Have you got a CRASH Card?
Motorcylists are being urged to carry cards which contain potentially life-saving information in the event of an incident.
At some point in a motorcyclist’s riding life they may have an ‘unscheduled dismount’ or they may be with a rider who does. CRASH is a set of easy to remember steps to keep themselves safe, as well as the unfortunate rider who has been involved in a collision.
There is space to record information which could be vital to the attending paramedic, including current medical history and the details of any medication currently being taken.
Importantly there is also space to list the name and contact telephone number of next of kin. Many phones nowadays require a pin code to access any information, which means that the ICE number stored there cannot be retrieved.
‘Working in Partnership’
The cards were created by the national Ambulance Motorcycle Club (AMC) whose membership consists of ambulance staff who are passionate about motorcycling, and are already used in a number of areas in England and parts of Wales. In 2012 the Club was awarded a Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme Road Safety Award for the scheme.
Local Authority Road Safety teams have been working in partnership with other road safety professionals who make up Road Safety Wales, and the scheme has the backing of the Wales NHS Ambulance Trust. It is hoped that eventually these cards will be available throughout the Principality.
CRASH Cards can be obtained, free of charge from road safety teams throughout Wales, and are suitable for all users of powered two wheelers from the young person on a scooter, the worker commuting on a daily basis, or the motorcyclist riding superbikes around country lanes at the weekend.
Susan Storch, Chair of Road Safety Wales said “Road Safety Wales is pleased to be involved in the CRASH Card scheme, and we look forward to the day when all motorcyclists in Wales will carry one of the cards in their helmet. Doing something as easy as picking up a card and filling it out could make a real difference to a casualty, and we hope that this is a scheme that will be embraced wholeheartedly by the motorcycling community.”