Reprinted from the July, 2007 BMW Owners News, with permission of the BMW MOA and Roger Wiles
by, Roger WilesIt’s a beautiful day for riding! You and your significant other are riding your motorcycles through remote mountain roads without a care in the world. As you round a turn, you immediately see a brightly-colored sport-bike lying on its side up against a low stone bridge abutment, front wheel deformed from the impact. A long, black skid-mark leads from the rear of the fallen bike back up the roadway. No rider is in sight.
Dismounting calmly in a safe location, you both approach the fallen motorcycle and then peer over the bridge; about forty feet below, a small stream is found at the bottom of the ravine, and lying motionless in the middle of the stream is a body clad in brightly-colored riding gear. Just then, a rider approaches from the opposite direction, all but throws his motorcycle down as he hurries to dismount, tears off his riding jacket and begins scrambling frantically down the ravine. Reaching the rider, he pulls the rider’s head up out of the stream, dragging him by the armpits to get his face away from the water. This elicits a loud, roaring groan from the fallen rider.
Well, he is alive, anyway. You and your companion both check your wireless phones and find that no signal is present, due to the remote location. You call down into the ravine that you will get help; you instruct your companion to manage traffic around one of the blind turns leading to the small bridge, quickly mount your own bike and begin riding briskly back in the direction from whence you came, trying desperately to remember where you last saw signs of civilization – a convenience store, a residence, any place that would have a telephone.
Fortunately, you ‘marked’ the scene of the crash on your GPS before leaving, so you have the exact location in latitude and longitude. Riding briskly but with an overwhelming awareness that you could also crash as you seek help, compounding an already-desperate situation, you pass some folks parked beside the road, and immediately turn back to see if they can reach the rescue squad. While they have no wireless phones, they do have a CB radio, and help is quickly requested and acknowledged. You return to the crash-scene and manage traffic around the other blind turn, while the fallen rider’s companion continues to attend to him. The groans escalate to gut-wrenching roars of pain, but at least the fellow is alive, and his lungs and heart appear to be in working order. The minutes drag on, and seem to last forever. What do you do?
How would you aid the fallen rider? Would your assistance cause more harm? How do you know? How can you protect yourself and others at a crash-scene? If you do the wrong thing, could you be held liable for trying to render aid? How are your first-aid skills? Can you perform ‘Rescue-Breathing?’ How about CPR? Do you know how to move a fallen rider if necessary – this guy was face-down in a creek – without causing unnecessary additional injury, paralysis or death? Should you remove the fallen rider’s helmet? If so, do you know how to do this with the least risk of paralysis? What vital signs should you look for? What kind of health-risks can exist for you, the first-responder? What if you are the only first-responder, and you must leave the scene to summon help? What is ‘shock,’ anyway – what are the consequences of ‘shock,’ and what can be done to mitigate it? What if other bystanders lose their cool and exacerbate the situation? What about incoming traffic approaching, unaware of what they will suddenly be faced with? Who should be in charge and why? Do you have a First-Aid kit? Does the fallen rider have existing medical conditions that complicate matters? How can you find out? Can you function effectively if the crashed rider is your spouse or other family member – or dear friend? Can your wireless phone be relied on to summon help where and when it is needed? Are you aware that 911 calls made from cell-phones are often received at call-centers hundreds of miles away from your location? What to do?
‘Personal responsibility’ is part and parcel of motorcycling, and motorcycling is a sport and lifestyle with inherent physical risks; becoming prepared to deal with, and manage these risks is clearly a part of our individual and collective personal responsibility as riders. Beginning this year, the BMW MOA Foundation will be offering workshops in “Accident Scene Management,” conducted by nationally-recognized Accident Scene Management, Inc, at the 2007 International Rally in West Bend, Wisconsin. Several schedules and levels of training are offered. For more information access http://www.accidentscene.net/ and http://www.bmwmoafoundation.org/projects/index.html.
The Foundation is also considering promoting this training throughout the chartered clubs.
Think about attending an ASMI session at the Rally, or through your local club. Remember, you may be the only link between life and death, between full recovery or a lifetime in a wheelchair, for another motorcyclist. Think about it!
The opening scenario happened to Norma and me recently, one of several serious crashes we’ve attended in the past several years. This victim suffered multiple broken bones and internal injuries, and was reported to have recovered. While each situation was a dreadful shock, we were able to manage ourselves, those injured, clueless and hysterical bystanders, and oncoming traffic – Accident Scene Management training proved priceless for the victims, and for us. Increase your capabilities - prepare to make a difference – ahead of time.
It’s no secret that the age-demographic of today’s riders is increasing. Older ages often bring health risks and conditions borne of age. One such, unfortunately much too common, is diabetes. This disease can be managed, or it can be debilitating, depending on the circumstances, as well as the skill of the diabetic, in managing his or her condition. MOA members concerned with managing diabetes while riding and touring may wish to check out what appears to be a very useful website, at http://www.motorcycleadventuremap.com/diabetes.htm
MotoSafe, the BMW MOA, and the BMW MOA Foundation makes no claims or endorsement for the information found at this Website; however, an interested member may find the information useful.
WRITE TO MotoSafe! Have questions about riding techniques? Maybe you’ve read something in MotoSafe that you didn’t understand, or just flat disagree with! Have a riding tip that has helped you? MotoSafe would love to hear from you. From time to time, we’ll open the mailbag. Note that your letter or email message may be used, respectfully, in a future MotoSafe column. Write to: R. Wiles: roger@rogerwiles.com or 9223 Hill Street, Blairsville GA 30512, or to the ON editorial offices.
Next month, MotoSafe will speak to the growing number of riders who have discovered the pleasures of riding ‘hacks,’ or sidecars. Look for it!
The BMW MOA Foundation’s MotoSafe is intended to present responsible viewpoints on thoughtful and safe motorcycling skills and practices; the authors, the Foundation, the BMW MOA and the Owners News do not guarantee readers’ personal safety, and can take no responsibility for readers’ application of this material.
BMW MOA members who are professional motorcycle safety trainers are invited to submit articles for inclusion in MotoSafe Please contact Roger Wiles (roger@rogerwiles.com or 9223 Hill St, Blairsville, GA 30512) for submission guidelines and instructions.
The BMW MOA Foundation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt Public Educational Foundation dedicated to increasing and promoting the safe and enjoyable sport of motorcycling to all members of the moto-community. Tax-exempt donations to the Foundation will provide funding for current and new Foundation Projects & Programs. Contact Foundation Headquarters at: PO Box 3982, Ballwin, MO 63022 - (636) 394-7277 - for further information