FIRST AID FOR MOTORCYCLISTS – “FIRST BIKE ON SCENE – FBOS”
08 November 2004 - Lancashire ambulance Service

“LANCASHIRE AMBULANCE SERVICE STEERS FORWARD WITH PRESTIGOUS SEAL OF APPROVAL”

The First Bike on Scene (FBoS) course, designed by Lancashire Ambulance Service bikers, to train motorcyclists in essential life saving techniques, has now been awarded the prestigious approval of “The faculty of PreHospital Care of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh”.

The process for approval entailed the course being submitted for inspection to a panel of experts from the field of pre-hospital care within the college to ensure uniformity of standards.

The FBoS course was designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to deal with the initial management of a patient involved in a road traffic accident. Bikers are encouraged to give casualties necessary basic life support in the event of an accident whilst waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Richard Fairhurst, F.IMC.RCS.Ed, (Chairman, Training and Standards Board) of the Faculty of PreHospital Care at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh comments on the approval of the FBoS course “Simple skills can save lives! This course allows motorcyclists to provide immediate practical help to their injured colleagues. So often motorcycle accidents occur in the presence of other bikers. Careful application of skills taught can save lives and reduce disability. The Faculty of PreHospital Care of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is pleased to approve the FBOS Course and commends it to the motorcycle Industry and individual motorcyclists”.

Phil Woodford, General Manager for the Training Department at Lancashire Ambulance service NHS Trust, says “Whilst the course is specifically aimed at motorcyclists and includes the instruction on essential life saving skills such as helmet removal, it also provides valuable first aid skills which can be applied in any walk of life. So often bikers are portrayed in the wrong way by the media, this is a chance for motorcyclists to show that their special camaraderie extends beyond their own community”.

Karen Cooke, MCI’s Head of Safety said, “This course can help riders save other motorcyclists’ lives and the Motorcycle Industry Association fully supports it. This award validates the quality of the content and training that is offered and we would encourage more people to participate and learn these important skills.”

The course takes 6 hours, including lunch and refreshment and is structured around an accident. It begins with a biker arriving at the scene of an accident, through to the emergency services arriving. The course is competency based, allowing the students to go home knowing that they have been individually assessed by an experienced State Registered Paramedic. The cost per student is £45, including lunch, refreshments, and for successful students, a Certificate of Competence.

Andrew Sullivan, State Registered Paramedic and Commercial Training Manager at Lancashire Ambulance Service comments, “As a biker and as a Paramedic for over 10 years, if I am involved in an accident whilst out riding, I would be far happier that my friends who ride with me had attended this course. It is not just about removing a helmet, it covers all aspects from how to make the scene safe, through to the information that the emergency services will require when you call them. The approval from the Faculty of PreHospital Care of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is a testament to how seriously we take the delivery of the FBoS course”.

Further dates are scheduled for the next 8 months, however like many local and national groups; courses can be arranged on a ‘closed’ basis throughout the UK.

Scheduled ‘open’ course dates:
• September 3rd
• November 21st
• February 26th

Further information and bookings can be made by contacting Gemma Ogden in the LAS Training Department, 01772 773141. Email, Gemma.Ogden@las-tr.nwest.nhs.uk.

www.lancashireambulance.com

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