Law Tigers :: American Association of Motorcycle Injury Lawyers

One Minute Trauma Check

First, "do no harm” is the motto medical experts live by, so do not act too rashly when you arrive at an accident scene. First, call an ambulance, then step back, take a minute and do a trauma check: (1) Until you can assess the victim's condition, or unless in immediate danger, do not move the victim. (2) Ask what happened. This will give you a good idea as to the victim's lucidity and can tell you alot about his condition. (3) Ask about (check) the neck—be very cautious of any pain or numbness and do not move the victim's neck and tell him to remain still. (4) Check the head and chest for injuries. (5) Check the abdomen for tenderness or tightness, either of which could mean internal injuries. (6) Gently squeeze each limb and check for sprains or breaks. Begin proper treatment if you are able—and again never move a victim with a potential neck injury. In fact, even transporting a person with a broken arm or leg could be very dangerous.

The Neck

Your spinal column is like overcooked asparagus as far as consistency is concerned. Nerve tissue is soft and your bones are hard, and if the neck is broken, the slightest wrong movement could damage the spinal cord and cause catastrophic damage. Use the highest degree of caution in regard to neck injuries. A victim's condition could be salvageable, but if the victim were moved incorrectly, he could die or become paralyzed. If the victim is unconscious or complaining of pain or numbness in the neck, shoulders or down the arms or legs, it could be a neck fracture, so unless they are in immediate danger, like in a burning wreck, do not move the victim...and...unless they have stopped breathing, DO NOT REMOVE THE VICTIM'S HELMET!

Shock

Shock is a potentially fatal condition where the victim's body begins to shut itself down usually due to massive blood loss, internal bleeding or damage to the nervous system. Get any external bleeding under control as soon as possible and watch victim for paleness, weakness, clammy skin, shallow breathing, confusion, weak or rapid pulse, or unconsciousness. You want to get blood back to the victim's brain by laying the victim down and raising his feet. Keep the body temperature up by laying a blanket or like substitute over them. Shock progresses, so a victim may feel fine at one point, and slip into shock a few moments later, so keep an eye on the victim until further help arrives.

CPR/Mouth-to-Mouth

This brief paragraph cannot teach you CPR. We advise you take a CPR course and learn how to administer it correctly. It's a life saver...not only on the road, but anywhere. Before administering CPR take care not to hyperextend the neck, but move the jaw forward to get an open airway. Clear out any blockages, pinch the nose and form a tight seal between your mouth and the victim's. Blow until the chest rises, pull away and repeat once the chest falls again. Then, kneel to the victim's side, place the heel of one hand on the victim's breastbone and lay the other hand over the top of the first hand. Interlock your fingers and compress the victim's chest about two inches, keeping your arms locked straight. Aim for about 100 compressions per minute. Since the heart has stopped, the victim will not be breathing. Give two mouth-to-mouth breaths for every 15 compressions. Again, this brief description is not a substitute for proper training!

Broken Bones

Dealing with fractures requires immobilization and proper splinting of the injury itself. A splint's job is to take the place of the bone itself. You can use a thick newspaper, wire, pipe, or a couple of pieces of wood, etc. Arrange the splint around the fracture (do not attempt to straighten a twisted limb) and secure it with an elastic bandage. Immobilize the injury as best you can (e.g. a sling for an arm) and wait for additional medical assistance. You can't immobilize an injury like a broken collar bone, but you can immobilize the arm on that side which will be helpful.

Road Rash

The dreaded raspberry is a common and painful motorcycle injury. The first step is to wash the wound with soap and running water. Trying to pick out the dirt or debris before washing only makes infection more likely. If washing is too painful, numb the area first with ice. Squirt an antibiotic solution (Bactine or the like) then pick debris, etc. out of the wound with a sharp sterile needle or pin. Wash again with the Bactine, then cover with an antiseptic ointment like Neosporine, then dress with nonstick gauze and a bandage.

Bleeding

Direct pressure on the wound is the key. Use gauze, or barring that, a clean T-shirt or rag. Do not attempt a tourniquet, as you may do more harm than good. If moving the victim does no harm, lay the victim down and elevate the injury above the victim's heart. Apply a bandage once the bleeding slows. If the rag or shirt soaks through, keep applying pressure with a new, clean rag directly over the old one. If the victim is bleeding enough to soak a T-shirt or two, watch for shock and hopefully you have already called that ambulance.

We hope we have been helpful, but nothing substitutes for proper first aid training. Call your local Red Cross for more information about classes on the subject.

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First Aid at the Scene