Tag Archives: emergency

SOS service for all riders

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Automatic emergency calls that activate in the event of a crash are being installed in cars and some motorcycles and motorcycle helmets, but Triumph has now released a similar phone app that all riders can use.

Triumph SOS will detect if you have suddenly stopped and send an automatic emergency call that can be manually cancelled if you just happened to have dropped you phone or your bike and are not in any danger.

The service has been launched in Australia,  New Zealand, Europe and North America.

BMW SOS button motorrad win mandated
BMW’s SOS or ecall button

Unlike the BMW SOS button on their K 1600 models which is yet to be introduced in Australia because of incompatibility with our telecommunications system, the Triumph system just needs to rider to install an app and ay a monthly $A6.99 subscription.

It is available to any rider, but Triumph owners get a three-month free trial.

Paramedics say the chances of survival of a rider in a crash are linked to the speed of contact with emergency services, making this service vital.

However, it will be limited by phone coverage which can be patchy at best in Australia’s vast outback.

The Triumph SOS app has been specifically tailored for motorcyclists, and monitors key sensors in your smartphone to detect and validate an accident.

The Google-Cloud hosted emergency alerting platform automatically sends the rider’s details directly to the emergency services within seconds of the accident being detected, following a unique validation process.

Details include GPS location, direction of travel, bike details, and medical information, but

Triumph confirms the app does not record or send any speed or telematics data to the emergency services.

Advanced features include sophisticated auto-pause technology to prevent accidental triggering so you can fully focus on your ride.

The app requires a rolling monthly subscription with no cancelation fees or long-term contract commitment.

Riders can download the Triumph SOS app now from iOS and AndroidApp stores.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Bosch makes emergency call for riders

Soon your motorcycle, helmet and/or phone could contact emergency services if you crash with Bosch the latest to join the hi-tech safety revolution.

The Bosch system uses an “intelligent crash algorithm installed in the vehicle’s inertial sensor unit” to identify a crash via the various sensors such as an accelerometer and lean sensor.

It pairs with their Help Connect phone app to send your location to a Bosch Service Centre.

The automatic function can be overridden by the rider if, for example, they have just accidentally dropped the bake-off its stand!

So far the Bosch Help Connect system only works in Germany, but it will be rolled out across Europe and possibly around the world.Bosch Help Connect emergency call system crash test

We are not yet sure whether it can be retrofitted, but it would only work with a modern bike with an inertial sensor unit.

Like most Bosch technology, it is more likely to be included when bikes are built.

Since Bosch develops a lot of tech for motorcycles, it could be included in future models.

Bosch spokesman Harald Kroeger says they carried out 18 crash tests to analyse specific accident scenarios and demonstrate the functionality of Help Connect.

Bosch Help Connect emergency call system crash testBosch Help Connect crash test

Emergency tech mandated

These emergency call systems have been available in cars for some time and are now mandated throughout Europe with motorcycles expected to be included in the future.

It also may not be long before it is mandated in Australia after an Austroads report last year found that motorcycles should be fitted with the automatic crash call technology to reduce emergency response times which are more lethal in our rural and remote areas.

It points out that motorcyclist deaths have remained stable in major cities over the past decade, but increased in regional and remote Australia by up to almost 50% in recent years.

BMW Motorrad was the first motorcycle company to offer an SOS button in Europe.

BMW's SOS buttonBMW’s SOS button

It is not yet available in Australia because of an eCall hardware update and the lack of a nationwide rollout. Tesla also does not yet have the right hardware.

The Austroads report notes that the problem with these systems in Australia is the lack of mobile phone coverage in rural areas.

Riders can also use an EPIRB, download an emergency app, use this Aussie-made Sentinel device or, in future, wear a helmet with the device fitted.

Slow response timesOutback adventure Royal Flying Doctor Service calls

Delays in reaching crash victims in rural and remote areas include difficulties in locating crash sites and a lack of mobile phone reception, according to emergency organisations and motorcycle rider groups.

