LIFE SAVINGSKILLS

Take a Biker Down course: it could help you save another rider’s life

Would you know what to do if you came around a corner and found another biker lying in the road? That’s the question posed by Biker Down, a first aid course for motorcyclists. Actually, Biker Down covers more than first aid. Over three hours or so you learn how to keep yourself and others safe at the scene of a crash, as well as tips on being seen by other road users.

Safety First

So, back to scene of the collision. There’s not just another biker, but a car as well, with an injured driver and passenger. Whose safety do you need to attend to first? Yours.

Jim Sanderson, the course’s founder and a crew manager with the Kent Fire and Rescue service, explains. “If a fire fighter attends a road traffic collision, their first job is to make sure the scene is safe for the crew to work. It’s the same for a biker. You might have to walk past people who are lying on the ground screaming to go up to the first bend and stop the next car from coming around the corner.

“If you get caught up helping people and a car comes around the bend and hits everyone, you’ve failed.”

Likewise think carefully before using your own bike with hazard lights on as a warning to other road users. If it is too close to the scene it could be hit by another vehicle causing further injuries – or worse.

Look Out For The Quiet Ones

The first of Biker Down’s three modules tells you all about incident scene management. This includes deciding who needs your help first.

It’s probably not the person making the most noise. Check anyone who is quiet and not moving first for breathing and a pulse.

Doing Your Best Beats Doing Nothing

In Module 2, Biker Down moves on to casualty care. You’ll learn all sorts of techniques, including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

The best way to learn CPR is on a course where you can practise hands on. But here are the basics:

● Kneel next to the person and place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of their chest. Place the palm of your other hand on top of the hand on the chest. Interlock your fingers.

● Position your shoulders directly above your hands.

● Use your bodyweight (not just your arms) to press down straight by 5-6cm.

● Keeping your hands on their chest, allow the chest to return to its original position.

● Repeat these compressions 100 to 120 times a minute.

If you haven’t been on a first aid course recently, you may not be confident in the technique. But it’s better to try to save a life than to always wonder if you could have made a difference.

Myth

Wrong. If a biker’s airway is obstructed or they’re not breathing, you will need to remove their helmet to clear the airway or perform CPR with rescue breaths. Biker Down teaches how to do it.

First Aid Kit For Bikes

There are first aid kits designed specifically for motorcycle use, such as those from Held and Qbag. They can be stowed under the seat, so they’re always there when you need them. They come with all the basics to deal with cuts and burns. Look for a kit that meets the DIN 131672014 standard, which is specific to motorcycles. A good quality, compact first aid kit for your bike costs from less than £10, so there’s no excuse for not carrying one.

To find out more, email bikerdown@kent.fire-uk.org