Biker Down!

Whether you ride your motorbike with a group of friends or on your own, there may be a time when you are the first person at the scene of a fallen biker. Injured motorcyclists need to be dealt with in a specific manner as it can be easy to cause them further injury, particularly by removing a crash helmet unnecessarily, or in the wrong way.

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is pleased to offer a free ‘Biker Down!’ course to motorcyclists and motorcycle clubs in Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and surrounding areas. The course, which lasts about three hours, is in three parts:

• Part 1 teaches you how to manage the scene of a bike crash, using the same principles the Fire Service uses. We will show you how to protect yourself and others, how to prioritise your actions, how to collect information for the emergency services and how to make use of the resources you have available to you, including other people.
• Part 2 will show you the ways of taking care of a casualty, including basic life support and the why, when and how of removing a crash helmet.
• Part 3 looks at what may work (or not work) when it comes to making yourself more visible to other road users. You will also learn about how people look for and recognise objects and how you can help to make sure that other road users see you.

Keith Wheeler, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s Road Safety Officer, put the course together after he saw a similar one in Kent. He said: “I was flooded with enquiries after advertising the first course to local riders and motorcycle clubs.”

“I thought this type of course might be of interest to bikers, but was surprised and very pleased that so many people have made enquiries, and the interest appears to be growing.”

“We are very proud that we have been able to train so many bikers so far, and have also been contacted by some previous participants who have already used their new skills to help fellow bikers.”

Anyone who would like more information, or to book a place, should contact Keith on 01296 744431 or 07767 412076. You can also email him at kwheeler@bucksfire.gov.uk.

To check on course dates and venues, visit our Events page and the Biker Down! Thames Valley Facebook page.