The Austroads report found the average time for a first responder to arrive at a motorcycle crash in rural and remote areas was 55 minutes compared with 18 minutes in urban areas.

Remote crash victims also took an average of 11.6 hours to arrive at a hospital emergency department compared with 59 minutes in urban areas.

“Retrieval time subsequently impacts on crash outcomes with delays until discovery or delays in accessing the trauma system increasing the risk of mortality following major trauma,” the repot finds.

The probability of a rider dying increased by 2.7% for every 100km from a hospital.

It’s a worrying statistic for adventure riders heading out into the Outback.

As a more rural example, the report says more than half of all Victorian motorcycle crashes occur in the Gippsland region where ambulance response times are 29.9 minutes compared with metropolitan times of 12.7-17.2 minutes.

South Australia and NSW are the only states with post-crash emergency response in their road safety strategy and action plans.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Light flashes, horn blows in a crash

Yamaha is the latest to develop an automatic emergency call system in the event of a crash, but their system also flashes the lights and bows the horn.

SOS buttons or eCall systems have been available in cars for some time and have now been mandated throughout Europe.

It is expected they may also be mandated on motorcycles in the future.

BMW was the first to introduce and SOS button either as as an ex-factory or aftermarket option on their K1600 models in 2018.

BMW SOS button motorrad win mandatedBMW SOS or ecall button

Australian riders are still waiting for the possibly life-saving motorcycle SOS function as Telstra does not yet have the right hardware.

The system may arrive sooner in the Indian-made Quin smart helmet which detects a crash and call the emergency services and/or a nominate contact such as your partner.

Quin helmets integrated Bluetooth communicationsQuin helmet

Yamaha flashes and blows

Meanwhile, Yamaha has filed a patent for their system which not only sends an alert to a nominated third party, but also flashes the headlight and blows the horn to alert passersby.

The horn and lights would also prevent the traffic from running into your crashed bike.

It includes sensors which can detect when the bike has been involved in a crash.

Like the BMW and Quin systems, there is a manual override in case you’ve dropped the bike off its stand, dropped your helmet or had a small, no-injury crash.

The BMW and Quin systems also provide GPS co-ordinates of the rider’s position. There is no mention of that in the Yamaha patent.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Survival guide for riding in bushfire conditions

It’s going to be a long hot summer and you may get caught in bushfire conditions, so we have put together this survival guide for riders.

By all means riders should head out into the country to spend their much-needed dollar in drought-stricken areas, but they should also be alert to the bushfire conditions.

If you want to know how dangerous it is riding in a bushfire, watch this Queensland Police video of brave officers alerting residents.

Survival guide:

Avoid bushfires!

The best survival tip for a bushfire is to avoid it.

You can check the various state fire services websites by going to this central MYFIREWATCH service, then click on the state/territory.

Also check the automobile clubs’ websites for the relevant state, as well as transport department traffic sites or apps such as the NSW Live Traffic App.

Try searching the Facebook pages of local fire and police pages.

Of course, you can use your eyes to see where the smoke is and use your commonsense to gauge wind direction and potential fire direction.

However,  don’t think you can outrun a bushfire. They can spread faster than any motorcycle can go, often jumping roadways, reducing your chance of survival.

Bushfires Harley Softail

Follow directions

It is not only stupid, but also unlawful to disobey a police or emergency services direction.

If you are told not to go down a road or there is a roadblock, you must not got that way.

The same goes for flood situations.

Don’t start a bushfire

Take notice of total fire ban signs and warnings as you don’t want to start a bushfire.

Fines are hefty and police have been severe in punishing offenders. Don’t expect a good-natured warning!

Riders should also be aware they can accidentally start a fire by parking their bike on dry grass or leaves.

Firefighters say about 40% of all bushfires are accidentally started by humans dropping cigarette butts, campfires, discarding bottles, sparks from machinery and motorcycles.

The catalytic convertor, which is often underneath, is the hottest part of your bike and can easily spark a fire.

