November 2010

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In this issue: Survey Says? What's New? Accident Scene Management Links Come to Bike Night! 1. A word from the Director : Vicki Sanfelipo 2. Website features: We're Social!!: by Andrea Lyman 3. Dear Santa: by Chris Hawver 4. Featured Member: Steve Johnson 5. Link to us

What's New!

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Winner to be annouced in the December newsletter (for real this time!!)

More information about ASMI

Click here for the class schedule
Click here to find an instructor near you

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A word from the Director
by Vicki Sanfelipo

I have received quite a few e-mails from people this past month asking how the new CPR recommendations will affect our Accident Scene Management training. The answer is: It’s doesn’t affect our training at all! To explain: The new CPR puts Chest compressions first, then Airway and Breathing (CAB instead of ABC). Because Circulation is lost when the heart stops beating and the loss of circulation is the primary cause of death in Cardiac Arrest this make perfect sense.

When it comes to Trauma you need to understand a different approach. It is definitely not the same as a cardiac event and thinking that CPR is what you need to know to handle a trauma can be dangerous. When a trauma occurs two major concerns are possible spinal injury and bleeding. CPR applied to this situation (head tilt chin lift and pressing on the chest) could worsen injuries. So what is a person to do? Learn the ABCSS of trauma by taking a crash course for the motorcyclist. The airway is created by doing a jaw thrust and measures are put in place to try not to get to the point of doing chest compressions. In our one day (or two evening) class we teach other important subjects like how to move a person if needed and helmet removal. Have you taken a class, just need to refresh your training and skills? We now offer online refreshers! Road Guardian members get a discount.

Now is a great time to schedule a class for your group or organization. We recommend no less than 2 months to promote a class properly. Do yourself and your friends a favor by getting those who you ride with trained. Go to www.accidentscene.org to find classes and instructors.
As a post script, I would like to welcome the 10 new instructors we now have trained! Two new states added are MD and Idaho. We even added a new country: Australia!!!!!!

Bike Night/Open House!!

Everyone is invited!
Time: Every Tuesday evening · 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Road Guardians
S87 W23110 Wynn Dr.
Big Bend, WI 53103

Road Guardians encourage motorcyclists to get together in a social setting to enjoy each other’s company, network and have fun while supporting our community of riders. ASMI & the Road Guardians compound open their doors every Tuesday evening from 5-10:00 pm with plates of food for $5.00, a full array of beverages and TVs playing motorcycle related media. Enter Pan’s Garage at your own risk, where you can talk to our mechanic and painter about how to personalize your bike or helmet. Be sure to bring your jacket or vest along with your patches and we will sew them on for you! Check out our touch screen computer where you can look up motorcycle safety resources and biker owned businesses. This week you can end the evening with Sons of Anarchy on our 55 inch HD screen. Food and beverage proceeds go to support ASMI, a non-profit motorcycle safety organization whose mission is to reduce injuries and fatalities to motorcyclists through education.

Website Features
by Andrea Lyman

WE'RE SOCIAL!!

Please join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Social networks are the fastest way for us to keep all of our members and future members informed!
We've even been known to give stuff away on Facebook, and who doesn't like free stuff?

Road Guardians Promote Your Page Too

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Chris Hawver, Co-Founder

As we approach the Holiday Season, it’s time to make that annual wish list of gifts ideas you would like to receive… or purchase for yourself. So, I am taking this opportunity to be your ‘personal shopper helper’ and provide you some suggestions for that Holiday gift list.

1. Helmet (optional in some states). Did you know that if you drop your helmet you have lost its protection? Did you know that helmets last 3 to 5 years? Is it time for a new one?

2. Reflective decal on Helmet. Let everyone know at night you have a brain and let it reflect it to other drivers. (I placed an American Reflective Flag on mine)

3. Reflective Clothing. I encourage you to wear at least one article of reflective for night riding. There are leathers with reflective piping and/or reflective graphics. Of course there is reflective rain gear as well as reflective gloves. Be Smart. Be Seen. (I wear Glo Gloves, whenever I ride)

4. Turn signals that act as a brake light as well. Did you know there is a module that will enable your turn signals to act as brake lights, as well as running lights?

5. Enroll in an Accident Scene Management course. It’s about your fellow bikers - learn how to secure an accident scene and prepare for Emergency Medical Services arrival.

6. Mirrors. You can reduce your blind spots with a mirror with convex sides and/or put extensions on your existing mirrors.

7. Over the ankle boots. Look spiffy while supporting your ankles that support your bike. Keep the sneakers and flip flops at home.

8. ABS Brakes – the best accessory I have ever purchased (used 4 times and thebike stayed straight). Thinking about a new bike, make this the first accessory at the time of order

9. New tires. Is the tread at the center of your tires 3/32 of an inch or less? If yes, then it’s time for new tires.

10. We need your help, not your money… but there possibly is money for you, in helping the Road Guardians. The Road Guardians non-for profit program is focused on all 6 aspect of motorcycle safety. Most likely you have seen the Allstate Insurance motorcycle ads on TV. Now they are putting their money behind motorcycle safety. For every motorcyclist who gets a no obligation motorcycle insurance quote from Allstate, Allstate will give $5.00 to the Road Guardians, which is operated by volunteers. Please help by calling for a quote at call 877-871-0500.

Read more information here.

