Wearing your seatbelt and using safe handholds will help eliminate your chances of injury in the event of a rollover. Hands and arms should remain in the vehicle at all times. You should never try to brace or hold up the vehicle using a body part unless you are willing to
During And After
So you've done everything to prep for a rollover, but how do you avoid one? Using common sense is your best bet, but you can also avoid or get out of a potential rollover by keeping your cool and continuing to drive the vehicle. Many folks will panic and give in to a roll before it's even happened. Yes, you should protect yourself by ducking down and holding on when all else fails, but don't make a bad situation worse by letting the vehicle control how it rolls over. A slight tap on the brakes, a stab at the throttle, or even a slight turn of the steering wheel might help you regain control the vehicle. In many situations, particularly when driving off camber, you can steer the vehicle downhill to keep from tipping. During a rollover, bystanders should always be on guard. You cannot rely on the driver to know where you are at all times. Have an escape route planned if you're in the vehicle's path. This can be something as easy as diving behind a rock or tree. Once the vehicle comes to a stop after a rollover, the driver should be the first to act. If the engine is still running, shut it off; however, do not release your seatbelt until someone outside the vehicle determines that the vehicle is stable and will not continue to move uncontrollably. The vehicle should be stabilized using straps or a winch line if necessary. When it's determined that the vehicle is stable, the driver and passenger should exit the vehicle. After a rollover, the vehicle should be approached cautiously and a fire extinguisher should be on the ready. Elect one person in your group to assess the situation and divide jobs, starting with administering first aid to the vehicle's occupants as necessary. If serious injury has resulted, this will be your first priority. Don't even think about vehicle recovery until everyone's safety is established.
Since we knew we'd be coming close to rolling, we used a tree strap around the crossmember and secured it to a winch line. Whenever a bystander attempts to brace a vehicle from rolling, he or she should never grab onto the vehicle or rollbar. If you must counter the vehicle weight, tie on at least a 6-foot strap and stand clear of the vehicle when doing so. Never tie the strap to your body and always let go of it if the force becomes great enough to pull you forward. | 
Despite efforts, a vehicle will sometimes roll. At that time, you must work quickly to assess the situation and establish a recovery plan. First order of business is to shut off the engine and reach for a fire extinguisher. One person should be in charge of the extinguisher until the vehicle is righted and it is determined that there isn't a threat of fire from spilled fuel. | 
It's also very important to assess the condition of the driver and/or occupants of the vehicle. Don't always rely on the driver or occupants to tell you if they are OK. Visually inspect them for abrasions or head wounds and ask questions that they should know the answers to to ensure that they didn't unknowingly take a hit and are in shock. All situations requiring medical attention should be dealt with first before attempting to right the vehicle. |