So, yesterday I attended a "Notfallmedizinkurs für Motorradfahrer" (emergency medical training for motorcyclists). The 6 hour course was focused on first aid for motorcycle accidents. There was some basic theory, but most of the day was practical, hands-on training.
After watching a short video with crash tests showing motorcycle versus minivan, we discussed the kinds of injuries that can be expected, and how to keep seriously injured bikers alive until professional help arrives.
We started with how to put an unconscious (but breathing) person into the recovery position (on their side with their head slightly extended so that their airway remains open). We practiced this where the "victim" was found lying on their back and on their stomach.
We then had some (graphic) pictures of typical motorcycle injuries, including closed and open fractures, etc. (This was just after lunch ... not recommended).
We then learned how to remove someone's helmet while stabilizing the head and neck. This can be done when you are alone, but it is much easier when two people work together – one stabilizing the head and neck, and the other carefully removing the helmet.
Then we went on to rolling the "victim" from their back onto their side (recovery position) while stabilizing the spine – this requires at least three (better with four) people working together. Then the same exercise rolling the victim with their spine stabilized from their stomach onto their side.
The final exercise in this module was a "reality" situation. You have a victim unconscious, with a helmet on, lying on their stomach. The group (4 people) had to stabilize the spine, roll the victim onto their side and then onto their back, remove the helmet, and roll them back onto their side in the recovery position, while keeping the head, neck and spine immobile.
The afternoon wrapped up with a short discussion about HOW to report the accident - (the 4 W's – who, what, where and when), the ABC (airway, breathing and circulation) system and a short refresher for administering CPR.
As I wrote in the original post, if it's been a while since you last took a first-aid course, sign up for one TODAY!
Do you carry a first-aid kit on your bike? After the course, I looked at the kit I carry, and found that I need to make some adjustments ... if I come across an accident, I don't think those band-aids are going to do much good! All you really need is some rubber gloves, a foil blanket, a resuscitation mask and some large gauze pads and bandage wraps. I bought a compression bandage from the instructor – it was developed in Israel to deal with large bleeding wounds – and can be fixated quickly.
Now that I have all this stuff under my seat, I hope that I never need to use it!
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