Why giving water to accident victims could cost them their lives

Burnt tyres smoulder beside twisted, molten vehicles; fuel splatters and slowly seeps into the earth. Headlights flicker faintly, casting sickly shadows over bodies strewn across the road. The stench of blood, petrol, smoke, and sweat swirls into a dangerous cocktail, thickening the already-tense air. Painful cries and broken moans rise in jagged waves, drilling panic into drivers and passers-by alike, widening the cracks of chaos.

Such a scene, as dark as it may sound, is sadly happening all around the globe. Every single day, an accident occurs, a person is critically injured, and a life is lost.

It’s natural human instinct to want to care for victims involved in an accident. One common impulse is to offer them water, especially when they beg for it in an attempt to quench their thirst. Water might sound like a good precautionary step in helping the victims. However, as absurd as it may sound, it will only make things worse. Resisting a victim’s misleading thirst signals can save them from serious consequences. In moments that fragile, even the smallest choices can tip the balance between life and death, and sometimes, not doing something is the wiser choice.

Some of the steps to consider when helping an accident victim include calling an ambulance, moving the victim to a safer place, and in cases of bleeding, applying pressure to the wound using a clean cloth. None of these steps include offering the victim water, no matter how thirsty they claim to be.

In most accidents, victims feel parched due to dehydration from blood loss. Many mistake this for simple thirst. What many do not know is that giving water exposes them to the risk of worsened internal injuries, shock and further blood loss, choking hazards, surgical complications, and increased blood pressure.

According to Dr. Shaaban Haji of the Marina Healthcare, Royal Media Services (RMS), giving a victim water can quickly turn life-threatening, especially if their level of consciousness is reduced.

“When one takes the water, they can choke; water goes to the breathing system leading to ‘aspiration pneumonia’,” he says. “When the individual vomits, the vomitus can as well go to the breathing system of the individual who has an impaired consciousness; hence they cannot protect their airway, leading to aspiration pneumonia that is life-threatening.”

Dr. Shaaban further zeroes in on the possibility that some victims may have suffered internal injuries affecting the stomach and intestines. Water can seep into the abdominal cavity, worsen pain, trigger vomiting, and ultimately cause the victim to choke.

“Also, when an individual is involved in an accident, they might need to be attended to urgently, or they might need emergency surgery. For individuals who are going for surgery, we usually need to have them on an empty stomach because for them to have surgery, they need to be given anesthesia,” he says, emphasizing medical protocols requiring patients to be ‘nil by mouth’ before surgery — meaning they cannot take any drinks or food.

Dr. Shaaban explains that anesthesia can induce vomiting, causing stomach contents to enter the airway and trigger choking, spiralling into serious medical complications.

Of course, it is hard to resist offering water to a patient who is extremely thirsty. But there are safer alternatives that avoid endangering their life further. Dr. Shaaban advises keeping the victim calm and warm, and gently dabbing a piece of cloth soaked in water on their lips to moisten them.

Many people overlook these simple precautionary steps every day, unknowingly risking lives. Accidents happen daily, and the urge to help is natural. However, knowing what not to do can be just as lifesaving. Every small action can mark the line between life and death.

Be mindful of the basics, avoid common mistakes, and you might very well save a life. After all, heroes don’t always wear fancy costumes and capes; sometimes, they’re just ordinary humans with steady hearts and calm minds amid the chaos.