How good, and current, is YOUR first aid training?

[Checkswrecks]

Jetmaker 737 posted this thread about coming across an accident and I hijacked his thread into one about the importance of getting training in first aid. Unfortunately, due to the title, a lot of people probably will think it's about a local accident and won't open the thread. Too bad, because they'll miss Scab's pre-emptive 1st aid (?) supplies. Besides, it's Monday morning so here's something to start the week.

Like I wrote, ATGATT is great, but something that I don't see mentioned nearly enough is that there is no reason to not have at least basic competence in giving first aid. We're out there playing on 100+ mph machines that weigh 600+ pounds and the world can go from rosy to total shit in a heartbeat. Bikerskier mentioned that for all the years he has provided first aid, he sure hopes that when he needs somebody to help him, that person has had some training and that was the point of my post. Duff asked a closely related good "What's in your..." question that I'll modify slightly to fit this new thread.

So the questions of this thread are:

How good, and current, is YOUR first aid training? What 1st aid stuff are you carrying, but more important is do you really know when and how to use that stuff?

 

[vabrzn]

I take the two day class at the local rescue squad every three or four years.

I carry:

butterfly bandages

band aids

guaze pads

tape

ammonia capsules

sting kill

guaze in a roll

neosporin

aspirin

aleve

tweezers

burn cream

Army spec compression bandage

instructions for CPR

whistle

magnesium fire starter

eye bandage

and some other stuff.....

 

[vabrzn]

I take the two day class at the local rescue squad every three or four years.

I carry:

butterfly bandages

band aids

guaze pads

tape

ammonia capsules

sting kill

guaze in a roll

neosporin

aspirin

aleve

tweezers

burn cream

Army spec compression bandage

instructions for CPR

whistle

magnesium fire starter

eye bandage

and some other stuff.....

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

I'm not currently certified.

Years ago I had first aid training and refresher courses. I'm due for another one.

I own a decent first aid kit, but I usually only pack it on trips. I need to find a water proof box that I could mount permanently.

Can anybody recommend a bright red, waterproof box? (something that would mount under the license plate would be great.)

 

[Bungie]

Just refreshed my certs last year and finally got around to doing the CPR Training at the same time.

First aid kit contains the usual culprits along with some extra *LARGE* sterile backed bandages (road rash is a *bitch* ya know).

 

[tcfjr]

Back in January of 2007, forum members Barabus and zzkenoman organized an Accident Scene Management class in Southern California. The instructor was Joy Medved, a long-time cyclist who knows her stuff. We went over the things you need to know to be helpful at a motorcycle accident scene.

Silver Penguin did a great write-up of the course in this post. After this class, I took a First Aid course through my work, and now carry a CPR mask and latex gloves in my glove box at all times.

 

[Wild72]

Great topic Bob,

After the accident that we assisted with during the Sport Touring at it's Finest ride, I hijacked the first aid kit from my car (which rarely turns a wheel), and now keep it in one of my sidebags.

I used to be certified in First Aid, but haven't recertified in about 10 years.

You have inspired me to seek out a local course and get back on track again. Hopefully I will never have to use the skills, but for all it costs, and the potential savings it could make, (ie - a Life!!!), I think every rider should be thinking about getting at least basic training.

Pete.

 

[1FJR]

Well I have to say that my first aid training is good. My wife is a EMT, I have gone through a Wilderness First Aid class (on step below EMT) put on by our local brain doc. I carry a large well stocked bag in my patrol car, Search and Rescue pack, and on the bike.

If you have to carry a very basic kit, I would say Rubber GLOVES should be 1st on the list, and multi-pairs of them. Other things are triangle bandages, CPR mask, gauze in a roll, band aids. Remember that duck tape works great also. Be careful about giving anybody asprin or any other over the counter medications. And finally remember to ask them if they want your help.

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

And finally remember to ask them if they want your help.

I would not have thought of that one.

What if they say "piss off"? If they kick is their family going to sue you for failing to offer assistance?

I better find a well written waiver and add that to my first aid kit.

 

[1FJR]

And finally remember to ask them if they want your help.

I would not have thought of that one.

What if they say "piss off"? If they kick is their family going to sue you for failing to offer assistance?

I better find a well written waiver and add that to my first aid kit.

If they say piss off then just hang around until help arrives. Let the EMS folks get the thanks but no thanks waiver signed. You stopped to try and help, they said piss off so you did not help. Now if they take a turn for the worse and pass out now they may want your help. In Colorado if a person is injured and can not tell you to piss off because they are passed out it is implied that they want help. Just remember to not do anything that is above your level of training. Keep it simple.

I read over the class notes from the class that Silver Pengiun wrote up. Those are great. She covers all the important information.

In regards to removing the helmet. She is right if you do not need to don't, especially if you do not know how. But if you must, do everything you can to not move the head. The directions that she gives are great. Here are a few more tips I have learned over the years in taking off many snowmobile helmets on accidents.

