The Easter holiday period marks a busy time on the roads - and with it, an increase in roadside accidents. An emergency doctor shares what you can do to help if you witness one.

Gary Payinda is no stranger to accidents.

As an emergency doctor, he has spent the last 17 years dealing with everything from sprained ankles to cardiac arrests. He's worked in Northland emergency departments and even on a rescue helicopter. And in November, while driving home between Auckland and Whāngarei, he became a bystander himself.

It took him only seconds to recognise what was happening and jump into action - and he wasn't alone.

Emergency doctor Gary Payinda shares some tips for what to do if you're a bystander at a roadside accident. Photo / Supplied

"I've never been one to ignore these situations, so if there's a chance I can help, I will. I think there's a lot of people who feel that way, and certainly on that day, there were lots willing to step up and help."

Payinda said other witnesses helped with disabling a car engine that was redlining, looked for people who might've been thrown from the vehicle, consoled the injured and took care of children on the scene, and made sure the scene was safe so other cars wouldn't come barrelling in.

"It takes a village, and it was the best of New Zealand on that day. When you see responses like that, you realise there are many more good people in the world than what you might think if all you did was read the newspapers."

What should you do if you're a bystander at an accident?

The first step, Payinda said, is to pause, take a breath, and assess the situation.

"Initially there's a lot more questions and anxiety than there are answers and calmness. Even a few seconds pause right at the beginning and a few deep breaths will help you get in the right frame of mind to help.

"You don't help the patient if you yourself become a casualty. You will be useless to them, and you'll actually compromise the patient's wellbeing if you become one of the injured."

Payinda said to ask yourself: What's the one thing I can do to help the situation?

"If the patient's bleeding heavily... I need to put pressure firmly and directly right on the wound and stop the bleeding.

"If they're an adult, unresponsive and not breathing properly... we keep them alive long enough to get that AED [defibrillator] to work by doing CPR.

"There's usually just one or two simple interventions we can do that really make a big difference. The other big thing is calling for help, you can delegate that task to another to call 111 and report back to you when help indeed is coming."

What if you're an outer bystander - not directly involved?

Even those on the sidelines play an important role, Payinda said.

"You have a little bit of ability to step back and ask, 'Is this scene safe, is anyone gonna get injured?' You have the ability to again, in a sort of more relaxed way, see what's going on and assess if we're dealing with the the most important or life-threatening emergency right now."

By staying alert and offering assistance, Payinda said outer-circle bystanders can support those doing hands-on work.

"Sometimes it’s useful to be able to chime in and say, 'I notice there’s bleeding, do you want me to put some pressure on that? It looks like you’re getting tired from doing the chest compressions, do you want me to take over?'

"Being a helpful volunteer means being aware of what’s going on and seeing the big picture.”

What mistakes should you avoid?

One of the biggest misconceptions, Payinda said, is the fear of moving a patient.

“A common mistake that I see is when people are so scared to move a patient, often because they’re worried about a patient’s spine or back, they’re so afraid to move the patient that they allow them to come to harm in a way that could’ve been prevented.

“If you need to move the patient to keep them safe, to prevent further injury or you need to manage a life threat such as an emergency regarding their airway or breathing or circulation, then feel free to move that patient."

Another takeaway from his recent experience? Don’t get tunnel vision.

“One thing that’s always been reinforced in my training has been to always think about other victims, so not always being distracted by the most gruesome injury or the person who’s loudest at the scene. Sometimes you have to look for additional people who might be so badly injured that they can’t scream or shout for help.”

Be prepared

A few basic supplies in your car can make a big difference to your ability to help, Payinda said.

“Having a set of rubber gloves... or leather gloves if you can, and having a high vis vest makes it safer when you not just have to fix your own car someday but it also makes it safer if you’re gonna respond to an emergency.

"People can see you and they know you aren’t one of the victims on the scene, that you’re someone there that might be able to help. Being a little bit prepared for these events will help them go a lot smoother.”

DRSABCD: A simple memory aid

Hato Hone St John recommends remembering DRSABCD, a first-aid mnemonic for emergency care.

DRSABCD stands for Danger, Response, Send, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation.

Payinda explains: "Assess for dangers, patient responsiveness, send for help, check airway, breathing and do CPR, then defibrillate."