The Prepared Bystanders

This project addresses the need for an appropriate strategy for bystanders responding to a road crash. WHO and the Australian Government made a commitment to reduce the annual number of deaths on the road to 571 by 2030. In 2024 there were 1,300 lives lost across Australia. This project bridges the gap between the moment the road crash occurs and the arrival of emergency services. This is where lives can be saved.

Bystanders want to help at a road incident but are not always trained sufficiently, even with a six-hour Level 2 First Aid Course. By bringing these active bystanders together in an online community, we can upskill through education films and empower them to help the people + pets involved in a crash. It may not halve the number of deaths on the road, but research shows early skilled intervention can save lives. If you have ever been involved in a crash, you know it will certainly make a difference having the right support immediately to comfort and reassure you and family.

Across Australia, road users are skilled as prepared bystanders, responding to a road crash with confidence and providing evidence-based care. The Prepared Bystanders will have access to regular training, support and resources currently not easily accessible. Those affected by the road crash will receive prompt assistance from fellow community members and feel comforted and helped while waiting for emergency services. Triple Zero receives timely and accurate information to prioritize deployment of services. Handovers to paramedics saves time at the scene and improves response time to emergency departments. Airways are cleared, bleeding controlled – potential lost lives are saved. Everyone involved feels emotionally supported.

1. All road users have the knowledge, support and training to offer effective help at a road incident.
2. Bystanders are confidently providing Triple Zero accurate details for their prioritization processes.
3. Being part of an online community from the reaches of remote and rural sectors through to regional and urban areas, people who share the common goal of wanting to help at a crash scene are empowered to do so when the unfortunate situation arises.

Women aged 40-70 is my cohort. For my master’s degree, I conducted an online survey of 100 women in this age group across Australia and results indicated that while 49% had come across a road crash, 100% were willing to stop and 86% were willing to undertake further training in road crash management. The reasons they stated as motivations to help fell under ethical or moral reasons, and barriers were around doing something wrong or being sued. These latter points can be altered with education, for instance an interview with a lawyer about the prospect of bystanders being sued. The team I have put together to create the films are also women aged 40-70 so between us we feel we are well positioned to address our primary audience.

1. Check the website for suggestions
2. Update your first aid qualifications – it will help if you have a baseline to start from, but our interactive exercises will help you if you do not yet hold the certificate
3. Consider equipment (first aid kit, blanket) you carry in your car/vehicle/bike
4. Join the online community “The Prepared Bystanders” – small annual subscription cost
5. Talk to people you usually travel with as to what happens if you see a crash – do you stop or keep going, who takes what role, are the kids in the car too young to see something like that, not stop if it is night, not stop if in an unknown area, etc.
6. If you feel you could not be a prepared bystander, who do you know that could? Could you buy them a subscription/update their first aid kit/be an emotional support person?
7. Maybe join your local SES/CFA/CERT/St John organisations – maybe you want to control traffic rather than deal with blood, so the SES might be added training and preparation for you?