I’m sure you can add to this list, but before you think “chrome”, think being safe. I wish the Happiest of Holidays to you and your family. May you continuously share faith, hope, and joy.

Chris

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Featured Member: Steve Johnson

Am I really ready to save a life?

By Steve Johnson

Recently, I had a question answered that I have asked myself every time I complete some type of life saving training and add a new certification to my resume. Over the years, I have had a lot of life saving training from basic through advanced in first aid and CPR including being a “Certified Road Guardian”. Even though I have helped at the scene of many crashes and used my training, I was never the main person to handle the “medical stuff”. It had always been that the group of people around me were more medically trained and I was just fine with helping with directing and controlling other aspects of the scene. So my question has always been, “Will I be ready with all the knowledge I need when the time comes that I need it?” I am glad to say the answer was “Yes!” Our training works and all the time you have put into it pays great dividends!

It was a beautiful Wednesday morning in July. I had a half day of work, and then I was off to four days of vacation on the motorcycle for an Accident Scene Management fund raiser - the Women in Motion Ride. I was in the back seat of a car with three co workers and we were heading back to the office to end my work week. As we came up to an intersection and waited to turn left, a motorcycle passed us on the right. Naturally, my attention followed right along with my thought, “That’s me for four days in less than an hour!” I got a big smile and that feeling of freedom just thinking about it.

Then it happened. Just as the biker entered the intersection on a solid green light, a car went right through a red light and T-boned the bike. I watched a biker that I was picturing as me when he rode by, fly through the air. The response was instant! My seat belt was off and I was out the door before anyone in my car even said a thing. There were lots of other people around, they were all just gathering - not knowing what to do. I assessed the scene as I walked up, and then headed right for the biker lying on the ground. Then, with the voice of my ASMI instructor in my head, I went through the assessment of his injuries then started holding the c-spine.

From my position holding the c-spine, I was also able to take control of the scene and direct the many bystanders willing to help with what could be done. Some people thought the best thing to do was to move things to get traffic moving again through the scene. I stopped this right away - having two drivers move their cars to protect the downed biker from traffic. I also directed people to leave the parts and debris were it was lying to maintain the scene, which will help the police with their investigation.

Then, just like in the ASMI Advanced class, the other driver started to approach and cause problems. Here I am tending to the biker, and I look up. The other driver wants to argue with him saying the biker ran a red light (which he did not). I told the other driver to go back to his car and wait. He started back to his car, then turned back towards me and engaged once again. Others were trying to redirect him without much success as well. Upon arrival of the first police squad on scene, I let the officer know what condition the biker was in and pointed out the issue with the other driver. He was much more effective in redirecting him by placing him in the back seat of his squad car.

I am sure it wasn’t long and the fire department was on scene, but it seemed to take forever. The biker was uncomfortable and was very hot on the asphalt. A nurse came by and offered her assistance and had a blanket with her. We got a few more people to help with the blanket and used it as a canopy to block the sun from the biker. This helped greatly; just goes to show that you can put all kinds of things to use to get the job done.

The first fire department unit on scene had me continue to hold the c-spine while they got started treating him. After the ambulance arrived, one of the paramedics traded places with me and I was able to step back and think about how quickly things had happened and how my training turned into instincts and I knew just what to do. All of those classes I took over the years really paid off.

One final thing needed to be done - the biker Ray was asking for his cell and for someone to make a call for him. By now, I felt like Ray was way more than some fellow biker I just met - after all, I just spent the last ten minutes holding his head. So I located the phone. He directed me though the address book who to call. The phone rang. A voice came on the other end with hello. They are expecting Ray, not me. So I start out “Ray is okay, everything is okay, but there has been a crash”. I gave as much information as I could to her and then made sure she had my phone in case she needed anything else. I handed his cell phone to the EMT - who then closed the door and the rig took off.

My day moved on and before I knew it I was on my bike headed for great time with some of the best people I know. However, my thoughts were on how was Ray doing; all I knew was a first name nothing more. The police would not tell me how he was doing or tell me his name - all kinds of privacy you know.

Then, after I got home from my weekend, I got a call from a number I did not recognize. A voice asked, “Is this Steve?” After I said yes, I got a “Great” and relieved voice. It was Linda, the woman I had called from the scene. This time it was her turn to tell me Ray is doing well considering what had happened. She said she wrote my number down in a hurry and could not read the last number. Ray kept asking if she was able to call me yet, so she was trying different numbers until she found me. Later that day, I stopped up at the hospital and got to meet both Ray and Linda in a less rushed situation. He said that he hoped to be able to ride again after all this. I told him when he is ready I’d be there to take that first ride with him.

As I write this in mid November, I saw Ray had posted a picture of his wrecked bike on Facebook. I left a comment and got the following reply with a photo of his new bike “Steve, Here’s the new one with the new trike kit set up. Took me about three days to get it on, and that was with the broken ribs and a bad shoulder.” It just brings a smile to my face reading his post, thinking back to when I first saw him ride past and my daydreaming that it could be me; it is clear that he loves the wind as much as I do.

The reason I have taken all the life-saving training is not for me; it is for those others that ride. I have been called upon to use those skills, and it was very rewarding for all time and work I put into the training. I need no thanks, I just hope that if I am ever down and need help, someone like me will come upon the scene and put their training to work. If you have not take any training yet and are on the fence, jump in and start today.

www.accidentscene.org

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