First on the Scene

[mike]

First on the Scene; everyone should read this!
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 First on the Scene
Presented by Scott Masters and Dr. David Westfall

Most of us have, or at some point, will come across a downed motorcyclist. We want to help out very much because they are one of “us”. But what can we do?


Doctors call the first hour after serious injury, the “golden hour”. If the appropriate first aid is administered within that time, it can literally mean the difference between life and death for the injured party. The areas we like to ride are usually out in the countryside or mountains and the emergency response time may be sometimes greater than 30 minutes. It’s crucial for us to know what to do before the ambulance comes. Below are some guidelines to use.


Check:
When first approaching a downed rider, approach them from the side or front. If they are conscious, they won’t have to turn their head, possibly making a neck injury worse. Assess level of consciousness and responsiveness. Talk to this person and reassure him/her. They may be in shock and more frightened than you are. Keep the individual as straight as possible.

Use a common sense approach—if the victim is unconscious, you will have to immediately determine if both your lives are going to be jeopardized in the roadway. If you must drag them out of harm’s way, pull in a lateral line by grabbing both legs. You can also pull from under arms and bracing their head with your arm. The objective is to keep the individual as straight as possible and get both of you to safety. If you’re in no danger, do not move the person. If the individual is unconscious and not breathing, remember—Improperly removing a helmet may complicate a neck injury. However, a patient cannot receive rescue breathing with helmet on.

Call:
Have a good idea what road you’re on and approximate location. When you dial 911, your cell phone will not tell the emergency dispatch what your location is. As soon as you’re sure the person is out of immediate danger and you have attended to the possible “life-threatening”aspects of their injuries, CALL FOR HELP. (Emergency response time may be greater than 30 minutes.)


Care—The ABCs:
If you know your ABCs and have some simple medical equipment on hand, you can literally be a lifesaver in one of these situations.

Airways:
If the individual is unconscious, you must check to make sure they are breathing. Look for signs of breathing (chest rising and falling) and listen for the inhale and exhale. If the rider cannot breathe because the chin strap is choking them, you could try loosening the chin strap of their helmet first. Next try “opening the airway” by pulling the jaw forward and up. If they still aren’t breathing, you will have to remove the helmet. Risk of death or permanent injury due to lack of oxygen is far greater than the risk of damaging the spine. This is a judgment call.

If you determine that lack of breathing is due to this type of constriction, it’s a little easier to remove the helmet if two of you are assisting. One individual should put their hand behind the victim’s neck to keep it straight and the other hand braces their jaw. (Your hands are acting as a neck brace.) Keep the head as still as possible. The other person either undoes the strap or cuts it. Since the helmet fits snugly, it will have to be worked off very carefully.

Breathing:
After removing the helmet, put your thumbs on the victim’s cheekbones—fingers under the jaw (do not move the head), and move the jaw forward to open the airway. Make sure there is respiration. If these measures have not restored breathing, then use the “shield”(breathing apparatus) and breathe for the victim until they respond.

Circulation:
Spurting blood (arterial bleeding) must be stopped. Get a clean gauze pad (shirt or bandana) and keep pressure on the wound. When the bleeding stops, wrap the wound with some type of bandage. If no one else has arrived on the scene and the victim is stabilized, now is the time to phone (or go) for help.

Additional Points Related to Motorcycle Accidents:
Don’t get hung up on the road rash—unless there is spurting blood.

Many of us have "DO NOT REMOVE" stickers on our helmets. Improper removal of the helmet may cause spinal cord damage. However, if the individual is unconscious and not breathing—do you chance a spinal injury or choose a most certain death.

Preventing Motorcycle Accidents:
Now that we have discussed what to do when you happen upon an accident, let’s discuss ways to prevent them in the first place. One important thing to remember is that motorcycling is 90% mental. As you might guess, most accidents are a result of a lapse in concentration—often as a result of fatigue or other physical factors that result in diminished concentration and coordination, slowed reflexes, and increased response time.

Below are some things that you can do to help maintain your mental FOCUS:


F Fatigue Get plenty of rest prior to your ride.
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O Opiates Avoid any drug—including ETOH and OTC (over the counter).
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C Core temperature Dress appropriate for conditions:
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Dress warmly in the winter and look for signs of hypothermia. Take frequent breaks. Remember that hypothermia can occur in any temperature below 98°—it just takes rain and wind...

Dress appropriately in the warm weather. This includes light weight, long sleeves. Long sleeves will retain more body moisture and fight the onset of dehydration.

U Urine Stay well hydrated. Drink plenty of water or other drinks that do not contain caffeine or alcohol.

S Safety Remind yourself to stay focused—ride within your abilities, the capabilities of your motorcycle, and the environment in which you are riding. Ride your own ride!

Get training and practice your skills on every ride. Ride safe, ride smart, and enjoy the ride!