Adventure riders who travel off road should take special care.Bushfires BMW R 1200 GS

Caught in a bushfire

If you are caught in a bushfire, your phone (or EPIRB, beacon, etc) will be your best friend.

Work out where you are exactly and then contact police and emergency services to give them your location.

Park your bike behind a solid structure to block as much heat as you can.

Turn off your bike’s engine, but leave the lights and/or hazard lights on.

Stay near your bike, but not too close in case it goes up in flames.

Try to get down low, near a water source or below the level of the fire as they move faster uphill.

Also try to get upwind from a fire.

Dangers of bushfires

Dehydration motorcycle gear Riders dies of dehydration in heatwave dust storm

Riders are more vulnerable than motorists in cars because they have no air conditioning to regulate air and temperature.

The biggest dangers for riders are from smoke inhalation, low visibility and eye irritation from smoke.

Carry water with you to flush out sore eyes and to ensure you stay hydrated.

Tips to avoid dehydration in a heatwave:

  1. Don’t drink too much alcohol the night before a ride. It has a diuretic effect which means it causes you to urinate more water than you take in which means you are losing fluid. And you can’t counteract that by drinking lots of water because most of it will go out in your urine. Obviously, don’t drink alcohol while you are riding!
  2. Start drinking water as soon as you wake and keep sipping water right up until you get on your bike. It takes about half an hour for water to reach your muscles. Guzzling water just before a ride is not good as it can make your stomach to cramp. The Royal Flying Doctor Service which has attended dehydrated riders in the Outback, recommends carrying 10 litres of water per day! Read their Outback riding tips here.
  3. Wear ventilated motorcycle clothing. Leathers may protect you better in a crash, but they create a “microclimate” which impairs your ability to lose heat. As a result you will produce more sweat to decrease your core temp. Instead, wear a flow-through jacket. There are heaps of options on the market. Make sure they have vents in the back so the air flows through. Also, loosen the sleeves so you get plenty of air on your wrists which have a lot of blood vessels close to the skin to effectively cool you down. However, be aware that a flow-through jacket cools you down because it is drying the sweat off your skin which can lead to dehydration. A set of Ventz up your sleeve will also keep you cool as air flows up your arms.However, don’t be fooled by your level of coolness as ventilation can also cause you to loose more water through evaporation. So you still need to keep drinking plenty of water.

    Ventz motorcycle jacket vents - pain heatwave dust storm
    BUY Ventz motorcycle jacket vents NOW

  4. Don’t be tempted to remove your jacket in the heat! Exposed skin may feel cooler, but that’s because the sweat is evaporating quicker, but that is just making you more dehydrated. And while your skin feels cool, you’ll be tricked into staying in the sun longer which leads to sunburn. That also leads to dehydration because your body needs water to repair and renew damaged skin.
  5. Get a Camelbak or other brand of water-dispensing unit so you can continue to take small sips of water while you are riding. I’ve seen riders on GoldWings and other big tourers with cup holders so they can take slurps from a water bottle. That’s obviously not as safe as the hands-free Camelback option, but anything is better than nothing. Some people don’t like Camelbaks because the water gets hot, but the temperature of the water doesn’t affect dehydration.Camelbak reduces dehydration heatwave dust storm
  6. Stop more often than usual and hang out in the shade or in an air-conditioned cafe. Since you are drinking lots of fluids, you will probably need to stop anyway!
  7. While you’re stopped, have a coffee, but take it easy. No need to swear off your favourite caramel latte, but avoid excess coffee. That also goes for caffeinated drinks such as Red Bull. High levels of caffeine have a diuretic effect just like alcohol.
  8. While having a coffee break, avoid having too many sweet cakes, donuts and muffins. Sugar can dehydrate you if it gets to very high levels in your blood. This can happen if you are a diabetic, take certain medications or have an infection or some organ diseases. Sugar causes your kidneys to produce more urine to eliminate the sugar, leading to dehydration. Likewise, don’t drink too many sugary drinks. Best to stick to plain water, real fruit juices with no added sugar or drinks such as Gatorade that replace salts and minerals lost in sweat.
  9. We’ve talked a lot about urine and it’s important that you monitor the colour. It should be a straw colour. If it’s too dark, you are dehydrated.
  10. Sweat also depletes your body of sodium and if it becomes too low, it can cause many of the same symptoms as dehydration. The average diet probably has enough sodium, but it’s good to have a little bit of salt on your meals or drink sports drinks that have a sodium supplement. However, beware of sports drinks with caffeine and sugar.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Blood Bikes Australia to the rescue

