If you are a biker this is a must
In a bid to buck the trend in road traffic collisions, the Brigade launched an innovative scheme called Biker Down London in partnership with TfL, the Met Police and the London Ambulance Service.
The Brigade saw a ten per cent increase in motorcycle collisions in 2014. Firefighters attended 501 in 2014 incidents compared to 454 the year before, with more than 100 riders requiring medical assistance.
Figures from Transport for London supported the findings and showed that there were 27 fatalities as a result of collisions involving motorcycles in 2014, up from 22 in 2013.
Biker Down is free and is available to any rider who lives, rides or studies in London.
Biker Down teaches riders how they can help if they come across a motorcycle collision. When one rider is involved in a collision the first person on the scene is often another rider.
Sessions will cover what to do if you are first on the scene of a motorcycle collision and motorcycle-specific immediate aid training, such as how to treat major bleeding and safe helmet removal.
It is estimated that there are around 100,000 motorcyclists in London.
Group Manager for Community Safety Mark Hazelton said: “Biker Down is a unique chance for London’s motorcyclists to spend a few hours learning how to save a life if they are ever unlucky enough to be first on the scene of an incident.”
Rob Bentley, Motorcycle Response Unit (MRU) Manager at London Ambulance Service said: “We hope this gives participants the knowledge and confidence to treat a fellow rider and ultimately reduce the number of motorcyclists seriously injured or killed on London’s roads.”
Ben Plowden, director of surface strategy and planning at TfL, said: “Despite the number of fatalities having more than halved since 2000, motorcyclists are sadly still much more likely to be involved in a serious collision than any other mode of transport.”
“This new scheme will help provide riders with the knowledge to deal with incidents quickly and safely and help to reduce the numbers killed or seriously injured on London’s roads.”
Biker Down, which was devised by Kent Fire and Rescue Service, involves a group training session delivered by firefighters and LAS Motorcycle Response Paramedics.
The training sessions take place at West Norwood Fire Station on alternate Saturdays or Sundays on the last weekend in every month.
Participants receive a certificate of attendance, an immediate aid kit designed to be carried under the seat of a bike and qualify for a discount to attend the BikeSafe-London Rider Skills Day scheme.
The Brigade is grateful for the support of i3d Group Ltd, who have provided us with a Ducati Multistrada 1200s to support Biker Down and other road safety engagement projects in the capital.
A total of 40 places are available with 20 spaces at each session.
Please visit the Biker Down webpage for more information if you are interested in attending a session.
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