First Aid and Emergency Procedures
Scene safety first
The first rule of first aid is not to become a second casualty. Stop safely, switch on hazard lights, place a warning triangle well behind the vehicle on a fast road, and check traffic before approaching. Call the emergency services - police 999, ambulance 998, fire 997 in the UAE - and give the location, number of casualties and hazards.
DRABC and the essentials
Use DRABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation. If a casualty is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR at 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths, compressing 5–6 cm deep at 100–120 per minute. Control bleeding with firm direct pressure through a clean cloth, and never pull out an object embedded in a wound. Cool burns with running water for at least 20 minutes. If the casualty is unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position and monitor.
Traps
Do not move a casualty unless there is immediate danger such as fire or traffic. Do not remove a motorcyclist's helmet unless you must to keep the airway open. Do not give food or drink to an injured person, and never put anything in the mouth of someone having a seizure.
Worked example
A rider is unconscious after a low-speed fall but breathing steadily. Leave the helmet on, keep the airway open, monitor breathing continuously, and wait for the ambulance rather than attempting to sit them up.