Hi Guys, Some of you may have heard of this, currently in Kent but spreading across the country slowly. Its the Biker Down Course. Its a FREE course currently run out of Ashford Fire Station, by a guy called Jim Sanderson. The Course covers 3 modules: Module 1 is designed to teach you how to control a scene, if you're the first biker on scene of a bike crash. Module 2 is a first aid module. Shows you how to properly remove a bikers helmet if needed, and how to roll an unconscious patient. Also covering bleeding and CPR. Module 3 is covering the science of being seen by cars etc. If any of you are in south east, and on facebook, contact Kent Fire Bike to find out more and book. He can also tell you what other Fire stations are now doing it. I did the course the other night, and, as we mostly ride in groups, i hope i'll never have to use my new skills, but better to be safe, and i'll now carry the free first aid kit they gave out.
Sounds like a good coarse. It's always good to know a little first aid. As you say, you hope you never need it but it may just save a life.
Every bit of knowledge helps in this day and age although people won't help through fear of being sued by the very person you are trying to help. It's the society we live in these days.
For me in my situation though, we only ride with our close friends, and any of us would want someone trained to do their best, i believe so anyway. I also believe that if a court saw that you had taken reasonable steps to help, in the way you'd been trained, they wont hold you accountable. The way they showed us to remove the helmet for example, is the exact same way they would do it when they arrive at the scene, and if someone is not breathing, that helmet has gotta come off or the alternative could be death, regardless if you try and help or not. Now, cheery face back on, wheres the biccies
Every bit of knowledge helps in this day and age although people won't help through fear of being sued by the very person you are trying to help. It's the society we live in these days. Mate, this is a miss conception in the world of today, many people believe this. And as you say it's a sad sign of the society we live in. I would say there is not a court in this land? That would rule against you for trying to save someone's life, providing you are competent and have knowledge/training of the treatment administered, you only have to look at the recent advertisement campaign run on tv, Vinney Jones, push on the medallion, or CPR, this was to raise awareness, if they thought showing this would not be of benifit they would not show it. Out of interest pertaining to CPR, has anyone apart from those in the know actually realise the amount of pressure that has to be placed to massage the heart to stimulate blood flow? Have a look at where the heart lies within the body, it's natural defence is the rib cage. And sadly to administer heart massage adequately you have to break ribs, yeah, it will sting in the morning if they survive it, but if you ain't cracked ribs you ain't doing shit for them. I think the rule of thumb is, you do not leave someone in a worse condition than what you found them. Excuse the broken ribs, it's a necessity. The removal of a motorcyclests helmet is another thing that has been for many years a no no, oh my, they may have a broken neck? And they could end up in a wheel chair? If the person laid on the side of the road has his airway blocked by his tounge etc, being in a wheel chair for the rest of their life would be the last thing on their mind, they will be brain dead in two minutes, putting someone in the recovery position does not make them ok, the airway will still remain blocked until the obstruction is removed. Seriously though anyone reading this thread, I could rattle on all night, and youd still not know a thing, but please take Mels advice, get on a course, learn more for what you can do, than what you would like to do. The next life you save could be mine. Thanks for bringing this one up Mel.
Did the course last year at Ashford. A brilliant 2 1/2 hours . They give you an excellent First Aid Kit, worth at least a tenner.
Actually Jim Sanderson, Mega! and don't bother searching cos I'm here now, if the Mountain wont come to Mohammed........................ Please be advised that Biker Down is now starting to go National with confirmed Biker Down Courses in Wales, Manchester, Sussex and Kent. Plans to start them are afoot in Bedfordshire, the Midlands, Buckinghamshire and there are more to follow. As Mel said you can find out a lot more on Facebook, just search for Kent Fire Bike and 'Like' it. You will then be able to e-mail me direct and I'll send out an info pack. My goal is to see Biker Down as the Fire and Rescue Service's answer to the Police Bike Safe organisation (whom we are also in cahoots with) and we are getting a lot of interest from all over including abroad! Let me know if you'd like more info and perhaps I could start a thread with a load more detailed iformation and some Pictures if you are interested? P.S. One of our Fire Bikes is a 2008 Blade in FRS Colours. Regards Jim
Jim, it's great to have you on board and we owe Mel a big thank you for hunting you down and recruiting you for the forum. I know that your experience and insight are going to be a massive asset to the forum and its members and I'm sure you're going to be run ragged answering queries. Your course should make a perfect forum meet up for the Kent members, blimey, there's so many of them, you'd need to do it in shifts. Any and all info on developments in the Biker Down scheme and its proliferation nationwide will be more than welcome, I'm positive everyone should agree.
Oh great, ill definatly go on one of these, I can come to Kent (where me parents live) or you say there are coming to bucks / beds soon?
