Twisty Sisters Riding Club USA
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| The information offered below
is general information, currently practiced by EMT’s of
the NE GA Medical System. This article is NO substitute for
attending a certified or accredited First Aid course. It is
strictly for informational purposes. |
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First on the Scene
Presented by Scott Masters and David Westfall, M.D.
Most of us have, or at some point, will come across a downed
motorcyclist. We want to help out very much because they are
one of “us”. But what can we do?
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Doctors call the first hour after serious injury, the “golden
hour”. If the appropriate first aid is administered within
that time, it can literally mean the difference between life
and death for the injured party. The areas we like to ride
are usually out in the countryside or mountains and the emergency
response time may be sometimes greater than 30 minutes. It’s
crucial for us to know what to do before the ambulance comes.
Below are some guidelines to use.
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Check:
When first approaching a downed rider, approach them from
the side or front. If they are conscious, they won’t
have to turn their head, possibly making a neck injury worse.
Assess level of consciousness and responsiveness. Talk
to this person and reassure him/her. They may be in shock
and more frightened than you are. Keep the individual as straight
as possible.
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Use a common sense approach—if the victim is unconscious,
you will have to immediately determine if both your lives
are going to be jeopardized in the roadway. If you must drag
them out of harm’s way, pull in a lateral line by grabbing
both legs. You can also pull from under arms and bracing their
head with your arm. The objective is to keep the individual
as straight as possible and get both of you to safety.
If you’re in no danger, do not move the person. If
the individual is unconscious and not breathing, remember—Improperly
removing a helmet may complicate a neck injury. However,
a patient cannot receive rescue breathing with helmet on.
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Call:
Have a good idea what road you’re on and approximate
location. When you dial 911, your cell phone will not
tell the emergency dispatch what your location is. As soon
as you’re sure the person is out of immediate danger
and you have attended to the possible “life-threatening”aspects
of their injuries, CALL FOR HELP. (Emergency
response time may be greater than 30 minutes.)
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Care—The ABCs:
If you know your ABCs and have some simple medical equipment on
hand, you can literally be a lifesaver in one of these situations.
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Airways:
If the individual is unconscious, you must check to make
sure they are breathing. Look for signs of breathing
(chest rising and falling) and listen for the inhale
and exhale. If the rider cannot breathe because the chin strap
is choking them, you could try loosening the chin strap of
their helmet first. Next try “opening the airway”
by pulling the jaw forward and up. If they still aren’t
breathing, you will have to remove the helmet. Risk of death
or permanent injury due to lack of oxygen is far greater than
the risk of damaging the spine. This is a judgment call.
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| If you determine that lack of breathing is due
to this type of constriction, it’s a little easier to remove
the helmet if two of you are assisting. One individual should
put their hand behind the victim’s neck to keep it straight
and the other hand braces their jaw. (Your hands are acting
as a neck brace.) Keep the head as still as possible. The other
person either undoes the strap or cuts it. Since the helmet
fits snugly, it will have to be worked off very carefully. |
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Breathing:
After removing the helmet, put your thumbs on the victim’s
cheekbones—fingers under the jaw (do not move the head), and
move the jaw forward to open the airway. Make sure there is respiration.
If these measures have not restored breathing, then use the “shield”(breathing
apparatus) and breathe for the victim until they respond.
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Circulation:
Spurting blood (arterial bleeding) must be stopped. Get a clean
gauze pad (shirt or bandana) and keep pressure on the wound. When
the bleeding stops, wrap the wound with some type of bandage. If
no one else has arrived on the scene and the victim is stabilized,
now is the time to phone (or go) for help.
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Additional Points Related to Motorcycle Accidents:
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Don’t get hung up on the road rash—unless
there is spurting blood. |
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Many of us have "DO NOT REMOVE" stickers
on our helmets. Improper removal of the helmet may cause spinal
cord damage. However, if the individual is unconscious and not
breathing—do you chance a spinal injury or choose a most
certain death. |
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Preventing Motorcycle Accidents:
Now that we have discussed what to do when you happen upon an accident,
let’s discuss ways to prevent them in the first place. One
important thing to remember is that motorcycling is 90% mental.
As you might guess, most accidents are a result of a lapse in concentration—often
as a result of fatigue or other physical factors that result in
diminished concentration and coordination, slowed reflexes, and
increased response time.
Below are some things that you can do to help maintain your mental
FOCUS:
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Fatigue
Get plenty of rest prior to your ride.
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Opiates
Avoid any drug—including ETOH (ethyl alcohol) and OTC (over
the counter).
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Core temperature
Dress appropriate
for conditions:
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Dress warmly in the winter and look for
signs of hypothermia. Take frequent breaks. Remember that hypothermia
can occur in any temperature below 98°—it just takes
rain and wind... |
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Dress appropriately in the warm weather.
This includes light weight, long sleeves. Long sleeves will
retain more body moisture and fight the onset of dehydration. |
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Urine
Stay well hydrated. Drink plenty of water or other drinks
that do not contain caffeine or alcohol. |
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Safety
Remind yourself to stay focused—ride within your
abilities, the capabilities of your motorcycle, and the environment
in which you are riding. Ride your own ride! |
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Get training and practice your skills
on every ride. Ride safe, ride smart, and enjoy the ride! |
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If you are looking for training, Atlanta
Motorcycle Schools offers professional, personalized training
for beginning through advanced riders. |
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Scott Masters is the head of the Emergency Medical
Services at Northeast Georgia Health Systems in Gainesville,
GA.
David Westfall is the District Public Health Director
for the 13 county NE Georgia region - including Union County.
He is also a Board Certified Family Physician with over 25
years of practice experience.
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Many thanks to Scott and Dr. Westfall for giving their “First
on the Scene” seminar again at the Twisty Sisters Rally!
Also, thanks to Britt Turner, Jackie Flood, and Carol Youorski
for coordinating this seminar with the Twisty Sisters Rally.
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Story By Jackie Flood
For more information on Jackie, visit http://www.winglessflite.com/ |
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