After a crash
After a crash, first assess the situation and your condition. Then deal with the motorcycle and decide whether you can continue the ride.
First assess where you are
First assess the situation. If you are still in the roadway and could be hit, try to move to a safe place. If there is no such threat and a serious injury is possible, do not move unless necessary.
Don't jump up by reflex
After a crash, adrenaline can keep you from feeling pain right away. If there is no immediate danger, do not rush to stand up: check your breathing and assess your head, neck, arms, and legs, and only then decide whether you can move safely.
What to do with the motorcycle
If you can do so safely, switch off the engine. Do not rush to lift the motorcycle: assess your own condition first. If you feel severe pain, dizziness, or weakness, leave it where it is and take care of yourself. If you are all right but the motorcycle is obstructing traffic, move it out of the roadway if possible.
Don't continue the ride right away
Even if everything seems fine, first calm down and reassess your condition and the motorcycle. If your hands are shaking, wait for the shaking to pass. Check your focus, coordination, and how you feel. After a head impact, loss of consciousness, confusion, severe pain, weakness, or impaired balance, you should not continue the ride.
Safety, consciousness, and breathing come first
Make sure it is safe to approach the injured person. Check whether they respond and whether they are breathing. If the person does not respond, is not breathing, or has only occasional gasps, call the local emergency number; in Russia, call 112. Follow the dispatcher's instructions. Stop severe bleeding first.
Don't remove the helmet unless necessary
If the motorcyclist is conscious, breathing, and the helmet is not causing a problem, do not remove it unless necessary. If the person does not respond or is not breathing, call the local emergency number (112 in Russia) and follow the dispatcher's instructions: in that situation, the helmet may need to be removed.
Check for emergency cheek-pad removal
Some helmets have a quick-release cheek-pad system, such as EQRS. You can usually identify it by bright red or orange loops in the lower part of the helmet and labels such as PULL or EMERGENCY; there may also be a special sticker on the outside. If the manufacturer provides the system, pull the marked loops in the indicated direction: the cheek-pad fasteners release, after which the pads can be removed through the bottom of the helmet. The opening becomes wider, making the helmet easier to remove with less strain on the head and neck.
Sources · 2
- Первая помощь: учебное пособие
Вызов скорой медицинской помощи, с. 35
Used for: Location of the incident, number and condition of the injured, and aid being provided: information for the dispatcher.
Open source - GT-Air 3: Instruction Manual
E.Q.R.S., p. 27; PDF p. 15
Used for: How EQRS releases the cheek pads in a SHOEI GT-Air 3 helmet.
Open source
What to check after an impact
Check the wheels and tires, handlebars, levers, brakes, footpegs, fluid leaks, chain or belt, and anything else that took the impact.
Before continuing the ride
Make sure the handlebars turn freely, the brakes work properly, the wheels are not rubbing against anything, and there are no fresh leaks. Check that damaged parts do not interfere with control.
If anything has changed, don't ride
New play, a leak, tire or wheel damage, a sticking brake, or a bent handlebar or lever means you should not continue riding under your own power.
The first few meters after a crash
If everything looks sound after your inspection and you decide to continue the ride, ride the first few meters slowly. Check whether the motorcycle pulls to one side, whether new vibrations or knocks have appeared, and whether the brakes work normally. If you notice anything unusual, stop.