Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

I will never forget Natalies first accident. We were leaving Edgemead going down Letchworth Street towards Bosmandam Road. At the turn into Bosmandam Road which is a yield sign for those wanting to turn left, she somehow lost the front end of her TW200 and bounced across the tarmac. When I arrived she was lying in the road, right next to a car that was coming off Bosmandam Road. Her bike had missed the car and was lying a bit further down the road. This bloke must have seen it was a female rider as her then blond and long ponytail was sticking out the back of the helmet and she was face down in the road, but he sort of stared at her for a few seconds and then pulled off and went on his way. I hope for his sake he never needs a helping hand from anyone in a situation. I for one am a level 1 first aider and will always stop to see if I can render any assistance, especially for a biker. What actually needs to be done will vary depending on injuries etc but will mostly involve stabalizing someone and looking for help. In fact those are the first things one learns on a first aid course when you come across the scene of an acident. HHH and ABC. They stand for Hazards, Hello, Help and Airway, Breathing, Circulation. In other words check first that the scene is free of hazards and you can enter safely, then check if the person is concious , then ask for help or someone to go get help. If a person is unconcious one then checks his airway, breathing and lastly circulation. Warren

It's always peoples first reaction to try and move an injured rider. A riend in London participated in a FBOS (First Biker on Scene) workshop conducted by the London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police "Bikesafe" initiative. The three key things he shared are: 1) Crash helmet removal: When and how to do it - requires two people to be done relatively safely. 2) The Log Roll: How to roll a casualty sideways and then back onto a support board without compromising any possible spinal damage. 3) Basic Life Support: How to maintain oxygen supply to the casualties brain. Those who have done previous First Aid courses - throw away any numbers you used for compressions and respirations - it's now 30 compressions straight away followed by 2 respirations, 30, 2, 30, 2 etc. Apparently it can take up to ten compressions to get aortic pressure high enough to get effective circulation to begin, so the older 5,1 numbers probably never helped anyone, and the 15,2 only helped a bit. WE then initiated an program in our club of getting stickers made for each person's helmet saying, DON'T REMOVE HELMET IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT. (Or something to that extent). Possibly something that could be done here. Another initiative, which I discussed with Braam, was that all those members with old/surplus helmets donate them to the emergency services to practice helmet removal in the event of an accident. So, if you're unfamiliar with delivery of any of the treatments, then please find a service where you can gain this experience - it may save YOUR life someday! I think it's something the club could certainly benefit from. Cheers Lawrence

Thanks Lawrence and Warren Last year the club had a First Aid Course. I did not attend it :( There are so many options, when you are close to a town / ambulance. 20 km outside of Sutherland, with no cell reception, man-o-man you feel very helpless. With the long distances our club members ride, this will probably happen again - finding a stricken biker in remote locations.

Has anybody heard of the "ICETAG" - I have one on my helemt. It's a very small pouch that you stick to the outside of your helemt with all your details in, Medi Aid number etc. for when you cannot aswer those questions.. Check the site out ICETAG they go for about R50, i think they are well worth it.

Does anybody know of a local shop that sells "ICETAG" or a similar/better product? I think this should be right up there with proper safety clothing. Any chance of a bulk buy, via the club?

Ordered two (for wife and myself) from website (www.icetag.co.za). Got in in about two weeks time. If you by 10 or more R42.00.

Scene of the accident. A few pointers. Ensure safety by sending people upstream to warn approaching vehicles. Park a vehicle ±10 metres upstream to give protection. Establish & note the time of accident immediately. Record it on paper or in your phone- you will forget. The noisy moaner is less injured than the quiet subdued patient. If the patient cannot answer questions clearly, lucidly and make sense, they ARE in Trauma and need care. THEY ARE INJURED, even if you see no visible signs. NEVER REMOVE THE HELMUT UNLESS YOU NEED ACCESS FOR LIFE SUPPORT. Do not move the patient unless saftey is a real risk. Neck and Spinal injuries can be increased by movement. Establish soonest contact details, next of kin from patient or companions - if the patient lapses into unconsciousnes..... The golden hour is the most critical. - 1st hour after accident. What you do or don't do can effect the patient/s outcome very much. Record the pulse and rate of breathing every 15 minutes and give these to the first respondent to arrive, with the time of accident. If patient/s on the road surface monitor the road heat. if it is not bearable, you may have to support with carmats or clothing to relieve contact with the road. Irrigating with water is a waste of time, heat radiation on a road will take a swimming pool to cool down. Learn first aid! You paid for your safety equipment, your helmut, now learn to save your own or someone else's life. There is no worse feeling than standing around totally clueless in a remote area while someone suffers and deteriorates because you chose a natty blue tooth or a R3k top box instead of a First Aid level 3 course. Andyman I am become what those who have influenced my development , have made me. A work-in-progress.

have you guys seen the bikers first aid kit which ysterplaat medical supplies have.....damm its cool everything one needs...from eye wash to bandage..its in a waterproof type bag,,i have three one on each bike and they only cost about R 98.00..even iff NOT for ones self .it might just help a fellow biker out in need.

How does this compare with the basic first aid kit that the AA sells for R99 ?

no idea