Crash scene -what do you do?

[owner]

+1 cool thread frosty. Real shitter about the inspiration I hope everyone pulls thru alright.

[HungusMaximist]

Start giving the 'kiss of life' immediately, especially if the biker is extremely gorgeous. They'll thank you for it later.

This goes for guys and ladies.

But yes, I agree, take a First-Aid course or something and save a life!

[devnull]

Triage is one of the more difficult skills to learn - it's a skill where experience really counts.

I agree with those that have said do a first aid course, and I'd like to add, do a first aid course with an experienced instructor (e.g. ex-ambo).

Helmet removal - takes 2 people to do, and PRACTICE the damn skill BEFORE you need it. It's a bit late when you're pumped up on adrenalin and a biker's lying on the ground in front of you

Ever wonder why ambulance staff don't leap from the vehicle the moment the wheels stop moving? They're looking. That brief pause lets you take a good hard look at the scene, get into the correct frame of mind and prepare to work (hard to put into words... )

Good thread though - a reminder that if you haven't done a first aid course, get off your arse and do one (for extra motivation, many workplaces pay a bit more for a registered first aider - they need to have a certain number to keep OSH happy)

[klingon]

Thanks for asking.
Last I heard rider in serious but stable condition in ICU.
Pillion Critical condition in ICU.
--Im not relative so can't find out more

Oh... it was a real situation? I thought it was just you testing us, Frosty. Sorry to hear it was real and my thoughts go out to the bikers. Good on you for being able to help.

It always amazes me at an accident scene when so many people seem to be frozen into 'observer' mode and never make any attempt to help. Even if there are people there ahead of you and it all seems to be under control, ask if there's anything you can do. As BiK3RChiK said, just sitting by an injured person, assuring them an ambulance is on its way and keeping them calm can be a huge help.

[Jorja]

Used to live on a road that saw alot of car crashers. Was first on the scene to about 5 of them. 3 really serious. All of them were caused by rain and speed. The late night ones always involved alcohol.

Making sure the person is breathing, then keeping them still, calm and warm is sometimes all you can do.
A basic first aid course will teach you alot but some people no matter how much training they have just can not cope with the situation. Me I go into auto pilot. Tend to shake and get upset once I am away from the scene.

[Bikernereid]

I am sure that whatever you did hey are both extremely grateful that you had the heart to stop and help and not ride on by. Good on you for caring enough to help, it couldn't have been a pleasant experience.

I just completed a first aid course for work and believe me it is something I would recommend everyone to do. God forbid they should ever need to use it but how would people feel if it was their loved one, family member or friend that need this attention and they didn't have the skills to help!

Screamer was a girl.Dress jacket no gloves flat slip on shoes
Tell ya what Ill give you the addy for the ICU she's in and YOU can go tell her to HTFU

[Mikkel]

Screamer was a girl.Dress jacket no gloves flat slip on shoes
Tell ya what Ill give you the addy for the ICU she's in and YOU can go tell her to HTFU

As klingon said - it certainly wasn't in anyway obvious that this was a real occurance...

But nah, HTFU won't put the skin back on her body... I think ATGATT would be more appropriate - although it's a bit late when you already have ground to stop.

First aid is a valuable skill. But staying calm and collected when faced with situations like the one you describe is the biggest challenge. It's easy to sit down in a class room and do a case study and follow the list from A to Z. When you are in the situation unprepared with very real screaming and very real blood on the ground things are a bit different.

But if it comes to a case study, this would be my approach:

1. Stop the accident - make sure that no further mishaps will occur.
2. Visually check that the screaming person doesn't have any arterial bleeds. - if any arterial bleeds are seen try to get the victim to shove a thumb in the wound to stem the bleeding.
3. Check respiration and pulse on the immobile victim - apply CPR as necessary.
4. Contact emergency services ASAP after critical first aid has been taken care of.
5. First aid - bandaging other wounds, psychological first aid, etc.

What did you do?

[Bikernereid]

If possible carry first aid kit at all times evern if it is only the bare essentials. But one thing that seems to be one of the most important pieces of kit is cling film. So if there is any way you can make sure you have some one your bike or in tank bag it is worth it.

Cling film can help to keep dirty out of all wounds and can also provide visibility to the paramedics so that saves time as they are able to see what they are dealing with straight away.

