| For the most part, all of
us ride, and a lot of us have been involved in a traffic
collision of some type in the past. After reading
a few threads about bike wrecks it came to me......does
everyone know how to deal with a wreck? I figured
I would put my experience and training out there to
try and help others when they are involved in a traffic
collision. It can be carried over to passenger cars
as well.
Some background about your author so you know it
is just not someone talking out of their rear end.
I was a firefighter for 2 years with a specialty in
vehicle extrication (cutting people out of very serious
wrecks), 11 years as a medical first responder and
6 1/2 years as a law enforcement officer with extensive
training and experience in vehicle collision investigation
and reconstruction of collision scenes.
Some things I discuss are planning, equipment, reactions/what
to do or not to do:
Planning:
Planning can take on many roles. A few things that
can help you in case of an emergency are:
Try and determine the area you plan to ride in and
get a list of all law enforcement agencies, emergency
medical services and fire stations in the area. Write
down the phone numbers for these locations.
Remember, dialing 911 from a cell phone doesn't always
route you to the nearest people that can assist in
the event of a traffic collision.
If it a planned group ride try and get a person in
the group that some medical training and designate
them as a medic in case of a collision. If you can't
find a person that has some medical training many
EMS locations offer basic first aide as a free class
to anyone that wishes to learn it as well as CPR.
If possible volunteer to take the class for your group
of riders.
If it is a solo ride it might still be a good idea
to learn basic first aide in case you have to perform
it on yourself. As many people with medical training
as possible on the ride the better off the group will
be.
Let people not involved in the ride know your planned
route (if it is planned) and an estimated time of
when the ride will end.
If the ride changes in time or location call and
let someone know as soon as possible so as not to
cause any unnecessary worry or drama.
Make sure you and your equipment are in the best
possible condition, this will greatly increase your
chances of a better outcome.
Equipment:
These are bikes so we cannot carry a car trunk full
of equipment. But you can distribute equipment over
a few riders to make it easier.
Somewhere on your helmet place a sticker that reads
(DO NOT REMOVE HELMET) several places make these stickers
and hand them out free or for little charge.....pick
up a couple for your friends too.
Cell phones are pretty much a must these days anyways
and most riders have their's with them. Make sure
it is charged up and ready to go.
A small flashlight will do wonders! They are small
and can be tucked into bike trunks very easily and
will be useful for light and signaling other motorists
as well.
Small bottles of water can assist with heat fatigue,
flushing injuries, putting out fires (or at least
slowing them down).
Copies of your medical cards should be kept on every
person as well as a form of identification and emergency
contact information.
Small medical first aide kits will help a lot! If
you do not have space for one some items I might suggest:
a couple of small ACE warps (these can be used to
make splints or wrap injuries), emergency blankets
(these are small these days and can be carried in
a jacket pocket <about the size of a folded handkerchief>
they are reflective and will be asset to make a stretcher
and keep people warm if they go into shock), gauze
pads (used to cover injuries and wipe away blood....if
you can get a military combat pack it will have a
large gauze pad and an elastic band on it), roll of
athletic tape (used to tape gauze pads, make splints,
hold wounds closed). More can be added to this list
as you see fit.
If you have a medical condition let others know!
If you wear a medical bracelet or necklace make sure
to wear it.
Pick at least two locations on your gear and place
a piece of tape on it with your blood type and allergies!
A digital camera is also pretty handy as well to
take pictures of the scene; it will speed up the process
with the insurance companies and make it easier to
reconstruct the scene if anything has to be moved.
Rubber/latex gloves (these will be used to keep from
possibly contracting anything and getting debris into
a wound.....if you don't have them with you....do
what you feel you have to do).
Reactions on the scene:
First and foremost, whether you’re an injured
rider or not is to get control of yourself!!! A calm
brain is far better than one going in a hundred different
directions.
If you are not involved in the collision get your
bike out of the scene and off the roadway if possible...if
not get it as far to the right as possible.
Let the "medic" focus on doing his job
at hand. If you are the medic make a quick assessment
of the injured and get the most critical person first
and work your way to the least critical.
If the group is large enough send one person in each
direction to stop traffic at least one hundred feet
in each direction.
Once they get traffic stopped have them go vehicle
to vehicle and ASK IF THEY ARE A DOCTOR, NURSE, PARAMEDIC,
COP, FIREFIGHTER (all of these have training in medical
aide and know how to help there the fastest).
If no one brought a cell phone or there is no signal,
ask the people to call for medical assistance and
police or if they can to a payphone and call for assistance.
Unless a person is under a bike leave the bikes where
they lay!! This will help the police officer that
will have to work the scene this is also true for
other vehicles as well. Leave the downed rider in
the position they are in and DO NOT MOVE THEM UNLESS
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!!!! If a person is impaled
on an object....LEAVE THEM IMPALED!! (This might be
the only thing keeping them alive and should only
be done with the proper equipment).
If anyone complains of head, back, neck problems
or tingling sensations MAKE them law down off the
roadway.
Some things I will not be able to go into, as far
medical aide goes due to state laws varying exclusions
to the "good Samaritan clause", primarily
keep their heads still by placing even pressure on
both sides of their helmet (each place teaches different
techniques on the use of a C Spine).
If you are a solo rider without a group try not to
move but if you are in a blind spot try and get out
of the roadway or into a clearer line of sight for
other drivers to see you.
Try to keep injured riders talking. If they are talking
they are breathing and if they are breathing they
are alive!!
Take lots of photographs, especially if you have
had to alter the scene.
Do not let gawkers into the accident area; if they
are not helping they do not need to be there!!
If you are an injured rider do not try and be macho.
Tell them you are injured.
When speaking to anyone DO NOT ADMIT FAULT OR LIE
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED!!! The physical evidence will
speak for itself. Do not talk to the press or reveal
any names of injured riders until families can be
notified, the last thing a loved one wants to see
is their loved one stretched out on a roadway...hence
the emergency contact numbers.. Give true statements
to the police officers that are investigating it as
well as the appropriate insurance companies. When
you have had time to calm down a few hours later write
the events down as to what happened, what you saw
and what you did. As time passes these things get
fuzzy in our minds so a good log will be beneficial
later on.
A special thanks to Fargin_Bastige and tmkreutzer
for all their assistance with the writing of this
article.
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