I tossed this in here. Maybe it needs its own category. Those who are qualified - please add to this thread. I am EMR trained, a first aid instructor, (including wilderness first aid) and work with search and rescue. I am constantly amazed at how much I don't know (and still am trying to learn) about emergency management. I also am constantly scared shitless at what is put on the web as factual information (usually hearsay other myths), and will probably get someone killed.

Question is what you need to prepare to handle an accident on the road in terms of supplies and actions.
Here is some basics for a start. I will add more to this post when I get time. Hopefully so will others who are qualified to do so.

Actions at an accident scene:
1) Secure the scene. Some one needs to do this quickly. The greatest danger after an accident has happened on a roadway is from oncoming traffic.
Traffic needs to be warned that there is a hazard at least 100 meters on either side of accident scene in a high speed zone (remember: they need time to comprehend and then to slow down. Place hazard markers. Station someone at either end to control traffic if possible. If there is another vehicle, place it next to the accident scene, blocking that lane off and providing protection for the rescuers working there. Make the traffic go around the scene, not through it.
2) check the bike, and anthing else involved, is no-longer a hazard to anyone (like you). Stabilize the vehicles and everything else before climbing in or on.
3) check the casualty. Don't move them. Assume head/injury. Do your ABC'S (airway, breathing, circulation). Control bleeding.
4)Call for help (if someone already hasn't). Make sure they understand what the accident involves. As example, I've see accidents where the 911 call didn't include the fact that one of the injured was TRAPPED in the car. The amublance arrived 45mins later and then had to call for further assistance from an extraction team. That took another 45 min. to an hour to arrive.
5) if the patient is conscious, get a history (signs, symptoms, allergies,meds, medical conditions, last meal, etc. Basic first aid stuff - take the course.). The hospital will need that information.
6)Don't get creative. First aid means keep them alive untill the medical team arrives. Forget what crap you saw on TV. This is real. Take a certified first aid course - better yet; take a emr course. Best two week investment you can make before going on a real trip. Do not try anything you haven't been trained to do and are certified to do. It's called "scope of practice". If all you are qualified to do is basic first aid, then that's all you do. Period. Creative good intentions kill people needlessly.
7)make sure you have a plan to communicate for help if you need it. What ever it takes: cell phone is nice (if it works in the area you are going into), satellite phones are better if you can afford that (I can't), flares, smoke signals (I am kidding) someone going for help, - what ever it takes. Almost forgot. Make sure you know where you are. Sending for help is so much better when they know how to find you.
8)The basic medical supplies aren't much - just well thought out. The training and skill sets are far more important.
9) last note for the moment - helmets - don't take off unless you have to, and if you have to, make goddamn sure you know how to do it properly (take a course).

Peace,
Narly

A very interesting post narly .
Your last comment was about helmets .
Many full face helmets are very snug and would be difficult to remove from a victim's head .
Have you ever performed artificial respiration through a full face helmet ?
I imagine it would be almost impossible .
Would a flip face helmet have an advantage here ?
I imagine that airways and breathing could be checked much more easily if the victim wore a flip front .

As an aside , I have to have industrial first aid training for my work and it is renewed every 2 years .
I am dismayed that over a period of 8 years I have seen the emphasis of the course change so much. Initially the prime importance was the welfare of the victim but latterly the emphasis has changed to litigation avoidance .
In other words ,it seems to me that the attitude is now - "what is the minimum that we can do for this sucker ,without getting the company or the individual into a situation where they /we could be sued " .
The last training was done by the St Johns Ambulance and I was less than impressed .
Is there anywhere in Western Canada where more comprehensive training could be found . I have no desire to go beyond a first aider status ,but I would like to think that I was instructed in the best possible methods to assist my family and friends , should the need arise .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Narly
All good sound advice that really shouldn't be underestimated. Many people haven't got a clue what to do in an accident and often freeze or panic which can be more dangerous than doing nothing.
If you are dealing with a car accident , especally a frontal collision, it's a good idea to try and get the battery disconnected if possible. The likelihood of sparks from a short circuit and subsequent fire from spilt fuel it is very real so diconnecting the battery removes the very real risk of fire.

If there is no immediate risk to the casualty - leave them in the vehicle. there was a great story in the Uk of some good samaritan who took a casualty from the damaged vehicle and he sat them in his nice shiney Jag whilst waiting for the emergency services. When they arrived there assessed that there was a risk of spinal injury to the casualty so they cut the roof off the nice shiney Jag in order to get the casualty onto a spinal board. I bet Mr Jag felt really good explaining that to his insurance company !

