Tag Archives: ambulance

Motorcycle News, News

Smart motorcycle gloves hold medical info

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Riders are well advised to keep their medical information on them in the unfortunate event of a crash.

There are many ways to carry important medical information such as blood type, allergies, emergency contacts, etc.

Medical info

You can store them on a USB stick on your keyring, keep a card in your wallet, or store it on your phone. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

ice emergcency USB flyingI.C.E.mergency USB stores medical information.

For example, a USB stick may not be of any use if the first responder doesn’t have a computer while your phone may have a security PIN lock.

Probably the easiest solution is to keep a card in your wallet as that is where first responders check first.

They are also trained to check keys, phones and any labels on your helmet, clothing and bike.

medical informationFirst responder checks for medical info

The idea of making this information available is that first responders will know how to correctly treat you.

It may mean the difference between life and death!

Smart glove

smart Racer gloves hold medical infoQR code

Now French glove company Racer has developed a smart glove that includes that info for emergency services.

The Racer ID1 gloves feature a special Quick Response (QR) code on the inside of the glove’s cuff.

QR codes have been around since 1994 and are mainly used in advertising.

However, ambulance officers can also scan them with their phone to quickly reveal the relevant info. That’s great if the first responder has such an application on their phone.

Our other concern is that the QR code is fairly small and could easily be missed, plus gloves can come off in a slide down the road.

Racer mainly make ski gloves, but also have a wide range of casual-style motorcycle gloves for summer and heated gloves for winter.

smart Racer gloves hold medical infoCommand and Tourer gloves

The ID1 gloves are not yet on the market, but they seem to have raised the funds to produce the gloves.

It appears they will be available in summer, winter and touring models.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Two riders die in separate crashes

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A 22-year-old rider and a 72-year-old rider have died in separate crashes in Queensland and NSW yesterday afternoon and police are keen to speak to riders in the area at the time.

Mudgee crash

NSW Police are interested in speaking to about five motorcyclists who were in the vicinity a crash near Mudgeee about 3pm yesterday.

The say a 72-year-old male motorcyclist was found by the side of Bylong Valley Way, Growee, east of Mudgee, after coming off his bike and hitting boulders.

He had suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Westmead Hospital, where he died shortly after 6pm.

Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District are investigating the incident and are keen to speak to other riders in the area at the time.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Bundaberg crash

In a separate incident, Queensland police say a 22-year-old local man died after he “lost control” and crashed his motorcycle on Smiths Crossing Road, Bucca, 20km west of Bundaberg around 1pm.

Emergency Services attended however the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Investigations by the Forensic Crash Unit are continuing with officers appealing for anyone with any information to contact them (details below).

If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

Quote this reference number: QP1902273081

Our sincere condolences to the two riders’ families and friends.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Police plan two-day education campaign

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An education campaign which has been running for several years will take a step up in August with a two-day “community engagement” of riders on road safety.

Nerang Police Station and Coomera Road Policing Unit are planning the event at the Numinbah Valley Hall on Saturday and Sunday 24-25 August 2019 leading into Road Safety Week.

Sgt Graeme Reeves says the weekend is “all about information and education”.

It continues the Operation North Upright program Nerang Police Station has been running for the past few years with regular one-day events.

Sgt Reeves says the previous events have been well supported by Gold Coast district motorcycle clubs.

“We will be advertising for community members, especially those who are keen motorcycle enthusiasts, to drop in during their ride where attending emergency personnel can offer information around safe riding practices and legislation when riding on Queensland roads,” he says.

There will also be a free raffle for all who attend with prizes of motorcycle safety gear such as boots and gloves.

Sgt Reeves has invited motorcycle clubs to attend and “assist in promoting Road Safety Week over this weekend to your club members”.

He can be contacted via his work email.

Education campaign

Police talk to riders at a 2016 Operation North Upright event enforce road safety week questions
Police talk to riders at a previous Operation North Upright event

Riders are invited to attend the education campaign and ask questions of the police, ambulance, fireys and Department of Transport and Main Roads officials.

Questions can include bike the legality of bike modifications, helmet rules or various road rules.

While riders may be reticent to approach the police for fear of being fined, police have assured riders the event is for community engagement only, not for enforcement.

Police say Operation North Upright is designed to “talk with any bike riders, give advice and listen to their concerns”.

Riders have claimed previous similar events have been accompanied by a high presence of police in the area, enforcing road rules and vehicle compliance.