1. Grab the straps after they are undone and pull out away from the head. The helmet will flex out and it will make the helmet come off easier.

2. Do not just pull the helmet straight off the head. Rock it. If you first tilt the helmet towards the chin and slip the back up a little on the head it becomes easier to remove. REMEMBER to have some body holding the head still. Once you have control of the head, do not let go.

3. Practice this at home with different helmets.

Neal

 

[Checkswrecks]

Pete - if this thread gets one of us inspired, it's done it's job. Great to hear! On a side note, I looked for your York crowd at Brunswick yesterday and didn't see you guys. It was mostly a Connie crowd and I had to split off.

Joe, if a victim says to "piss off" you actually have to do it in most places. When the EMTs or police arrive, they have between zero leeway and lots of more leeway than you would, but it depends on the State. I never got too worried about a waiver, as just about everywhere in the US has some type of "good samaritan" law and few of us will ever do more than stabilize and call the real EMTs for transport. As for the waterproof box, my kit has proven to be waterproof cordura bag, but I still throw that in a gallon zip-lock. I need to occasionally change zip-lock bags, but it's more crushable than a hard case. (BTW, the link was broken because the thread it was linked to got closed.)

FWIW, I'm a "gummint" worker and we do an update course every couple of years at work, then get real practice now & then on work-sites, but those are usually cuts, punctures, sprains, and sun burn. My own kit kit is one of those deluxe red REI (EMS?) first aid kits, but with some additions like extra gloves and extra-large area non-stick dressings. I use the same kit from the bike in my work backpack and for a while I took a lot of stuff out as seasons changed, such as the snake bite kit and space blanket. But I never know if I'm going somewhere hot with snakes or cold for work and got tired of changing what's in there at the end of the season. So laziness prevailed and it's all back in there.

 

[kurt]

Paramedic in a busy urban system (120,000+ responses per year) for 20 years. I'd say I'm pretty current. As a non-medically trained rider you have no duty to act (render medical care), but you do have to summon aid if you are involved in some way. Anyone who is an adult and can make an informed decision can refuse care unless under arrest. If they are altered mentally in someway and can't make an informed decision, you may proceed under implied consent (they would have accepted help had they been thinking clearly). Any help you render in good faith that is not incredibly negligent (the average, and the bar is pretty low here, person would know better) is covered under the Good Samaritan Act.

My kit for the bike is very simple:

 

[Capt. Bob]

CPR certified till April 2009.

Don't carry a first aid kit on most day rides but do carry a MDI Microshield clipped inside my jacket.

Figure if I need CPR, first responders (like you or me) will be more inclined to administer CPR to me if they see the microshield.

 

[7xray]

Great thread and great thoughts from the contributors.

If you aren't EMS trained (ABC's, c-spine etc), or carry first aid kits, there are still things you can do to make the situation better. Psychological help for the patient is always a big help. Talking to them, keeping them going, telling them help is on the way, finding out where they hurt etc etc can help create a good outcome from a bad one. Also, shock is what takes us all in the end and simple things like using what is available to keep the patient warm (those film space blankets are a good deal) can help a lot. Be careful about moving somebody unless c-spine stabilization precautions are taken.

There may be other patients as well. Even if not hurt, the riders friends may suffer from the traumatic experience of seeing a friend badly injured. You, too, can be affected by coming upon a bad scene. Downstream effects called critical incident stress can affect any first responder. Your local fire department can put you in touch with trained critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) professionals that can help.

Take care out there everybody.

7X

EMT-B

 

[Mike P]

First responder training annually through work.

I haven't looked into what I would pack in a kit for the bike but my Jeep kit is rather extensive even equipped with a Phillips defibrillator.

 

[Raven1]

Basic Life support and Advanced cardiovascular life support trained every two years. By the looks of some of these kits, I need to update mine. Thanks for the reminder training will only take you so far if you do not have the material on hand to use.

 

[Knifemaker]

Can anybody recommend a bright red, waterproof box? (something that would mount under the license plate would be great.)

They have these...

https://tinyurl.com/4ajafn

You could paint it red.

As for my first aid training, Was a boy scout. And take CPR refresher course every 2 years. One coming up in Dec.

KM

 

[happyPuppy]

I am in the Medical Reserve Corp and I am very up to date from First aid to disasters. The only thing left is ACLS. One tip to all is buy a pair of the heavy duty scissors that hospital trauma centers use. They are cheap, and can cut almost anything from thick jackets to ABS in a pinch.

 

[Wicked Webby]

I take the two day class at the local rescue squad every three or four years.
I carry:

butterfly bandages

band aids

guaze pads

tape

ammonia capsules

sting kill

guaze in a roll

neosporin

aspirin

aleve

tweezers

burn cream

Army spec compression bandage

instructions for CPR

whistle

magnesium fire starter

eye bandage

and some other stuff.....

Sounds good. Having served in the US Army as a Combat Medic,

I would say that every emergency firstaid kit should have a tube of superglue.

Works great on small to large lacerations alike.

WW