London Fire Brigade launches free first aid training scheme for riders
Biker Down London teaches riders what to do if they’re first at the scene of a motorcycle accident
IN an effort to reduce the number of riders killed or injured in motorcycle collisions in London, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has today launched a scheme offering free immediate aid training to motorcyclists.
It’s called Biker Down, and it will teach riders what to do if they arrive at the scene of a motorcycle collision before anyone else. The LFB says that the first person on the scene of a motorcycle accident is often another rider.
Biker Down is free to any rider who lives, rides or studies in London. Sessions will include what to do if you’re first to arrive at a bike accident, along with motorcyclist-specific immediate aid training and safe helmet removal.
Participants will receive a certificate of attendance, an immediate aid kit designed to fit under the seat of a bike and will qualify for a discount to attended the BikeSafe-London riders skills day scheme.
The scheme will be delivered by firefighters and London Ambulance Service motorcycle response paramedics at West Norwood Fire Station on alternate Saturdays or Sundays on the last weekend of every month. More information and how to book a place can be found on the Bike Down page on the London Fire Brigade’s website.
Dave Brown, the LFB’s director of operations 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.’
The London Fire Brigade has said it attended more motorcycle collisions last year compared to the year before – 501, up from 454, with more than 100 riders requiring medical help. Recent figures from Transport from London show that there were 27 fatalities from motorcycle accidents in 2014, up from 22 in 2013.
