First Aid, Emergencies and Accident Behaviour
Securing the scene and calling for help
After a crash, the first priority is to prevent further harm. Stop, switch off engines where possible, warn other traffic, and call the emergency services. In Belgium the emergency number is 112. Give a clear location, the number of casualties, and the nature of injuries. The exam trap is the rider who moves an injured person immediately; unless there is an immediate danger such as fire, a suspected spinal injury should not be moved.
Basic first aid principles
Check whether the casualty is conscious and breathing. If the person is not breathing normally, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation and, if available and you are trained, use an automated external defibrillator. Control serious bleeding with direct pressure. Keep the casualty warm and calm, and monitor breathing until help arrives. Do not give food or drink to an injured person, and do not remove a helmet unless it obstructs the airway or you must provide rescue breathing and are trained to do so.
Legal duties and exchange of details
A rider involved in an accident must stop, identify themselves, and exchange insurance and contact details with the other parties. Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious offence. If there are injuries, the rider must help and alert the emergency services.
Worked example
You arrive at a crash where a moped rider is lying on the road, breathing but unconscious. The correct sequence is to secure the scene, call 112, keep the casualty still and warm, monitor breathing, and wait for the emergency services rather than lifting the rider.