The Blood Bikes volunteer rider movement delivering blood to hospitals has spread to Australia and the co-ordinator is now calling for more volunteers.

Brisbane rider Peter Davis says he first heard of the service from a friend involved in Blood Bikes Scotland.

“I thought we should have that service in Australia,” says Peter who has started a service in Brisbane is now looking for back-up riders and volunteers in other states to start their own branch of the service.

It all began in 2011 with Blood Bikes Manchester in the UK.

“It was started because there were circumstances when a motorcycles can be a lot faster than a car in making urgent deliveries of blood to where it is required,” Peter says.

He found a similar service in Perth called AusServ, but efforts to contact them failed and the group’s charity registration was voluntarily revoked.

Blood Bikes Australia

Blood Bikes Australia Peter Davis
Peter and his “blood” bike

“So I decided to start a Blood Bikes Australia service in Brisbane,” says Peter who contacted the Mater Hospital pathology section.

“They immediately saw the need and advantage.”

Peter is now the central co-ordinator of Blood Bikes Australia. He has fitted a weatherproof box to his Honda cruiser and organised a hi-vis vest with an embroidered logo based on the British service.

“We have now made our first whole-blood delivery from Mater Pathology at South Brisbane to Mater Private Hospital, Redland. Whole blood,” he says.

“It took just over an hour from call to delivery.”

Blood Peter davis
Peter makes his first delivery

Mater Pathology delivers blood to Mater Springfield, Canossa Private Hospital Oxley, Mater Private Hospital Redlands, and Mater Pathology Chermside, all from Mater Pathology South Brisbane.

“We are only just starting and are still in the learning phase,” Peter says.

“So it’s just me but I already have a guy interested in Sydney, so I have started communication and inquiries about Sydney pathology requirements.

“I also need one Brisbane volunteer to take my place while I’m away from 18 October to 12 November.”

Mission statementBlood Bikes Australia Peter Davis

Peter has prepared a mission statement and some guidelines, including the note that while the service provided is urgent, riders must ride within the road rules and their bikes are not official emergency vehicles.

“As time goes by I am sure we will get more volunteers and more health care facilities on board,” Peter says.

“My plan for Blood Bikes Australia is to dovetail in with normal scheduling procedures the healthcare facilities have.

“Blood Bikes volunteers will become another option to call on when appropriate.”

Peter has established a Blood Bikes Australia Facebook page to communicate with volunteers.

Volunteers are not paid for their time, fuel, motorbike or embroidered vest.

“They will be required to form a relationship with one or more health institutions and communicate to those institutions their availability,” he says.

“It’s all about providing a service to the community.

“It does not need any infrastructure as the service of delivering blood is already offered. Blood Bikes just offers another alternative when required.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Riders warned to stay away from bushfires

Riders have been asked to stay away from bushfires in Queensland this weekend for their own sake and the lives of Fire and Emergency Services workers.

The Maranoa and Warrego and the Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts are facing extreme fire danger.

Severe fire danger warnings are also in place for the Central Highlands and Coalfields District, Wide Bay and Burnett, and the south-east coast.

By all means, riders should head out into the country to spend their much-needed dollar in drought-stricken areas.

However, they should also be alert to the bushfire conditions.

Fire and Emergency Services have specifically asked all motorists to stay away from Lamington National Park Road, Illinbah and Upper Coomera Road in the Gold Coast hinterland.

