Learn to save a bikers life

Motocyclist

St John Ambulance in Berkshire is promoting first aid awareness on the roads by running short courses aimed at motorcyclists and their passengers.

Serious injuries

Research has shown that although motorcyclists make up only a very small percentage of all road traffic they account for 18% of deaths and serious injuries with riders being 45 times more likely to be killed in a road accident than a car driver (RAC, 2008).

The Emergency aid for motorcyclists course is available to anyone whether they ride or not. It aims to teach general first aid skills along with specific ways of dealing with a person who has fallen or been knocked off of a bike.

Bikers are a very special group of road users who will have different first aid requirements than someone who may have been hurt in a car.

Paul Taylor
St John Ambulance Trainer

Paul Taylor who trains the course believes that it is vital for everyone to understand what they can do in an emergency: 'Bikers face a number of risks every time they go out on our roads and should they be involved in an accident then it is important that someone knows how to deal with any injuries that they may have. Removing a crash helmet from a motorcyclist must be done in a certain way for example, so in this way they are a very special group of road users who will have different first aid requirements than someone who may have been hurt in a car.'