Care
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has a public awareness program, the First There, First Care bystander care for the injured. Everyone can learn to stop to help, call Emergency Medical Service (EMS) assistance, assess the situation, start the victim’s breathing and stop the victim’s bleeding until the first responders arrive.
Rural areas have fewer people but higher traffic fatalities and national statistics show that the majority of motor vehicle fatalities occur on rural roadways. Many motor vehicle deaths can be attributed to the lack of early intervention. In rural areas it often takes First Responders longer to arrive on the scene due to the distance they must travel. Every second counts in an emergency and trained bystanders can make the difference.
