First Aid for bikers

[swazi_matt]

Last week a riding buddy of mine died after a head-on with a car on a dirt road. It was a bit of a freak accident and we are all a bit shaken up over the whole incident. I cannot speculate about weather first aid would have made any difference as they managed to get him to the clinic within an hour and a half from the time of the accident.

I have been thinking about organizing a first aid course specifically for dirt bikers and thought I would ask you guys for your input in terms of what I should give the instructor as their brief to prepare the course

So if you can think of any pointers to list (types of injuries, accident situations, medical kit essentials etc) I would really appreciate it

 

[bowhunter007]

Just stating the obvious...
1. head & spinal trauma
2. how to temporarily set broken bones
3. dealing with open wounds & gashes
4. dealing with shock

having a first-aid course dealing with common injuries associated with biking injuries, is a great idea. the next step is convincing someone to carry all the equipment...better yet, how improvise in certain situations. As yet, I haven't been able to convince anyone to let me stitch them up( I have 4 different suture kits in my med pack). I highly recommend this book, in a first-aid kit(mine came with).

http://www.rei.com/search?query=wilderness+&+travel+medicine

 

[papa_j]

Sorry to hear about the accident.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Tapatalk

 

[swazi_matt]

Sorry to hear about the accident.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Tapatalk

thanks, it was really unfortunate, think they were running late and decided to cut their ride short and hopped onto the dirt road and he met a car at the one narrow blind kink in the road. Worst of it is that he has a 2yr old and a 5 month old daughters at home :-(

This is not the norm for enduro riders, and most of us refuse to ride road/DS bikes for this very reason

Anyway thanks for the responses so far

 

[300ECR]

Sorry for your lose. My heart goes out to his family.

I think it's a great idea to have some form of first aid. I carry a small first aid kit with two add ons, one being a tampon(great for puncher type injuries and also make great fire lighters if you ever get stuck out over night) and a tube of super glue great for deep cuts.

 

[Jakobi]

Sorry to hear Matt. Thats everyones worst fear.

Here in Australia our first aid courses (inc CPR and defib) all follow the DRABCD model which is fine and dandy in theory. The problem is that this is great general first aid, but it is just that. When you are dealing with trauma things become a little different, and even sometimes with the best knowledge, and all the equipment there is still little that can be done.

I would imagine internal and external bleeding are likely the ones that have the less desirable outcomes, and on the side of the track, in the middle of the bush, the best hope you really have is getting help to the patient fast. Being able to know where you are, evaluate a patient, and make contact with the emergency services is paramount. All this requires staying calm, and doing what you can to package the person up with basic first aid until help can arrive.

It makes me feel sick to the stomach writing this, as its really something I hate hearing, and would even more hate to experience myself.

 

[sevenfourate]

So, so sorry to hear of your friends loss. Especially in such freak circumstances and the thought of his young children at home is heart wrenching.

Just going back one stage - i thought people (Medical staff ?) talked of the "Golden Hour" after an accident and the improved chances if a patient was in Medical care within this time. And hour and a half sounds along time for your buddy to have not been attended to in my eyes.

Good luck getting your course going. Nice thought / gesture / idea........

 

[GasGasDreamer]

Sorry to him, his family, his friends.
Truely sad.

 

[swazi_matt]

So, so sorry to hear of your friends loss. Especially in such freak circumstances and the thought of his young children at home is heart wrenching.

Just going back one stage - i thought people (Medical staff ?) talked of the "Golden Hour" after an accident and the improved chances if a patient was in Medical care within this time. And hour and a half sounds along time for your buddy to have not been attended to in my eyes.

Good luck getting your course going. Nice thought / gesture / idea........

I agree an hour and a half is long, but based on where they were and where the clinic is it was good going, unfortunately while we have the great riding areas and good lifestyle here it is still very much a third world country

 

[Simmo737]

so sorry, that is just awful, his kids and family, you and his other mates all have our deepest condolences and thoughts.

good on you for doing something positive.

 

[GasGasDreamer]

i have been thinking of getting SPOT, which might have cut the time.
http://www.findmespot.com/en/

there is another brand that doesnt need open skies but i forget the brand.

 

[gassergrant]

Hi mate im really sorry to hear about your friend my thought go out to family and friends.

I was in the army and we had to train for events like this.
doing a first aid course is a good idea and could make a difference to the out come of events. we used the platinum 20mins (first aid given) and golden hour (hospital) .
have a plan of action shared in the group.ie medi vac procedure
have blood groups written down or get dog tags made.
have a gps of some type and everyone knows how to use it. fully charged phones or coms devises. share emergency number
carry basic medical equipment and make sure everyone knows who's carrying what and were.
have a torch if it get dark, spare batters, I had to signal a chopper in once in Iraq in a medi vac

sorry sound a it military but knowing and having the info will make life easier

hope this help for some idea's

 

[webmaster]

i have been thinking of getting SPOT, which might have cut the time.
http://www.findmespot.com/en/

there is another brand that doesnt need open skies but i forget the brand.

The other system you are thinking about is "PLB" - Personal Locator Beacon. Uses a different/better satellite system and is monitored by U.S. Military. (?).

jeff

 

[Moto7man]

I have been considering a PLB for the last year or so. It could make a big difference.

Here is a short buying guide video on PLBs and messengers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KNMj53YgDs

 

[Moto7man]

NOAA Types of Emergency Beacons

http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/emerbcns.html

 

[BryanMcc]

accident

Truly sorry to hear of the accident. I unfortunately can relate as a friend of mine was killed in an avalanche while we were out riding snowmobiles on new years day 2012. Several of us know CPR but he still died from blunt trauma. It really causes you to look at riding differently and the risk that come with it. Doesn't matter if snowmobiles road bikes or dirt bikes. All carry risks and someone In your party or better yet several in your party should know basic first aid. I never thought of spot or a PLB though. Sounds like the right idea. I myself spend a lot of time in areas with zero cell service.

 

[swazi_matt]

We had a pretty intense level 1 first aid course last week. The course was a wilderness first aid course for game reserve guides adapted to dirt bikes.

I am now even more messed up mentally about biking �� but in all honesty I believe that when your number is pulled it is gameover no matter what you are doing (I recently read about someone taking a dump and the toilet was defective and broke, the ceramic bowl sliced through their artery and they bled out and died!) another biking buddy who has had numerous concussions from racing recently spent 3 weeks in hospital when he slipped on wet tiles on his way to the toilet.

But now at least I have some knowledge, just hope I never have to put it to use!

 

[BryanMcc]

We had a pretty intense level 1 first aid course last week. The course was a wilderness first aid course for game reserve guides adapted to dirt bikes.

I am now even more messed up mentally about biking �� but in all honesty I believe that when your number is pulled it is gameover no matter what you are doing (I recently read about someone taking a dump and the toilet was defective and broke, the ceramic bowl sliced through their artery and they bled out and died!) another biking buddy who has had numerous concussions from racing recently spent 3 weeks in hospital when he slipped on wet tiles on his way to the toilet.

But now at least I have some knowledge, just hope I never have to put it to use!

I hear ya man...I had several buddies, including the one the helped me give CPR tell me they were done sledding for good. But as I explained to them: if it's something you love to do, don't give up. Easier said then done, I know, especially after being on the scene. We have had several friends I graduated with killed in other accidents, some while driving and we didn't quit driving did we? I also believe when it's your time it's your time. Good luck Matt, I hope you can get over the mental part and enjoy riding again. It will take time. Most of us didn't speak about it for a long time. In fact one of the guys that was with me talked about it with me yesterday while we were riding for really the first time since it happened.