They say motorists “rubbernecking” are putting their workers’ lives at risk as well as the lives and properties of the public.

You can get live details on Queensland bushfires by clicking here.

Dangers of bushfires

Bushfires can spread rapidly and even outrun a vulnerable rider, no matter how fast you are riding!

Riders are also in danger from smoke inhalation, low visibility and eye irritation.Bushfires Harley Softail

Rural fire services also point out that fires have been sparked by motorcycles in the past.

They say about 40% of all bushfires are accidentally started by humans dropping cigarette butts, campfires, discarding bottles, sparks from machinery and motorcycles.

Most riders who accidentally spark these blazes are off-road and adventure bikes riding in the bush and on forestry tracks.Bushfires BMW R 1200 GS

However, there is also the possibility of fires being started by road bikes if the rider pulls over to the side of the road where they may be long, dry grass.

The bike’s engine, exhaust, or catalytic convertor can be hot enough to set dry grass alight.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Essential Roadside Emergency Supplies For Your Motorcycle

Contributed post on emergency supplies for our North American readers

Roadside emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. Being prepared for any scenario can save your life — from hit and run accidents to flat tires on the side of the road, having the tools to deal with an unexpected emergency can save you a lot of time and headaches.

In many cases, being able to help yourself or others in a roadside emergency situation can be vital to your own and others’ survival. When help is still far away, knowing what to do in an urgent situation and having the proper supplies right with you in your storage box can make all the difference.

Just ask the legal experts from Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. about the advantages of having the proper roadside emergency supplies for your motorcycle. In the case of accidents caused by either poor weather conditions or by another vehicle, being able to take action right on the scene can save you money and hassles later on.

Every rider should have the barest emergency supplies packed in their storage box at all times. Take a look at our comprehensive list of the most important items that you should keep with you when out your motorcycle, just in case of emergency.

First Aid Kit

Touratech first-aid kit solo supplies
Touratech first-aid kit

Purchase a pre-packaged first aid kit to keep in your storage box at all times. Bandages, ointments, and medications should be included in the bare essentials of each kit.

Duct Tape

This fix-all product has nearly unlimited uses in any emergency situation. Treat wounds, make small repairs or tape up broken parts with ease. Make sure to have at least one full roll of duct tape in your emergency supplies.

Tire Repair Kit

Getting a flat can be a real pain. If you are near an urban area, you may be able to get away with a temporary fill up on the roadside or have your tire patches at a nearby garage. Carry a tire gauge with you to check your tire pressure before you head out on any longer trips. A low tire may not blow on you, but it can affect your mileage and performance.air hoses tyre pressure gauge supplies

Multi-Tool

A good quality multi-tool can be a literal lifesaver. Make sure that you have at least one blade and as many utility blades as possible for the best protection and service.

Victorinox SwissTool supplies
Victorinox SwissTool

Spare Light Bulbs

If there’s one thing that keeps you safe on the road, it’s your taillights, headlights and turn signals. These components are crucial to making you visible to other vehicles on the road, especially once the sun goes down. Make sure to keep a couple of spares in your storage box so you can replace a burnt-out bulb as soon as possible, keeping your motorcycle at its most visible.

Thermal Blanket

Accidents can happen in any type of weather, but the consequences can be harsher when there’s rain or snow. Make sure you have a thermal or fire blanket packed in your storage box at all times — you never know when you might need it.

Water

There is no way to tell when you may become stranded on the roadside. Staying properly hydrated can be the key to your survival and comfort. Make sure to keep several bottles of water or a reusable water bottle (full of water, of course) with your supplies.

Food

Protein bars and meal supplements can be a lifesaver when you run into a roadside emergency situation. It could be hours until you have a chance to eat, so pack some high protein snacks with your supplies to tide you over until you can have a proper meal.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Royal Flying Doctor Service warns of roos

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

Are you covered for an ambulance ride?

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