WANDERERS MC MOTORCYCLE SAFETY


Biker Down: How to Respond in an Emergency PAGE 2

What to Do,
What Not to Do

Check, Call, Care (Cont'd) 3 Emergency Action Steps In traffic accidents, Good Samaritans frequently end up in ambulances along with the original victim. This even happens to police officers who have the added visibility of rotating police beacons! Since our scene still has moving traffic, you should use extreme caution when entering the roadway.

Before you step one boot onto the pavement, though, there's something you can do to help your friend. Yell: "DON'T TOUCH HIS HELMET!!" Don't be afraid to take control of a scene if no better-qualified person seems to be doing so. Is it possible the Jag driver is a doctor? Sure, in which case he'll yell back, "I'M A DOCTOR!!" (or paramedic, which in a scene like this is often more useful). It's also possible that he's a well-intentioned stockbroker who has no clue how much damage he can do by jerking on a downed biker's helmet. Assume, until you learn otherwise, that YOU are the most qualified person on the scene. Scary thought, isn't it?

Okay, you've checked the scene. You've noted the moving traffic and warned off the well-intentioned helper. Since he's willing to get involved, you might redirect him to a more useful task, like telling the stopped motorists to put on their flashers to prevent a multi-car pileup. What's next?

CHECK THE VICTIM. This isn't a detailed exam; this is a 9-1-1 check to see if the victim is conscious, breathing, has a pulse, or is bleeding. Two things to remember: Most states in the U.S. have Good Samaritan laws to cover people who help in an emergency, but the specifics of the coverage vary. If you're worried about being sued, call your local library (or a lawyer friend) to get the specifics of the laws in your state. You also need to protect yourself from blood and body fluid-related diseases. AIDS is only one of the problems; hepatitis, herpes, and meningitis are also out there. For more details about how to protect yourself, read First Aid Kit.

Conscious? Breathing? Pulse? Bleeding? Your First Aid Mantra All traffic has stopped. Your Jag driver is helping with crowd control to make sure you and your downed friend don't get trampled. There's a pool of blood by your friend's legs, You send one of the others in your group back to get your first aid kit from your saddlebags. Your friend doesn't respond when you tap his shoulder and shout, "ARE YOU OKAY?" His helmet is dented in two places.

Checking for consciousness is pretty straightforward. If the victim is talking, screaming, or struggling to sit up, he/she is conscious. If they're lying still -- as in our scene -- you check by tapping and shouting. Do NOT shake them or roll them over.

If they respond, you know they're breathing and have a pulse. Before you move on to check for bleeding, though, tell them what you'll be doing and ask them if it's okay. This can keep you from getting a fist in the face from an angry or panicked victim.

If a victim is unconscious, it's time to CALL (or have someone else call) 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. From this point on, your role will be to CARE for any life-threatening conditions you find until advanced medical help arrives.

In our scene, remember the woman who was talking on a cell phone and gesturing toward the accident? You might assume that she has dialed 9-1-1 and is describing the situation to a dispatcher. DON'T ASSUME ANYTHING. Direct your helper or another bystander to make sure that 9-1-1 has been called, and that an ambulance is on the way.

Is your friend conscious? No. Is he breathing? Sometimes an unconscious victim's tongue slides to the back of their throat, blocking off their airway. You can open a victim's airway by tilting his/her head all the way back, or -- if a neck or spinal injury is suspected, as in our example -- you can lift their chin without tilting their head. Sometimes just opening the airway gets a victim breathing again.

BIKER DOWN: Cont'd (Page 3)