Guidelines for what to do after an accident involving a fellow motorcyclist

January 19, 2024

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Most of the time, when we get on our motorcycles, we are unaware of potential problems for us or our fellow riders.

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Requirements before you start riding a motorcycle:

It is mandatory that you have passed your motorcycle theory test and have a motorcycle driving license and have a proper sense of riding and road signs.

As motorcycle enthusiasts, we ride with those who share our interests or in groups that we are familiar with. This brings up a crucial point: how should motorcycle riders react when one of their fellow riders is involved in an accident? Continue reading to find out how to take certain emergency measures that can help save a life:

#1. Park/Stop in a safe area

Until you are initially safe, you cannot assist your fellow bikers. The first thing to do, then, is to permanently stop your motorbike somewhere secure before attempting to help the injured motorcyclist. Moreover, think about stopping somewhere you won’t in any way be impeding the flow of traffic. While it appears straightforward and reasonable, things are seldom as straightforward in a panic.

#2. Be careful when moving the injured person

Except in cases where he is in a perilous position, never move the injured motorcyclist. Prior to assisting with their move, the utmost care must be done. The sufferer must never, under any circumstances, be permitted to flick or make an attempt to stand up straight away. Any abrupt movements can aggravate severe concussions and cause further problems.

#3. Do not take off the helmet

Neck and spine injuries occur in a relatively high number of motorbike accidents. Without the appropriate training or safety measures, removing the victim’s helmet could prove lethal. Only if the victim is unable to breathe properly due to the helmet should it be removed.

#4. Contact emergency assistance

Generally speaking, it is best to call emergency services as soon as possible. In order to describe the victim’s situation to the emergency staff, it also helps if you attend to the victim by dialing 911. In some instances, the emergency services vary throughout nations and even within the same nation. Hence, if you ride in uncharted territory, make a strategy to carry the information close at hand.

#5. Speak with the victim and make them feel at ease

It is crucial to maintain the injured motorcyclist’s calmness and prevent them from panicking until aid arrives. Keeping the injured motorcyclist quiet could help save his or her life because, in most cases, it will take a while for the emergency services to arrive at the scene. This may be crucial in circumstances of severe injuries, such as spine injuries, where the victim may panic and make quick movements that could be fatal.

#6. Make the accident site secure

This is mostly done to lessen the commotion near the accident scene. It involves controlling traffic near the accident scene and calming down the commotion around the victim and the accident scene. Also, it will hasten the arrival of emergency services.

On the motorbike and off it, quick thinking, presence of mind, and attentiveness are essential. Certain abilities are built in our genes as motorcycle riders, and taking the time to learn the fundamentals of first aid can help avert an emergency situation and save a life. Make sure always to ride safely and in appropriate gear.

Motorcycle Riders Often Suffer From Injuries in Accidents

The degree of your injuries and the likely length of your healing process should be known to you by the time a day or two have passed since your accident, according to doctors. In crashes, motorcyclists frequently sustain the following types of wounds:

Concussions among other head injuries
Injuries to the face that could result in deformity or blindness
Teeth missing as a result of a broken jaw
Damage to the neck and back, perhaps leading to paralysis
Severe limb injuries, possibly leading to amputation
Shattered limbs
Internal organ damage
Bruises and severe cuts
Road rash and the potential for infection

7. Do:

If at all possible, wrap a warm blanket around the sufferer. The patient will probably have some kind of shock after the adrenaline from the accident wears off, which could range from minor to severe.
Ascertain that the injured motorcyclist is comfortable. Others may choose to do that by supine with their knees bent. Some prefer to sit with their legs straightened and their backs against a median divider. Encourage them to remain in whichever position is most comfortable for them as long as it doesn’t make their wounds worse.
Care for any cuts or scrapes. Apply direct, hard pressure to any bleeding cuts or lacerations if you don’t think there’s a broken bone and, if you can, treat the wound.
Support the head and neck as much as you can if you think the patient may have suffered a spinal injury or if they didn’t do well on the wiggle test. Don’t TURN the head to do it.

8. Don’t:

If it’s not a life or death situation, don’t take off the helmet. Only then, and except when the helmet prevents you from controlling the injured person’s air passage, such as when they aren’t breathing or are throwing up, should you remove the helmet.
If the injured are claiming to have neck or spinal pain, move them. There are, once more, exceptions to this rule, such as when there is grave danger or when it is necessary to stop future harm. Aim to move as little as possible. They should only be moved as far as is necessary to get them out of a dangerous situation.

Conclusion

Accidents occur in everyday life but motorcyclists tend to get the most exposure to such incidents. It is therefore mandatory that a motorcyclist be careful; wear a helmet when riding, check their motorcycle before setting off on a ride, check that everything about the vehicle is intact, the fuel meter shows full and they have their license with them.

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