Top First Aid Tips from the SAS
My name is Donald McPhail and I’m one of five Motorcycle Paramedics working for Scottish Ambulance Service based in Edinburgh. We use two BMW RT1200s and a Honda ST1100 to provide a fast response to emergency ambulance calls, allowing us to start treatment early while an ambulance is still on its way. We carry most of the medical kit that’s on an ambulance and can provide advanced life support if required. On my days off I ride a Yamaha YZF1000 and will often be found somewhere in the Highlands.
With more people getting back on their bikes now the better weather has arrived we’ve been asked how one biker could help another if they are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident so here are a few simple tips.
HOW CAN YOU HELP
Protect the Scene
You must make the scene as safe as you can to avoid any further accidents. At this stage your own safety is the most important consideration. One injured person is bad enough. The best thing you can do to help the casualty is stay safe yourself and prevent further collisions. Take time to assess the situation – don’t rush in and leave yourself and others vulnerable. Quickly think of the possible scenario that led to the collision and work forward making sure you have accounted for all the casualties – there may have been a pedestrian, pillion or somebody could have been thrown from a car.
Get Help
Telephone 999. As usual you will be asked which of the emergency services you require. Don’t worry too much about this, in most instances if somebody is trapped – you will require all three Ambulance, Police and Fire & Rescue. Try to describe as best you can the exact location of the collision bearing in mind the Emergency Services may be travelling from the opposite direction to which you arrived. When you phone 999 for an ambulance you’ll be given advice about how to assess whether the injured person is conscious and breathing. Ensure you give the operator your name and a contact telephone number. If there are others around get them to protect the scene and warn other drivers/riders.
Assessing the Casualty
If the rider looks seriously hurt don’t move them as you make their injuries worse. In particular keep their neck and head still and don’t remove their helmet unless you’ve been trained to do so. Generally a first aider would only remove it if the person’s airway is blocked or they aren’t breathing which then would take priority over a possible neck injury. Loosening off the chinstrap if it is restricting their breathing may be ok but leave alone otherwise.
If they are just a bit sore and sure everything is working ok then getting them off the road may be the safer option.
Try to stop any obvious bleeding with direct pressure to any wounds, preferably with some kind of clean dressing. Most people have room under their seat for at least one bandage if not a small first aid kit. If they have any fractures their bike gear will help to keep their limbs splinted so it’s probably best not to remove it till we get there.
Giving reassurance, looking calm and keeping them warm is a simple way to help. Emotional shock will make any shock from their injuries worse. Keep talking to them and do your best to keep them awake but don’t give them anything to eat or drink.
FIRST AID TRAINING
I’d encourage everyone to do a first aid course. The basics are all pretty easy, don’t take long to learn and could make a big difference to you or one of your friends or family. Various organisations such as the Red Cross and St Andrews Ambulance Association provide them. As I mentioned the 999 operator will give advice on checking a casualty but it’s far better to have learned even a little beforehand and you’ll be much more confident in helping them.
THE FUTURE
We are hoping to start a first bike on scene course, which will be tailored to bikers helping bikers and will cover things like scene safety, first aid and helmet removal.
Further details will appear on this page so keep checking back. In the mean time if you have any questions you can contact me via the forum and I’ll try and answer them as best I can.
