Abuja:The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has emphasized that its crash-response procedures prioritize saving lives, ensuring that critically injured victims are evacuated before those with less serious injuries or deceased individuals.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Osondu Ohaeri, the Corps Public Education Officer, addressed concerns regarding the handling of accident victims and corpses by the FRSC. He explained that FRSC personnel are trained to secure crash scenes, control traffic, assess casualties based on injury severity, and provide necessary first aid. Critical victims receive priority evacuation to the nearest appropriate hospital without delay.
He outlined that the FRSC operates an Emergency Ambulance Service Scheme, known as Zebra, and roadside clinics to facilitate emergency responses. The public can report crashes via the corps’ toll-free 122 emergency line.
Ohaeri detailed that FRSC personnel conduct initial casualty assessments, checking responsiveness, airway, breathing, and injury severity to prioritize life-saving interventions. Personnel are trained not to declare victims dead at scenes; uncertain cases are treated as emergencies requiring evacuation.
When handling corpses, FRSC personnel treat them with respect, ensuring proper identification and investigation. Deceased victims are moved after living casualties are attended to, with identities and personal effects documented for further investigation.
He clarified that deceased victims are handled through appropriate authorities, and the corps’ policy separates the transportation of living and deceased victims in ambulances. The operational principle prioritizes critical living victims’ evacuation, with deceased individuals handled separately when possible.
The procedures ensure emergency responses focus on saving lives, while deceased victims are treated with dignity and managed appropriately, coordinating with relevant authorities for effective post-crash response.