First aid after a motorcycle accident

For obvious reasons, motorcycle accidents have much higher injury and mortality rates than other kinds of road accidents.

When arriving at the scene of a motorcycle accident, it can sometimes be vital to know first aid procedures. However, only a small proportion of the UK population have been on first aid courses.

Here at YouClaim, we decided to provide our readers and customers with a bit of help and advice regarding what to do if they arrive at the scene of a motorcycle accident. This is only intended as a rough guide and not a definitive program for action.

Anyone interested in learning to administer first aid correctly should contact St John's Ambulance for information on how to do so by logging on to www.sja.org.uk.

First aid for a motorcycle accident
If possible, get someone to call Emergency Services immediately. If you are alone and have a mobile telephone, do it yourself.

Stay calm and try to communicate
See if the person suffering injuries is conscious. Even if they are not, it can be useful to talk to them in a calm and reassuring manner, and explain what has happened.

Survey the motorcycle accident scene
Ensure that there are no potential traffic hazards. If possible, get someone to warn oncoming traffic of the motorcycle accident scene.

Examine the scene for any oil or petrol spills and make sure nobody lights up a cigarette.

Is there anyone better qualified to administer first aid?
If so, this person should be in control. If not, try stabilizing the personal injury sufferer's head as any unnecessary movement could risk a serious neck or spinal injury.

Try and determine the extent of the person's injuries.

Ensure the person's airways are clear. It is important to try and do this without removing the motorcyclist's helmet.

Listen to see if the injured rider is breathing and check pulse with middle and forefinger. If there is no pulse, remove helmet and perform CPR.

Once again, it is very important not to move the injured person's head, as this could potentially cause a catastrophic and paralysing injury.

Talk to the injured rider
It can be helpful to ask the rider three questions: 1) Who are you? 2) Where are you? 3) What day of the week is it?

The helmet: don't remove unless the rider is not breathing!
The only time a helmet should be removed is when the airways cannot be cleared without removing it, or if the injured rider is in need of CPR.

Removing the helmet
It is best to leave this advice to the elite experts.

On the BBC, Dr Catherine Hood says, "If you think they have stopped breathing you have no choice but to take the helmet off - keeping the neck as still as possible. It helps if you have other people to assist you in this risky situation. Once the helmet is removed, then you can resuscitate the victim."

Once again, it is very important to reiterate that the helmet should only be removed when there is no other option.

Administering CPR
Once again, we should leave this advice to the experts. Check out St John Ambulance's advice on administering CPR.

Check both breathing and pulse every five minutes
Check the breathing and pulse at five minute intervals and record rates of both, as well as any other significant information that you feel may later be of use to paramedics.

Preventing blood loss
It is imperative to stop any bleeding. Where possible, wrap the wound with a sanitary dressing and apply pressure.

The exception to this rule is head wounds. They should be lightly wrapped and have no pressure applied, as they sometimes contain chips of bone which could lodge into the brain and cause further serious injury.

Taking a CPR course
A number of organisations run CPR courses, including:

• The YMCA
• Seafox First Aid Training
• London Ambulance

Making a no win, no fee motorcycle accident claim
If you have suffered personal injuries in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you should be entitled to compensation.

YouClaim are widely acknowledged as being among the UK's foremost experts in resolving motorcycle accident claims.

Our no win, no fee solicitors are the best in the business and, over the years, have successfully represented thousands of road accident compensation claimants.

Claiming with us is, win or lose, completely cost free. We ensure you will be protected from all legal costs, including any incurred by the opposing side.

In addition, we never take a cut of your compensation, meaning you keep 100% of all money awarded you.

To begin your motorcycle accident claim today, call us on 0800 10 757 95.

Alternatively, you may wish to fill out an online claim form or make a call back request for a time that is convenient to you.