You are out riding on your motorcycle and come across an accident scene. You are the first one there. What would you do? Do you know where to start? How can you help?

Some basic guidelines include:

1

Establish scene safety. Try to prevent a bad circumstance from becoming worse. Stop, block  or re-direct traffic. Look around - is there danger of ignition of leaking fluids? 
2 If necessary, call 911 with your cell phone.
3 Establish A-B-C (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) May require head tilt, rescue breathing or full CPR. Take a refresher course, you might be able to save a friend.
4 Primary assessment of vital signs. Check pulse - is it fast? weak? irregular? Check breathing - is it shallow? labored? gasping? Do pupils look dilated? Skin - check color, temperature, moisture.
5 Secondary assessment. This is a hands-on check for pain response or obvious injury starting at head and neck and working down the body squeezing gently. Get under or open exterior clothes to look for bleeding or protrusions. Can the victim squeeze with both hands? Push against your hands with their feet? Do joints bend the way they should. Pinch a fingernail - does color return immediately? Look for medical tags if you don't know the victim.

This is a lot of stuff to remember and it doesn't all apply to each situation. If you are able to establish scene safety and summon professional help you've done a great deal. No matter what else, try to avoid moving the victim. Even removing the helmet without proper stabilization can be risky. Even if the rider jumps up after going down and appears to be OK, it doesn't hurt to take a time out and make some basic injury assessments (select items from #4 and #5). Check for disorientation by asking some questions. The time you save the paramedics by providing this type of information could be crucial. 

 

In the process of updating this section, I had realized that the idea of a basic Rider Safety Package hadn't been addressed. As in, what is the minimum a rider should carry for commuting, and what should be carried for long trips. In reality you could carry a bit of everything including a Snap On tool box, but since we hopefully ride well maintained machines, we eliminate most of the variables involved with riding emergencies. I have decided to show what I include in my tank bag when out on my Concours. This, to me, is the bare minimum that should be carried by a rider. 

 

It's really not a lot of stuff, but you can see some of the essentials, such as a cell phone and spare eye wear. 

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What I do carry in my RKA tank bag is two spare face shields ( one for the Shoei, one for the Arai ) and they are in a gym sock, keeping them clean and scratch free. A cell phone, a First Aid kit, spare eyewear and lenses for my other riding glasses, saline solution for my contacts, wallet with cash and credit cards, a plastic pad for the side stand on those hot days, lip balm, rubber gloves for the inside of my riding gloves when I'm caught in the rain, Lifesaver candies to munch on, and maps of New England. This goes with me where ever I ride. 

 

 It all fits, and I still have room for a few other things. Including my digital camera and my GPS. The bag has a rain cover too, which is in the mesh flap on top. 

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If you plan on taking a longer trip, such as two or three days, you should consider carrying a few more things. I would recommend a rain suit, a flashlight and a tire repair kit. Also, consider water, motorcycle jumper cables, aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin or the equivalent, and hand lotion. Even with a modern sportbike utilizing soft luggage, this shouldn't take up too much room if you pack smart. Your OEM toolkit should include the tools required to remove the fairing, along with a tire pressure gauge and a spark plug wrench. If you have a bike with a chain drive, consider a can of Chain Wax, or a small can of WD-40. If you have the room, a can of Honda Polish and a few clean towels to help with keeping the bike clean on a long trip couldn't hurt either.

In the end, pack smart and make sure the bike is ready mechanically BEFORE you for on that trip. However, in case something does happen, at least you'll be ready to tackle it head on.

Karaya
1/27/01