I carry as set of "Cas-straps" 'with me . these are a series of multi purpose velcro straps designed specifically for first aid use. http://www.cas-aids.com/ They are also used by the military and having used them twice ' in anger ' I can say they are a very good bit of kit.
I was first on scene to a young lad who had been run down by a car on a zebra crossing in Holland a few years back. A quick check revealed a clearly broken Femur (thigh bone) . I secured his legs together using the cas-straps and waited for the ambulance to arrive. Moving a casualty with a broken Femur is a very bad idea because there is a high risk of damaging an artery. The paramedics arrived and checked him over and were so impressed with the straps they asked if it was OK for them to leave them on while he was transported to hospital . I thought I'd never see them again but the next day the kids dad brought them round to where I was staying and gave them back to me. I've got to say it felt damn good to be able to do the right thing in that kind of situation.
Get trained - because you never know when you will be able to save a life and standing hopelessly looking on while someone is injured is a very bad feeling.
Ride safe
Gecko

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Biking roads by bikers for bikers www.bestbikingroads.com

Hi People, nice to see reality and common sense starting to finally creep into accident management of which first aid is only a part albeit a very important one. The comment about helmets and the removal of them to begin EAR is a particularly good example of the prioritization of actions that the first responder trained or otherwise has to carry out; basically if the casualty cannot breathe because of a blocked airway they will die, no argument. If you remove the helmet from an unconscious casualty who may have C spine damage in order to clear the airway you might cause their demise. One positive versus two maybes, means no argument. But as has been mentioned go and see your local paramedic and learn the reccommended way to remove a helmet, the more you practice the luckier both you and the casualty get.

With regard to litigation, most countries have a "good Samaritan" act which means that if you are doing your best to help someone you will be OK, just remember the KISS system and that if you panic you die all tensed up. Ride safe.

__________________
Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

It isn't commonly used/practiced unless you are a trained diver, but it is quite possible to perform mouth to nose resusitation. If someone for example has a mangled jaw whilst wearing an open front lid (headstock faceplant.....) the same basic rules apply about the airway, but seal off the mouth and blow through the nose. I had to do this on someone who had a heartattack, got colour back into them but the heart would not restart. it was a lot less messy than mouth to mouth.

__________________
Harley Davidsons,
The most effective way of turning petrol into noise without the side-effect of horsepower

As a few people have mentioned, the reason to take a helmet off is if AR or CPR must be preformed. This is life over limb. If it results in spinal injury, so be it. With out air, you are on the way to being dead within 4 minutes. The point I am making is, do not take it off if the casuality is breathing just fine. It's the "I'll just take the helmet off to make you more comfortable" well meaning fool, that worries me. Have seen it, still don't beleive it. It takes two people to properly remove a full face helmet. One immoblizes the head/spine, the other takes the helmet off with a "S" like move.
But like I and others said - If the person isn't breathing - the helmet comes off as best as you can, but it comes off.
The other issue, moving the casuality is very simple - unless the person's life is endangered by remaining where they are - don't. Again, seen it, still don't believe it.
You build what ever shelter is needed around the casuality. Provide shade, insulate from the cold, what ever is needed.
On that note, be aware that an injured person, is more suseptible to environmental injury (heat and cold) than they would be normally. Keep them warm.
The last comment I want to draw attention to (for the moment) is consideration for the casuality. Have compasion. Regardless of what this person was a split second before the accident, they are now an injuried and probably frightened human being. Treat them with compassion and coutesy.

Hey Doger.
If you are disappointed by the constant lowering of the bar for first aid, you will be even more so when you see the new standards to be implimented in January. If you arn't interested in doing an AFA11 or emr course, then I suggest a good wilderness first aid course by a well recommended company. Not being in bc, I'd be hard pressed to recommend anyone.
The wilderness first aid should cover what to do AFTER the first five min. (this is usually what first aid covers - support the patient till help arrives). In the wilderness, you usually are first, second and sometimes, the only aid. If the course doesn't reflect this - look elsewhere. There are some good ones out there.
Sorry I can't be more help at the moment. Some of the SAR folks I know worked in BC. If I get a chance, I will check with them. Perhaps they have some recommendations.

If this thread has enough interest, perhaps myself and others can put up most of the content for a first aid course with motorcycle travel in mind. (I teach such a course). By necessity, it does include many of the elements from the wilderness first aid.
It also wouldn't hurt to put up the tried and true elements for a good travel first aid kit. I know it had been done before, but it would be good to put up such a thread again.


Peace,
Narly

Hi guys , I travel arround the globe for years and have some basic medical knowledge ,I was wondering if any of you did the classes proposed by the red cross ,they look good and after talking to other fellow riders I realised that many of us don't really know what to do if bad things happen.I am a firm beleiver of if you get ready for the worst nothing bad happen .

As an Advanced First Aid and CPR/AED instructor, the Red Cross class is a good start. I would recommend an EMT, (Emergency Medical Technician), WEMT, (Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician) or National Ski Patrol Outdoor Emergency Care class for travellers. The latter courses deals more with the emergency care in a rural and wilderness setting with definitive medical care a long way away.

Thanks for the tip I will do these classes as I also volunter for helping people across the world in charity organisation.

see you on the road.

Hendi

Hi,
I just wanted to say that I think this thread is really great and it is nice to know that there are people out there who think about this sort of thing and care about their fellow human beings.