By Stewart Hansen, Founder and Principal Instructor at Vital Signs First.
If you come across a motorcycle crash, make the scene safe, call 999 early, leave the rider’s helmet on unless they’re not breathing normally, control any heavy bleeding with firm pressure, and start CPR if they’re unresponsive and not breathing normally. That’s the order that matters. Knowing it is one thing. Doing it on a dark B-road with your hands shaking is another, which is why riders benefit so much from practising it properly.
If you ride, you’re more exposed than almost any other road user. If you ride with mates, on club runs or charity rides, you’re also more likely than most to be first on the scene when someone comes off. This guide covers what every rider should know. It’s general information, not a substitute for hands-on training.
Why motorcyclists need their own first aid knowledge
- Injuries can be serious and fast. Head, spinal, chest and limb injuries are all possible in a fall or collision.
- Help can be a long way off. The best riding roads are often quiet rural ones, where an ambulance can take a while.
- Riders are often first on scene. You may be stopping for another rider, a driver or a pedestrian.
- Helmets and kit change things. Standard first aid has to be adapted when the casualty is wearing a helmet, leathers or armour.
Step 1: Make the scene safe
Your safety comes first. A second casualty helps nobody.
- Park your own bike well clear, hazards on if it has them, somewhere you won’t be hit.
- Look for traffic, fuel spills, fire risk and debris before you go in.
- If you’re in a group, get someone to warn oncoming traffic. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way.
Step 2: Call for help
Dial 999 (or 112) early. Give the exact location, using the road name, a junction, a what3words address or the nearest landmark, and say how many people are hurt and what happened. In a group, one person calls while another helps the casualty.
Step 3: Check the casualty
Talk to them. If they respond, keep them still, reassure them and keep checking on them until help arrives. If they don’t respond, check whether they’re breathing normally.
Should you take a rider’s helmet off?
This is one of the most common questions riders ask. As a general rule, don’t remove the helmet unless you have to, because moving the head and neck can make a spinal injury worse. It may need to come off if the casualty isn’t breathing normally and you can’t manage their airway with it on, because you have to be able to give CPR. If it does have to come off, it’s a two-person job, keeping the head and neck as still as possible. This is exactly the kind of skill you want to have practised on a training day rather than read about.
Step 4: Control serious bleeding
Heavy bleeding can kill quickly. Press firmly on the wound with a clean pad, dressing or clothing, and keep the pressure on until help arrives. If something is stuck in the wound, don’t pull it out; press around it instead. Wear gloves if you have them.
Step 5: If they’re not breathing normally, start CPR
If the casualty is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 999 and start CPR straight away: push hard and fast in the centre of the chest. Resuscitation Council UK publishes the official guidelines, but nothing replaces practising on a manikin.
What to carry on the bike
- A compact first aid kit with a large sterile dressing, gloves and a foil blanket
- A charged phone and a way to share your location
- Your own emergency contact details, so others can help you
First aid training for bike clubs and riding groups
Training as a group makes a lot of sense. If several people in your club have done the same course, you’re far more likely to have someone on every ride who knows what to do, and you can practise the scenarios together, including helmet removal.
We can run the course for your club, riding group or a few mates who ride together, at a venue that suits you around Milton Keynes and the surrounding counties. Groups of up to 12 work best, so everyone gets plenty of hands-on time.
First aid for motorcyclists: FAQs
Is first aid training worth it if I mostly ride alone?
Yes. Even riding alone, you pass other road users and may be the first to reach a crash. The skills also come in handy at home and at work.
Should you take a helmet off after a motorcycle crash?
Not usually. Leave it on unless the casualty isn’t breathing normally and you can’t manage their airway with it in place. If in doubt, the 999 call handler will talk you through it.
Can you run a first aid course for our bike club?
Yes. We run group sessions for clubs and riding groups. Get in touch with your numbers and rough dates and we’ll sort out a venue and a time that works for your members.
How often should riders refresh their first aid?
Skills fade, so many people refresh every year or so, and certificates commonly last three years.
Book first aid for riders in Milton Keynes
Vital Signs First runs practical, hands-on first aid training for motorcyclists in Milton Keynes and the surrounding counties, for individual riders and for clubs. See the full details of our First Aid for Motorcyclists course, or get in touch to ask about the next date or to book a session for your group.
This article is general information and does not replace first aid training or medical advice. In an emergency, always call 999.