Carry the CRASH card

An exciting initiative to help motorcyclists involved in an accident get the aid they need as quickly as possible was launched on March 24, by the East of England Ambulance Service.

With support from Hertfordshire County Council's casualty reduction unit, Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Hertfordshire Constabulary, the card was launched in the picturesque grounds and courtyard of Knebworth House.

The official launch involved experienced paramedics and bike riders talking about the card, which could save a motorcyclist's life. This means that Hertfordshire bikers can benefit from the free scheme almost immediately!

Paramedic Ian Burrell, chairman of the Ambulance Motorcycle Club, said: "This card is borne out of experience - it has been designed by serving paramedics who have been on both sides of an accident as the injured rider or attending as medical help.

"If a biker is injured and unable to talk coherently because of concussion or having been knocked out, how does the ambulance crew find out who the patient is, what medication they take, or medical history? What information does the 999 call centre need?

"So far, the card has enjoyed a very successful pilot in Essex, and is gaining a national interest as more and more bikers spread the word about this simple but effective approach to casualty reduction."

Designed to be an aid to both the motorcyclist making the 999 call and the crew who attend, one side of the card carries the mneumonic CRASH for helpful hints which will assist the 999 call taker if a rider has come off but is not seriously injured, and is using the card as a prompt.

The other side gives riders space to write their name, date of birth and medication, so when an ambulance crew arrives at the scene of an accident they will identify an unconscious or seriously ill rider has a card in their helmet by a small green dot placed at the side of the visor on their helmet. Only experienced emergency personnel should ever remove a helmet following an accident.