How to Handle a Crying Baby in an Auto Accident

When you're in a car accident, time can seem to stop even if it's a minor fender-bender. The tiniest of crashes may create traffic jams while you and the other driver must exchange information and discuss the incident. On top of that, stress can impair decision-making skills, so it's best to decide ahead of time what you need to do in the event of an accident. That includes deciding how you will handle very upset babies and young children in the event of an accident. Here's how you should handle a crying baby in the aftermath of an accident.

Play It Safe: Call 911 As Soon As Possible

Call 911 right away and be sure that first-responders know that you have a baby who needs care. Confirm that help is on the way before hanging up the phone. Because babies are more fragile than adults, as parts of their bodies are still forming and developing, it's very important to get your baby checked out by a doctor in the aftermath of an accident. Even a crash that may leave you feeling okay can result in physical injury of some kind to a baby. To be on the safe side, take your baby in for a check-up even if they don't show any obvious wounds.

Avoid Further Trauma: Set Up Safety Precautions

If you have to stay at the scene of the accident with your baby while you wait for help to arrive, take immediate action to ensure that you and your baby are not further hurt. Be sure to put on your flashers right away if you are able to do so. Next, set up traffic cones around the car and also place them behind your car and in front of it to alert other drives of your situation.

When It's Very Minor: Hand Off the Baby When Possible

If you have been in a very minor fender-bender where you need to stay with the vehicle until the police arrive, try to get your children to safety as quickly as possible. If you have your spouse or another trusted adult in the vehicle with you and are near a location where they can safely go to wait, try to get the other adult to take the baby elsewhere. Keeping the baby near the scene of the accident is never a good idea. Even a vehicle that is securely parked on the side of the road is not the safest place to be.

Finally, keep in mind that you do want to plan for worst-case scenarios when it comes to safety precautions. Always keep a first-aid kit for every member of your family in the car. That's especially important for the youngest and most vulnerable members of the family. Your baby may be especially vulnerable after an auto accident, so always seek medical advice when in doubt. 

For help doing these things while in the aftermath of an accident, call your roadside service company. If you need a roadside service company, research various companies by visiting sites such as http://www.bigdtowing.com/.

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