This week saw the collaborative delivery of the first Dorset Bikerdown! Safety initiative event held at the Safewise Centre in Bournemouth.
Hosted in partnership with the Docbike Project, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Dorset Police and proudly sponsored by Bournemouth Bikes, the fully booked event, held at the Safewise Centre in Bournemouth, saw the team of Dr Ian Mew – Dorset Police Medical Advisor and Air Ambulance Trauma Doctor, and PC Chris Smith – Dorset Police Bikesafe Co-ordinator, deliver an engaging seminar on how to help save riders lives in the event of an accident before the emergency services arrive.
Throughout the two hour free event, Dr Mew and PC Smith educated riders on what to do in case of an accident, including making sure an ambulance is called, safely securing the scene, treating the casualty and the controversial subject of how to safely remove a motorcycle helmet.
The event concluded with a talk about the ‘science of being seen’ where PC Smith explored the effectiveness of Hi-Viz, how best to use it and other factors including ‘motion camouflage’, ‘looming’ and tips on how riders can best be seen without wearing bright fluorescent pink from head to toe.
The feedback was excellent, with the students saying they would recommend the event to fellow riders and friends and that they now have the confidence and knowledge to step forward and potentially make that life-saving difference following an accident.
As a thank you for attending the event, everybody left the evening with a free first aid kit, designed to be stored on a motorcycle, thanks to Bikerdown! sponsors Bournemouth Bikes.
Dr Ian Mew Said: “I’m really pleased that after all the hard work and planning from everybody involved the first event went really well. We have been able to deliver key life-saving lessons to our students, giving them the confidence to step forward and deliver real life saving skills that can make a real difference in the real world.”
PC Chris Smith said: “In the event of a motorcycle accident, the first person on scene is often a fellow biker. Our Bikerdown! seminars build upon the success of our Bikesafe courses, developed to reduce casualties on Dorset’s roads. I’d like to personally thank everybody who attended tonight as its people like them, who could help us save lives. That cannot be understated.”
Mike Lawrence, Managing Director, Bournemouth Bikes said: “I’m very proud to be involved with and help support the Biker Down courses. The content, delivered by Ian and Chris, is both comprehensive and invaluable in the eventuality of facing an incident involving serious injury on the road, in the workplace or home. I learned a lot tonight and if just one of the twenty-four of us has to call on those skills and save a life – then Bikerdown is a winner!”
Alison Shelton, Chief Executive, Safewise said: “We are so proud to be hosting this series of events at Safewise Bournemouth – this unique insight into “first on scene” from the emergency services, shared in our life-sized training village is priceless.”