Road Safety messages from Operation North Upright

  • The faster you go, the harder you hit. And on a bike, you’ll always come off second‐best. The only thing speeding gets you closer to is a crash.
  • Riding tired affects reaction times and impairs judgement. Take a break or don’t get on the bike if you’re tired.
  • Ride to be seen and don’t assume you’re visible to everyone.
  • Lane filtering is legal, remember to be safe and follow the road rules.
  • Look after yourself and your bike. The right gear and regular maintenance can save your life.

Online ‘Join the Drive’ resources: 

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Why don’t medics rush to crashed riders?

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If you’ve ever been a witness at a motorcycle crash scene you may have noticed that medics (ambulance officers and paramedics) do not seem to be in any rush.

I was at the scene of a crash on Abercrombie Rd near Obern, NSW, and several riders were anxious and expressed concern because the first responders did not seem to be in any hurry.

Some other riders have also complained that nurses and hospital staff are sometimes flippant about injured riders who “drain their resources”. Read about the concerns of a safety expert.

It’s not because medics believe all motorcyclists have a death wish and don’t deserve immediate attention.

There are several very good reasons for the calm and almost painstakingly slow attitude of first responders at a crash scene.

Most American cop shows depict medics rushing to a crash scene, but that is not how it is in real life.Ambulance ride paramedic crash accident medics

Why medics don’t rush:

  • A rushing paramedic could trip and hurt themselves and/or break vital medical equipment;
  • It can lead to making the wrong decision in a highly stressful situation;
  • The sight of a rushing medic can create panic not only in the crash victims, but also bystanders;
  • It can cause the victim’s pulse to beat faster, expelling more blood than is necessary and leading to other conditions such as heart attack; and
  • It can cause bystanders to make rash decisions such as stepping out in front of passing traffic.

If you are ever at a motorcycle accident scene, the best advice is to stay clam, keep others calm and let the professionals do their job.

Click here to find out what you should do after a minor motorcycle crash.

Road safety crash accident motorcycle scam

First Bike on the Scene

Michael Beak from First Bike on the Scene crash scene training says he believes that if he rushes at a crash scene “people could think things are a lot worse than they may be” .

“One of our first priorities is to bring calm to chaos,” he says.

“Some of my more experienced colleagues and I even like to crack jokes with patients (where appropriate of course) and some think we are not talking it seriously,” he says.

“But personally if I were a patient and the para was cracking jokes with me it would reassure me I’m not about to die.”First Bike on the Scene Australia paramedic Michael Beak

Michael is an Army Reserve Combat Paramedic of 10 years, operational paramedic for 25 years, has been teaching first aid for almost 30 years and is a Public Information Officer with the Rural Fire Service. He’s also a VFR750F rider!

“My advice to any first-care provider is to be slow and methodical,” he says.

“I apply the old saying ‘slow is smooth and smooth is fast’. It works for riding motorcycles and it works for attending a crash scene.”

Michael says it is a common misbelief that paramedics attend traumatic cases every shift.

“So sometimes when they arrive on scene and appear to be slow off the mark, they may be just taking a breath, having a ‘mental cigarette’, taking in the scene and working out the best plan of attack before just blundering in,” he says.

“To the observer, it may appear that we are not rushing to crashed riders, but we are doing a rapid scene size-up on arrival.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Royal Flying Doctor Service warns of roos

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Riders heading into the Outback this Christmas should be aware of the dangers of hitting kangaroos, says the Royal Flying Doctor Service whose planes have even hit them. 

“The roo problem is significant as they come to the edges of the road to graze in the current drought conditions,” a spokeswoman for the RFDS NSW/ACT says.

“Road accidents as a result are on the increase and we have communicated safety advice internally to our teams, and have suffered roo strikes on our landing aircraft.

“It is a major cause of concern right now and a lot of regional communities, such as Hay, are running safety and awareness programs.

“Dusk and dawn are problematic and we have advised our team when driving to brake in a straight line when faced with hitting one, not to swerve to avoid hitting them in which case the accident can become much more serious,” the RFDS spokeswoman says.

Click here to find out what other animals are a danger to riders. 

Click here to find out how to avoid becoming roadkill.

outback adventure Royal Flying Doctor Service

The uniquely Australian service attends a “significant” number of rescues of riders involved in motorcycle crashes in remote parts of our Outback.

They say their emergency services are allocated based on a range of factors such as availability and location.

“Motorcyclists should call 000 in event of an accident and the call will be directed to the appropriate medical team,” a spokeswoman says.

“It is also possible to call the RFDS directly on (08) 8080 1188 in the event of illness or an accident if they are in a particularly remote location.

