How to react to a fallen biker

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As a former first aid/CPR instructor, and having performed first aid at a few MVAs - the advice above is top notch. However, keep in mind that you cannot do what you are not trained to do, or you can open that legal liability can of worms. The single most important thing you can do to ensure the casualty survives is call 911.

Also, I have seen a few posts about "Good Samaritan" laws protecting you if you try to help. Performing first aid up to the level you have been trained is legally defendable and you may not bear any liability if a lawsuit erupts- if you perform procedures beyond what you have been trained to do, then you can be held liable for any outcomes. Based upon this, if you are not trained to give chest compressions, then DON'T.

If you feel that you want to help if you encounter a motorcycle accident then you can begin now by taking a first aid course.

For those interested in the Good Samaritan Act in Ontario, here it is.... http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_01g02_e.htm

Protection from liability
2. (1) Despite the rules of common law, a person described in subsection (2) who voluntarily and without reasonable expectation of compensation or reward provides the services described in that subsection is not liable for damages that result from the person’s negligence in acting or failing to act while providing the services, unless it is established that the damages were caused by the gross negligence of the person. 2001, c. 2, s. 2 (1).
Persons covered
(2) Subsection (1) applies to,
(a) a health care professional who provides emergency health care services or first aid assistance to a person who is ill, injured or unconscious as a result of an accident or other emergency, if the health care professional does not provide the services or assistance at a hospital or other place having appropriate health care facilities and equipment for that purpose; and
(b) an individual, other than a health care professional described in clause (a), who provides emergency first aid assistance to a person who is ill, injured or unconscious as a result of an accident or other emergency, if the individual provides the assistance at the immediate scene of the accident or emergency. 2001, c. 2, s. 2 (2).
 
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Point and laugh?
 
revrandy said:
Suzuki I certainly hope the St. John's first aid courses are more robust then they were 15 years ago when I taught / examined both first aid and CPR. We could pretty much guarantee a very high failure rate for anyone who had St. John's and took our courses. It came across to us as they were a certification mill, give them your money, do some classes and get a certificate.

A couple of times when I had to deal with serious injuries (flail chest etc.) a responder offered to assist and when they told me they were trained by St. John's, I declined the assistance and waited for an EMT/ EMT-P. It was pretty much a general rule with us.
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I cant speak for all trainers in all areas the ones i work with in my local are all pretty knowledgeable most are EMT or nurses and keep them selfs upto date with supplementary material. But please remember ST john first aid courses just like red cross are public offered and basic it will give you a limited look at what a true first responder needs to know and after they have taken the course do you think people do any supplementary training in most cases no. They take the course and let it expire. As for it being a certificate mill it kind of is . Its the business side of the organization so trainers are pressured to be a little more lenient than they would with service members cant say i agree with it but there has always been a disconnect between the volunteer and business parts of organization and thats always been one of my gripes. Also the actual training is meant for Home use and really meant for Major trauma. The Heart attack and CPR sections are pretty solid in the public course IMO. But yea if i was doing something and someone with a public course SJA or Red Cross wanted to help other than have them holding something or crowd control i would decline to. I do weekly training and have no idea who taught them or when they were cert-ed.That being said 15 years ago the state of pubic first aid all over was at a pretty low level compared to what it is now. I think back then ST john ambulance members with advanced first aid could not use o2 or airways as they were deemed medical acts. But i cant say for sure i started my membership in the UK 16 years ago. When i was 10
 
Ikes advice is really important i should have included that in my original post. Don't go above your training! No Ball point pen tracheotomys people
 
good stuff up above. just want to note, doing chest compressions is very labour intensive. you want to watch out that you don't put yourself in a situation where you need 911 response for you and the person you're administering aide to. I remember reading about a couple who died together because he was trying to administer chest compressions on her and was not in shape to do so and by the time the first responders got there both were gone.

