Helmet first aid

[GridGirl]

TIHBM watching my husband (of less than two weeks!) quite literally save someone's life. We're on honeymoon in the UK and were travelling along a country road in Northumbria when we watched the car in front of us turn right, straight into the path of an oncoming motorbike. The motorcyclist had no chance of avoiding the car and T-boned it, which sent him flying about three metres into the air. I hadn't even stopped the car completely before my husband (a St John volunteer) was out of it and running to the guy; he and another witness got the guy's helmet off, got him into the recovery position, opened the airways and somehow he started breathing again. They supported him and kept the airway open until the paramedics arrived, trying to keep the blood which was pouring out of his mouth and nose away from his lungs and he did keep breathing by some miracle. There was a doctor who was coming the other way and arrived on the scene just after we did (she would have stepped in but they didn't want to move the guy by changing people around him) and she reckoned he wouldn't have survived the 15 minutes between the crash and the ambulance arriving if he hadn't got that help. Scary, scary experience but the guy was alive when they choppered him to hospital which is the most important thing. We gave statements to the cops and now that we've knocked off a bottle of red between us the shakes have mostly stopped...

[ojc123]

TIHBM watching my husband (of less than two weeks!) quite literally save someone's life... ... We gave statements to the cops and now that we've knocked off a bottle of red between us the shakes have mostly stopped...

Well done. It's amazing how the training kicks in when it matters. It's also scary how it hits you later. I hope the remainder of your holiday is more peaceful.

[alistermorton]

A huge round of applause for that life saving act. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Northumberland (where I'm from) and if you pass through London (where I now work) or Surrey (where I live) I'd like to meet you both, shake your hands and buy you a drink for saving a fellow motorcyclist's life.

[Andrew C]

My thanks too, from a biker.

 

Had some training with Plod last year. They had the head honcho from the local trauma unit in doing some first aid. His plea was "Do something, anything, just keep them alive until we get there. If you put a tourniquet on, and they loose a leg, but still have some blood in them when they get to hospital; it is a win."

[kerry davies]

Well done Anna but a word of caution to others, the key here is that Mr Grid is a SJA trained First Aider. Unless there is an overwhelming reason, as in this case airway blockage, then do not remove a helmet from an injured biker, especially one that is groggy or unconscious but breathing. My Link.

 

For bikers like Andrew there is actually a specialised First Aid course

 

I know this is pedantry of the first degree but it is important. What is more important, however, is that Anna and spouse enjoy the rest of their honeymoon and a long happy life together.

[GridGirl]

Well done Anna but a word of caution to others, the key here is that Mr Grid is a SJA trained First Aider. Unless there is an overwhelming reason, as in this case airway blockage, then do not remove a helmet from an injured biker, especially one that is groggy or unconscious but breathing. My Link.

 

Too true. The other witness who pitched in was also a trained first aider and a biker himself (the casualty had not long gone past him on the road) and the two of them were not brilliantly happy about taking the very smashed up helmet off but realised that it was the only possible option to keep him alive. Apparently the guy is in hospital still which I guess is a good thing - at least means he's still alive.

[alistermorton]

Well done Anna but a word of caution to others, the key here is that Mr Grid is a SJA trained First Aider. Unless there is an overwhelming reason, as in this case airway blockage, then do not remove a helmet from an injured biker, especially one that is groggy or unconscious but breathing. My Link.

 

Indeed so, Kerry. When I was reading Anna's account I though to myself, that's one of the few times it's justified to remove a helmet - he'd probably has suffocated otherwise.

 

It's worth bearing in mind, in case anyone untrained finds themselves in this situation, that the helmet could be all that's holding the rider's head together, so, as in this case, there has to be a damned good reason to remove it (and you do need to have a clue what you're doing, again, as in this case).

 

 

 

[Andrew C]

there has to be a damned good reason to remove it (and you do need to have a clue what you're doing, again, as in this case).