[Ixion]

Ambo services , what with choppers n all, are so good and fast now, that, assuming the crash is in a reasonably non-remote area, all that an amateur should do is secure the scene to prevent any further damage, and deal with any "going to die in the next 60 seconds stuff". Which , realistically, means CPR.

If the victim isn't breathing, they will die. No matter how fast the ambos get there. So if they are not breathing, CPR it is. If that means pulling the helmet off so be it. If y'don't , they're dead, how much worse than that can y' make it?

And apply pressure to any major arterial bleeds (bright red blood spurting out and shitloads of it).

If they're breathing, and not pissing blood everywhere, don't try to be clever, IMHO. Reassure, make comfortable, wait for the experts.

[Jorja]

If possible carry first aid kit at all times evern if it is only the bare essentials. But one thing that seems to be one of the most important pieces of kit is cling film. So if there is any way you can make sure you have some one your bike or in tank bag it is worth it.

Cling film can help to keep dirty out of all wounds and can also provide visibility to the paramedics so that saves time as they are able to see what they are dealing with straight away.

On the whole I agree. We have a first aid kit when riding the dirt bikes. However I would have thought that a basic first aid kit would be of very little help at the scene of a road crash. It certainly would have been last night.
A cell phone would be more advisable and possible a fluro vest tucked away with the bikes tool kit so you are visable to any other vehicles while giving help.

[Guided_monkey]

Good thread Frosty..... get's people thinking.

A first aid course is a real handy thing.

I carry a first aid kit in the car and on the bike. Hopefully I'm not going to need it but you never know.

Have yet to come across a accident where the training was required ...... and don't really want to.

[Bikernereid]

I guess it may not have been useful last night but I would rather have one with me than not. If there are gaping wounds then bandages from the kit are useful.


Yes defo on the fluro vest and I always carry a mobile phone when on a bike. The only things with bikes is the lack of space for all of these things; short of having a tank bag or ruck sack!

Hope you n Frosty are both ok.

On the whole I agree. We have a first aid kit when riding the dirt bikes. However I would have thought that a basic first aid kit would be of very little help at the scene of a road crash. It certainly would have been last night.
A cell phone would be more advisable and possible a fluro vest tucked away with the bikes tool kit so you are visable to any other vehicles while giving help.

[Mikkel]

I'm just sitting here feeling slightly ambivalent about the whole "carry a first aid kit at all times". Indeed, if you're going off the beaten track where help is going to be hours or even days away it is essential.

If you're on paved roads with emergency services able to reach you fairly quickly I don't think a band aid and a few bandages are going to make much of a difference.

CPR doesn't require anything but knowledge, skill and experience (you will only posses skill and experience if you get to use CPR in real situations on a regular basis - so that only leaves knowledge for most of us.)

You can't bandage a serious arterial bleeding anyway - your thumb is the only thing that will work. If it's a minor arterial bleed such as your lower arm or leg a compression bandage MAY do the trick, and compression bandages are easily improvised using a rock and a torn t-shirt. If shit hits the fan a tournique may be necessary - a belt and a spanner/branch will sort that out. But it will have to be released every 5 minutes unless you're willing to sacrifice the limb.

The most valuable thing in a first aid kit for these kinds of situations (and they may not be present in some kits) are those emergency tin foil blankets to help keeping people from going into shock.

[DEATH_INC.]

I guess it may not have been useful last night but I would rather have one with me than not. If there are gaping wounds then bandages from the kit are useful.


Yes defo on the fluro vest and I always carry a mobile phone when on a bike. The only things with bikes is the lack of space for all of these things; short of having a tank bag or ruck sack!

Hope you n Frosty are both ok.

Ya don't need to carry bandages, clothing can always be ripped up if needed. Not a bad idea if ya got the room all the same.
Check the not moving one first, if they're breathing and stableish with no big blood losses, get to the other and try to calm and reassure them and make sure there's nothing critical.
If the first is not breathing, get that helmet off and try cpr, nothing to lose, but ya still need to check the second person to see that there's nothing critical like huge blood loses or things stuck through 'em etc, don't need two dead people trying to resuscitate one while the other dies.....
On ya Frosty, sounds like ya did the right thing anyhoo...

[BiK3RChiK]

Oh!, and FFS don't interfere with anything from the emergency services when they do arrive!!! Seen this heaps of times from morons who think they are 'helping'!!