also i didn't see it mentioned but if you are alone call 911 first, once you start cpr its difficult to call 911 in between chest compressions. if the line is busy leave it off the hook and attend to the person in need. the first time i took a first aide course the instructor mentioned banging the receiver against the wall but i don't know if that does anything anymore


now for some humour

kick them in the balls, tase them in the face, ask questions later
 
CruisnGrrl said:
good stuff up above. just want to note, doing chest compressions is very labour intensive. you want to watch out that you don't put yourself in a situation where you need 911 response for you and the person you're administering aide to. I remember reading about a couple who died together because he was trying to administer chest compressions on her and was not in shape to do so and by the time the first responders got there both were gone.

also i didn't see it mentioned but if you are alone call 911 first, once you start cpr its difficult to call 911 in between chest compressions. if the line is busy leave it off the hook and attend to the person in need. the first time i took a first aide course the instructor mentioned banging the receiver against the wall but i don't know if that does anything anymore


now for some humour

kick them in the balls, tase them in the face, ask questions later
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Calling 911, and the line being busy would be near impossible.

If you are home, and call 911 and cant get to the line .. or for whatever reason being .. you will automatically have the police show up at your door. From that point they will dispatch ambulance/fire.
 
infernobuster said:
Calling 911, and the line being busy would be near impossible.

If you are home, and call 911 and cant get to the line .. or for whatever reason being .. you will automatically have the police show up at your door. From that point they will dispatch ambulance/fire.
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what i mean is if there is no one to answer because all the operators are on calls already.
 
CruisnGrrl said:
what i mean is if there is no one to answer because all the operators are on calls already.
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Again, that would take ALOT of calls at once to tie up the comm operators at 911.

When you call 911, they ask police, fire or ambulance?

Whatever your calling for your call gets directed to that service, but your still on the line with the first person until that service picks up that call.
 
During the winter season I ski patrol for Mount St. Louis Moonstone. Everyone on the board has given great advise on what to do during the emergency. 2 big things I can't stress enough is secure your area. On the patrol we make a point to block off the area to skiiers during our operations. Use whatever you can to make yourself known and seen.

Secondly is not to panic. It's amazing what can be accomplished with a calm voice and authoritive tone. If you sound calm, collected and in control; your patient and the people around you will also calm down and allow the situation to unfold more smoothly. You could be outright losing your mind at what's going on around you but, keep that poker face. Afterwards when the rider is on his way to the hospital, feel free to go puke in the bushes.

As for helmets, unless there is a direct threat to their airway, or you need access to their airway, leave it on. You don't know what's going on under their helmet. A persons helmet allows their neck to rest in neutral position (rmedic would better explain this) so when the paramedics arrive they can easily attach a collar.

If you can squeeze it in there, history is key. Talking to the person about their history is a good conversation peice while your tending to their injuries or stalling for time until the medics arrive. This is also good in case later on the person passes out and is unable to speak for themselves. You'll want to know if they have allergies, do they take daily medication, do they have a medical condition, have they recently been hospitalized and for what. (IE surgery, major ailments) That way you can pass this information to the paramedics, who will in turn, pass it on to the doctors.

You don't need to be a trained professional to ask questions but the above noted information is extremely helpful to the paramedics.

Kudos to the medical professionals on this board. You guys explained things really well
 
infernobuster said:
Again, that would take ALOT of calls at once to tie up the comm operators at 911.

When you call 911, they ask police, fire or ambulance?

Whatever your calling for your call gets directed to that service, but your still on the line with the first person until that service picks up that call.
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just cause it's not likely doesn't mean it can't happen... last time i called 911 was not directed to any particular service, the operator asked what the nature of the emergency and i told them it was a car accident, described location and state of the participants (all 3 showed up)... time before that i was reporting my fiance's death (though the operator guided me through cpr on the phone even though at that point it was too late) i was not directed to any service (all 3 showed up). maybe the way 911 runs is different in different parts of the province.
 
CruisnGrrl said:
just cause it's not likely doesn't mean it can't happen... last time i called 911 was not directed to any particular service, the operator asked what the nature of the emergency and i told them it was a car accident, described location and state of the participants (all 3 showed up)... time before that i was reporting my fiance's death (though the operator guided me through cpr on the phone even though at that point it was too late) i was not directed to any service (all 3 showed up). maybe the way 911 runs is different in different parts of the province.
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Yes sorry it is. I just assumed we were talking about the GTA area ..
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