Emergency Aid for Motorcyclists

A road traffic collision could be one of the most traumatic situations that you will experience and potentially one of the most dangerous. In all the actions that you take at the scene of an accident, remember that your own safety is paramount. You should never put yourself at risk. This information is a guide to dealing with an accident scene safely and efficiently. It is reproduced on this website with the permission of St John Ambulance. Visit their website www.sja.org.uk for further information and details of practical  first and emergency aid training courses.

Assess the Situation

• Survey the scene. Do not approach the scene of an accident unless it is safe to do so.
• Check for hazards - what could prove a potential danger? Look for leaking fuel, smoke or fire, hazardous chemcicals etc.
• Find out what happened. Are there any witnesses? Try to gather as much information as you can. This is important because it highlights what action you should take and will give you the information you need to to pass onto the emergency services.
• How many casualties are there, and what type of injuries do they have? Check for "wandering wounded" or for pillions who may have been thrown well clear of the scene. Rear foot pegs down on a bike may indicate the presence of a passenger.

Questions to ask on the scene:

Location: What type of road, motorway or country lane? Different road types require different actions.

Position of vehicles: Are they in a dangerous position? do they present a risk?

Casualties:How many are there? Where are they and what is the nature of their injuries?

Communication: If you do not have a mobile phone where is the nearest phone?

Bystanders and witnesses: How can they help?

Getting help: Which emergency services are required and what information can you give them?

Making Safe

Look after yourself - do not put yourself at risk.

• Warn approaching traffic. You can use your bike to provide an warning to oncoming traffic by placing it up the road from the accident. If there are others at the scene, send them in both directions to warn oncoming traffic.
• At night or in poor visibility, if possible, use lights on undamaged bikes or vehicles to illuminate the accident scene.
• Avoid chemical or fuel spillages.
• Battery acid may also be a hazard at the scene. It will cause burns.
• Apart from being an indicator of a potential fire, smoke at the scene may contain noxious or poisonous fumes. Minimise your exposure to smoke wherever possible.
• If there is a fire, keep clear. Fuel tanks are an obvious risk, but gas struts, shocks and suspension units can also explode in a fire.
• Take care of damaged vehicles, watch out for sharp edges, broken glass etc.
• Airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners can go off at any time, causing additional injury. Avoid leaning into a vehicle where the airbag has not obviously been activated.
• Do not climb on or in unstable vehicles.
• Wherever possible leave as much vehicle debris as you find it. If you need to move it make a mental note of where it was.
• Often police do not get the contact details of the person who performed first aid. To help the emergency services make sure you give your details to the police.

Getting Help

• If you are taking charge of the scene, ask bystanders to call the emergency services by calling 999 or 112. always ask for the police. Information provided will help the operator to advise other emergency services.
• Calling 999 or 112 from a mobile phone does not necessarily put you through to your local operator. The operator may not have local knowledge so will require precise details of your location.
• REMEMBER - Wherever possible do not leave a casualty. If you are on your own at the scene of an accident, and you do not have a mobile phone it may be necessary to leave the scene to call for assistance. Alerting the emergency services will be a priority in these circumstances.

Information for emergency services: location of the incident; type and seriousness of the incident; number and type of casualties; any specific hazards which may be present at the scene; any specific care needs (pregnancy, infants, elderly); consider the route - is it blocked?

It is a legal requirement for anyone involved in the accident to remain at the scene. If you are aware of any vehicle leaving the scene try to make a note of any details.

Casualties

• Do not do too much. You cannot effectively treat all the casulaties at once.
• Assess the needs of the casualties. This will help decide your priorities - such as a casualty needing immediate resuscitation.
• Use disposable gloves if you have them. They will protect you and your casualty from infection.
• Only move casualties if they are in immediate danger as a result of their current position i.e.in the middle of the road, near a fire or chemical hazard.
• When moving casualties be aware of possible neck or back injuries.
• If it is necessary to remove a crash helmet always follow the prescribed method. Remember, it takes two people to remove a full-face crash helmet correctly.

Removing a Crash Helmet

• "Practice makes perfect". Make sure that the first time you perform crash helmet removal it is not at the scene of an accident. Regular practice and skills update sessions will help you become more proficient.
• Do not move an injured motorcyclist unless they are in immediate danger - they may have neck or back injuries.
• Only remove a crash helmet if the casualty has difficulty breathing, is not breathing or is vomiting.
• Two people are needed to remove a full-face crash helmet safely. One is required to support the head and neck at all times, the other to lift and ease off the crash helmet.
• Undo or ideally cut the straps.
• Support the neck with one hand and hold the lower jaw.
• Working from the base of the crash helmet, ease your fingers underneath the rim. Ask the person helping you to hold the crash helmet with both hands.
• Ask the helper, working from above to tilt the crash helmet backwards (try not to move the head at all) and gently lift the front clear of the casualty's chin.
• Continue to support the casualty's neck and lower jaw. Ask your helper to tilt the crash helmet forwards slightly so that it will pass over the the base of the skull, and then lift straight off the casualty's head.

This information should only be used in conjunction with the St John Ambulance First Aid for Motorcyclists course.

 Copyright St.John Ambulance 2004