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I\u2019ve sat and stared at my motorcycles for countless hours this winter, as I\u2019m sure we all have. Before we pull our machines out of hibernation, though, it\u2019s important to consider the risks and factors we are faced with, especially in spring.<\/p>\n
To get a well-rounded scope of what injuries motorcyclists often deal with, I spoke with Adam Calver, a motorcyclist who spent most of his career working as a firefighter and paramedic. Needless to say, he\u2019s seen a lot. More recently, Calver has started a motorcycle-specific first-aid course called Head-On First Aid and Safety, and it revolves around the most common motorcycle-related injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the most common injuries that first responders see are road rash, shoulder and rib injuries and, of course, lots of fractures,\u201d Calver says, noting the most common involve tailbones, wrists, legs and arms. \u201cWe\u2019ve all been warned of road rash, and if you\u2019ve ever had it or seen treatment for it, you can understand why nobody would wish this upon their worst enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shoulders are arguably the most vulnerable joint in the body; torn ligaments or dislocated shoulders are quite common \u2013 an injury I\u2019ve experienced multiple times after a bad crash on a Timbersled.<\/p>\n
Calvers advises, \u201cIf you don\u2019t have first-aid experience, I\u2019d highly suggest taking a course no matter how basic it is. It\u2019s valuable knowledge and gets you acquainted with dealing with intense situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, now that your body aches with the thought of potential trauma that hitting the ground can cause, let\u2019s talk about some of the things we can do to ensure we can provide ourselves with the best care, and in some cases prevent the crash in the first place.<\/p>\n
Take a Riding Course<\/strong><\/p>\n Know Your Gear<\/strong><\/p>\n There are so many types of gear on the market now. Do your research and pick the gear that suits your riding style and offers well-placed protection. Don\u2019t put a price tag on your well-being or your life; it\u2019s worth it to spend the money on gear that offers real protection.<\/p>\n Helmet<\/strong><\/p>\n Your head is the most important body part to protect. Know your helmet \u2013 is it modular? open-faced? full-faced? Can someone access your face easily after a crash? Paramedics are trained to remove helmets, but having to pull off your helmet to ensure your airway is open could increase the possibility of a spinal injury. If your helmet is a modular or open-face type, your mouth and airway are much more accessible in emergency situations. If your helmet is full-face, check to see if it has easy-to-remove cheek pads, and would therefore be easier to remove in an emergency.<\/p>\n Does your helmet fit your head properly? There are three main head shapes; learn which shape of helmet fits yours best. Arai, for instance, designs helmets based on these three shapes. You can definitely feel the difference in a helmet that fits properly. Make sure there is no additional space in your helmet. Any space can amplify the force of the impact into your skull. Having a helmet that\u2019s too large can actually cause you to have two impacts: one when the helmet hits a solid object or pavement, and the other from your head hitting the interior of the helmet.<\/p>\n Jackets and Pants<\/strong><\/p>\n Boots<\/strong><\/p>\n Get a motorcycle boot that covers your ankles at minimum. For me, the taller the better. It\u2019s best to find something with rigid ankle support, but be sure it doesn\u2019t hinder the movement of your foot.<\/p>\n Gloves<\/strong><\/p>\n Instinctively when we fall, the first thing that goes out is our hands. Gloves with an abrasion-resistant palm is important. On the top of the hand, it\u2019s best to get something with hard knuckles to protect from falls and levers that could crush your hand.<\/p>\n Going Digital<\/strong><\/p>\n Get a safety app or locator beacon. We are lucky to live in a technological world these days. There are some great apps available for your smartphone that offer crash and fall detection in addition to tracking your ride, such as EatSleepRIDE. Instead of you potentially waiting injured on the side of the road or in a ditch, an alert instantly goes out to emergency services with your location once the app senses a crash, as determined by complex algorithms.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re travelling to more remote areas, you might want to look into purchasing a satellite beacon like a SPOT satellite GPS messenger or a Garmin inReach unit. A location beacon can be more useful, especially if you find yourself on the dusty trail more often than not and out of cell reception. You can set up key contacts who will receive your location in set intervals. Additionally, you can let them know if you\u2019ve had a breakdown, stopped early, need help or will just be late.<\/p>\n However, they will not sense if you\u2019ve had a crash \u2013 you\u2019ll still need to physically press a button to notify emergency services.<\/p>\n First-Aid Kit<\/strong><\/p>\n Anticipate the worst but hope for the best. Start off with buying a generic first-aid kit, as this will supply with you most of the equipment you\u2019ll need. Then adapt the kit to your needs and activities. Some extras that I carry are things an antibiotic ointment, a pain reliever, an antihistamine and any prescribed medications. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, so we thought it prudent to offer up some sobering facts and a few tips that may just save your life. The sun sank behind the horizon as the rain grew heavier. I could only see the red glow from the taillight of the bike ahead and the meek […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[373,1662],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"spot](\"http:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/spot-gen3-300x191.jpg\")
It doesn\u2019t matter what you ride or how long you\u2019ve ridden, there is nothing more important than improving your own skills. Riding in a controlled area with experts homing in on the bad habits we\u2019ve gained over years is invaluable. Taking a course will improve your confidence and situational awareness, whether it\u2019s on the street or dirt.<\/p>\n![\"SPOT](\"http:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SPOT-IMG_6147-300x190.jpg\")
Most riding gear will have some sort of integrated armour included. Some use D3O flexible armour or have their own brand of armour, while others just have Kevlar patches in easy-to-wear spots. The most important areas to have armour are your back, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Aerostich and Klim are great examples of gear that is well thought out when it comes to being waterproof, with protection and ventilation where most needed. They also have taken the time to ask the ultimate question \u201cWhat do women want\u201d and have addressed those issues with gear specifically made for women of all shapes and sizes. Companies like Dainese, Alpinestars and Helite make vests and jackets that offer airbag protection in crash situations.<\/p>\n
\nAbove all else, the most important thing we can do as riders is focus on the road and our surroundings. I often think about that moment I rode away from the deer carcass stretched out on the side of the road and about the split-second choices I made that placed me in that fateful situation. In the end, I made my choice and came out all right \u2013 I was lucky. The most important thing is to learn from others and ourselves in moments like that. We ride to live and live to ride, but becoming a statistic is not our end goal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"