Life-Saving Skills

LIFE-SAVING Simple first aid knowledge can save a SKILLS life. Here’s what you need to know

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 13167-2014 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.

A little knowledge can be a safe thing when it comes to dealing with roadside first

aid. Whether it’s someone you’re riding with or you come across an accident involving a rider, you need to ACT (assess, communicate, treat). Even the most basic first aid skills can save a life or prevent more serious injury. Take in the scene

Your first instinct will be to help anyone who is injured, but it’s vital to assess the crash scene before doing anything else. Roads and the surrounding areas are very dangerous as other vehicles may still be passing by. There could also be debris on the road or hazardous chemicals, so you need to make sure you are safe before helping others.

If you can, set up a warning for other road users as they approach the scene of the accident. It could be another rider or driver warning approaching traffic and asking them to slow down. However, don’t ever put yourself in danger. Position your motorcycle where it can be clearly spotted but is not creating a new hazard, and switch on the hazard warning lights. Make that call

When you know it’s safe to approach a crash scene, there are two lines of communication you need to set up. The first is with the injured rider: are they conscious and can they tell you how badly they are hurt? If they are awake, continue to talk to them to keep them alert and use this time to learn all you can about their injuries. This will help the paramedics when they arrive and also help you decide if you can offer any first aid immediately.

The second life line of communication is with the emergency services. If there are two or more of you, one can speak to the injured rider while the other dials 999 for help. However, if you’re on your own, call for help as soon as you can give relevant information such as how many people are involved and a simple assessment of any injuries – this can be as basic as saying if the injured person is awake or not, and if they are breathing.

Another important communication option is with others who might have stopped to help. Are any of them a doctor or nurse, or do they have more first aid skill than you? Use others present to direct traffic or slow it down, and make sure there’s a clear route for the emergency services. If it’s a remote road, use others to meet the emergency services and guide them to the casualty. The quicker a paramedic is on scene, the better the outcome for the injured person. Simple first aid

The most basic piece of first aid can be carried out by anyone: is the injured person breathing? If they are talking to you, then they are and have a clear airway. If they are unconscious, look for signs of their chest rising and falling, or feel and listen for their breath at their mouth or nose or on their chest.

If there’s more than one injured person, it’s easy to be drawn to the one that is making the most noise. However, this shows someone is conscious, so you need to check that the quiet person is still breathing.

Remember the ABC of first aid: airway, breathing, circulation. It can be difficult to check the airway of a motorcyclist wearing a helmet, but look for any obstructions in their mouth. Listen for breath, and check for a pulse that shows blood is circulating and their heart is beating.

The worst scenario is if the injured rider is not breathing. Then, you need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). If you have not been trained in CPR, the 999 call handler will guide you through this. You can learn CPR and other first aid from many organisations including St John’s Ambulance, the Red Cross, and the British Heart Foundation.

These courses will also teach you how to treat bleeding and wounds to help an injured rider until the ambulance arrives.

Lastly, only ever remove an injured rider’s helmet if there is an immediate risk to their life from not breathing. Removing a helmet can cause more injury to the neck and spine, so it’s best left to the paramedics.

“DON’T EVER PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER. POSITION YOUR BIKE WHERE IT CAN BE CLEARLY SPOTTED BUT IS NOT CREATING A NEW HAZARD“