My point really was, if you HAVE to take the helmet off, do it. Whether you know how or not. If he suffocates before an ambulance/other skilled 1st aider arrives, it matters not one damn if he has a neck injury.

[paulears]

The last first aid course I did they advised to remove the helmet, rather than the advice previously which was not to?

 

Wasn't the idea that the risk of blocked airway is more likely - blood, vomit, etc than the other scenarios?

 

I know from experience that blood in the mouth from an artery in the throat coagulates amazingly fast, and you cannot breath unless you can physically get it out with your fingers. If what happened to me happened inside a helmet, I think I'd be dead. Maybe this is what causes confusion? If the airway is clear, leave it on, but if not, take it off. The trouble is, if they are unconscious, how do you know?

[abbotsmike]

The last first aid course I did they advised to remove the helmet, rather than the advice previously which was not to?

 

Wasn't the idea that the risk of blocked airway is more likely - blood, vomit, etc than the other scenarios?

 

I know from experience that blood in the mouth from an artery in the throat coagulates amazingly fast, and you cannot breath unless you can physically get it out with your fingers. If what happened to me happened inside a helmet, I think I'd be dead. Maybe this is what causes confusion? If the airway is clear, leave it on, but if not, take it off. The trouble is, if they are unconscious, how do you know?

 

Listen/feel for breathing and watch the chest rising if possible. You can get a pretty good idea on the state of someone's airway that way.

[alistermorton]

The advice usually given not to remove the helmet stemmed from two scenarios - the possibility that the helmet is holding a skull fracture in place, and the possibility of aggravating a neck injury, as full face helmets can be difficult to remove if you haven't done it before (I recall that there was a drive a while back for them to be maufactured in such a way that hospitals could cut them apart to remove them). As has been rightly said, if you have to, then do it, but if you don't have to then leave it on (but keep an eye on the patient and make sure they keep breathing). The well intentioned often go straight for the helmet straps before doing any other checks.

[abbotsmike]

The advice usually given not to remove the helmet stemmed from two scenarios - the possibility that the helmet is holding a skull fracture in place, and the possibility of aggravating a neck injury, as full face helmets can be difficult to remove if you haven't done it before (I recall that there was a drive a while back for them to be maufactured in such a way that hospitals could cut them apart to remove them). As has been rightly said, if you have to, then do it, but if you don't have to then leave it on (but keep an eye on the patient and make sure they keep breathing). The well intentioned often go straight for the helmet straps before doing any other checks.

 

There are also some helmets that are designed such that they can be x-rayed through.

[the kid]

The advice usually given not to remove the helmet stemmed from two scenarios - the possibility that the helmet is holding a skull fracture in place, and the possibility of aggravating a neck injury, as full face helmets can be difficult to remove if you haven't done it before (I recall that there was a drive a while back for them to be maufactured in such a way that hospitals could cut them apart to remove them). As has been rightly said, if you have to, then do it, but if you don't have to then leave it on (but keep an eye on the patient and make sure they keep breathing). The well intentioned often go straight for the helmet straps before doing any other checks.

 

 

There are of course the "police" style ones that open up the face

[Andrew C]

If you HAVE to do it:-

 

Have a bystander support the casualties head and neck, not move, support.

Undo helmet strap. Look for a red tab to get you started if you don't know what you are looking for. Some helmets have seat-belt type buckles.

Kneel above the casualties head, your assistant holding the neck still from the side.

Pull the helmet apart and rotate slightly towards the face as you pull off. It will catch on the ears.

Between you and assistant, hold head and neck as still as possible. Assistants hand follows the back of the helmet as it comes off.

Commence CPR regime, as this is practically the only reason you've taken the helmet off!

[Jivemaster]

Given good clear breathing then the helmet stays ON

 

Given a need to start artificial respiration then the helmet has to come off. -If they've stopped breathing AND fractured neck or scull you can't mend the bones if they are dead through lack of breathing.