“It’s a good idea for riders to keep this number on them as a back-up. Anyone who rings us on our emergency line will be triaged by our doctor and the appropriate response initiated.”

Ambulance costs

In the wake of our article about the possibly massive expense of an ambulance callout, the good news for riders is that Royal Flying Doctor Service is free!

“There is no cost to the user for RFDS medical services or flights if that is what is used,” she says.

However, riders should still be aware that there is a cost if an ambulance is called.

“It’s not required to cover RFDS services but private health cover is recommended in case an ambulance attends, rather than the RFDS,” she says.

“There are costs associated with being picked up by an ambulance.”Outback adventure Royal Flying Doctor Service

Chopper squad

Helicopter services such as LifeFlight and Careflight are based on the coast and only have a flying range of an hour.

Likewise, location and distances have a lot to do with whether ambulance or RFDS attend an accident.

As a result, which service attends in accident has a lot to do with the geographical location the accident occurred. 

Royal Flying Doctor Service top Outback tips

The RFDS website features a Travelling Outback section which has a handy checklist for riders:

  • Get good quality maps (paper and GPS) and plan your route.
  • Don’t travel in the hottest part of the year.
  • Be aware of kangaroos and emus. 
  • Be careful not to pack too much. It makes the bike heavy and difficult to control in soft sand, mud and gravel.
  • Store water in small containers instead of one large tank to spread the load. Check all water containers for leaks. In very hot conditions aim to carry 10 litres of water per person per day and don’t rely on waterholes, dams, bores, mills, tanks or troughs for water. A back-up vehicle is ideal for extreme Outback adventures.
  • Take a summary of your medical history with you and bring all medication and repeat scripts.

    ice emergcency USB flying
    We recommend a I.C.E.mergency USB to store medical information. BUY NOW for less than $20.

  • Pack a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent.
  • In an emergency, dial 000 and be prepared to give your location. If you own a smartphone download the Emergency + app which gives your longitude and latitude. It will help emergency services such as the RFDS to find you. If you don’t have a smartphone, keep an eye on the crossroads as you travel and mark your journey on a map. Be aware that some very remote areas have no mobile coverage so pack an EPIRB or satellite phone.outback adventure Royal Flying Doctor Service

The RFDS SE also recommends that people travelling to remote areas do a first-aid course and carry a kit with them. 

Motorbike Writer recommends doing a motorcycle-specific course such as First Aid for Motorcyclists.

The RFDS also has a Fast First Aid booklet with advice for people with no medical training on how to manage first-aid situations. It includes managing a heart attack, snake bites, choking, burns and severe bleeding. 

It is free in NSW and ACT only. To receive your copy text ‘NOW’ to 0428 044 444. Delivery may be slightly delayed over the holiday period.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Are you covered for an ambulance ride?

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Many riders may not realise that if they are involved in a crash, they may not be covered for what could be a very long and expensive ambulance ride.

Freebies

The good news for permanent Queensland and Tasmanian residents is that they are covered. Even if they travel interstate and crash. That includes all emergency pre-hospital ambulance treatment and transport Australia-wide.

If you crash outside the state and receive an invoice for ambulance treatment and transport, just send it to the Queensland or Tasmanian ambulance service with proof of residency for payment.

Interestingly, Queensland won’t pay up if a Tasmanian makes a clam in that state!

Costly ambulance rideAmbulance ride

However, if you are not a resident of those states, the cheapest ambulance callout fee is $382 in NSW. Then it rises massively.

NT is $790, ACT $959, Western Australia $967, South Australia $976 and Victoria – a popular destination for interstate riders – is a massive $1204.

That’s just for starters.

Depending on the length of the ambulance ride and the services required, it can cost thousands.

And you will still be liable for the cost even if someone else calls an ambulance for you and you refuse service.

Insurance

Many riders erroneously believe they are covered by Medicare.

Others believe their private medical insurance will cover the ambulance ride, but that may not always be the case.

Have a look at the fine print in your insurance now before you head off interstate these Christmas holidays.

If not, you can pay a fairly small membership fee (usually under $100 for a family) to the ambulance service in your state. But that still won’t cover you interstate.Ambulance ride

You can also upgrade your insurance to include ambulance cover, or you can opt for a specialist ambulance cover.

But again, make sure it covers you Australia-wide.  

Also, find out if the cover includes just emergencies or non-emergencies as well and includes all pre-hospital treatment.

Some pensioner and concession cards may either provide free cover for an ambulance ride and treatment or at least a discount on ambulance insurance.

If you only need insurance while you are interstate, the cheapest option could be set-period travel insurance. Just make sure ambulance services are included.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com