First aid, breakdown and accident behaviour
This domain covers the minutes after something goes wrong: securing the scene, the legal duties that apply to you, the first aid that actually helps a fallen rider, and how to get help in Switzerland. Items are practical and sometimes legal - omitting to help or leaving the scene is punishable.
Emergency numbers
144 ambulance, 117 police, 118 fire, 112 from any mobile, 1414 Rega helicopter, 145 poisons, 140 road assistance.
Legal duties
Art. 51 SVG obliges you to help at an accident you witness, and failing to assist is punishable. If you are involved in an accident, stop, secure the scene, exchange details, and inform the police when people are injured or the owner of damaged property is absent.
At the scene
Hazard lights on, get yourself and others off the carriageway, warn traffic upstream (a warning triangle belongs in cars; on a bike use lights and a safe position), switch off engines, no smoking. Then work through ABC: airway, breathing, circulation. Unresponsive but breathing - recovery position. Not breathing - CPR at 30:2, use an AED as soon as one is available, continue until help arrives. Stop bleeding with direct pressure, keep casualties warm, give nothing to eat or drink.
The helmet question
Leave a crashed rider's helmet on unless the airway is obstructed or you must move them from immediate danger; removing it can worsen a neck injury. If it must come off, two people, one holding the head steady.
Worked example
A rider is down, unconscious but breathing, on the road with traffic passing. Reasoning: warn traffic and stop it first, then check breathing; if breathing and no need to move them, place in the recovery position without removing the helmet, monitor continuously, call 144, keep them warm, and watch for vomiting.
Traps
Pulling the helmet off reflexively; moving a casualty who is breathing; giving water; riding on "to call from home"; standing in the live lane while helping instead of securing it first.