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Motorcycle Safety BEGINS with ME? What Does That Mean in TODAYS Terms?

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For several years, the tagline Watch for Motorcycles or Look Twice Save a Life really hasn’t had the punch that we riders would hope for. The biker community continues to be injured in epidemic numbers. In 2021, the State of Florida had over 5k accidents and over 500 fatalities. Colorado and Nevada during a pandemic saw a 33% increase in motorcycle accidents and fatalities. This is no longer a local issue, but a national problem that requires motorcycle riders to take a different approach, which is to BE READY and INFORMED.

Today we will talk about 3 topics

  • Trauma kits versus First Aid Kits
  • Accident Scene Managment Safety classes
  • Motorcycle Insurance and why the cheap becomes expensive.

Trauma Kits versus First Aid Kits

At first glance, it might be easy to confuse a trauma kit with a first aid kit. Both are bags full of medical supplies. And they may even carry some of the same equipment. So to understand the difference, you must look at the underlying focus of each type of medical kit.

First off, a first aid kit is designed to treat basic, superficial wounds that people suffer every day. They help with injuries such as small cuts, scrapes, and stings that don’t require a hospital or a doctor. These are the type of injuries most often treated with a first aid kit. Most first aid kits include bandages, burn cream, antiseptic, and over-the-counter medications

On the other hand, a trauma kit is designed to treat severe, life-threatening injuries long enough to treat the injured until paramedics or EMTs can arrive on the scene.

We’re talking about life-threatening injuries from situations such as car or motorcycle accidents. Tragic events when getting someone stabilized and transported to an emergency room is of the utmost importance. In such situations, most over-the-counter first aid kits are not nearly enough, and a trauma kit is best.

Now, it’s important to keep in mind that the primary focus of a trauma kit is to save lives. This means they often forgo items that might alleviate a victim’s temporary discomfort and pain. Why? Because these items are considered secondary to keeping them alive.

It’s a bag full of life-saving tools designed to keep someone’s vital functions working.

Trauma kits on your bike can be vital to stabilizing an injured rider until medical assistance can arrive. Trauma kits can be purchased for a reasonable amount given the care they can provide to render aid. If you are interested in getting a trauma kit, there are some motorcycle organizations that can help you get the trauma kit you need.

If you are interested in making the PLEDGE today to have this life-saving item on your bike, BikerDown Foundation offers riders a fully loaded trauma kit that will fit easily on your motorcycle – click here. You can also contact RoadGuardians (ASM) also offers a fanny pack trauma kit – click here

Accident Scene Management Classes

ASM has trained over 40,000 motorcycle riders thru their nationwide instructor and class hosts

For 10 years, BikerDown Foundation with the help of RiderJustice, Full Throttle Law, and other sponsors has sponsored Accident Scene Management Basic (ASM) and Advanced classes to give motorcycle riders basic training. ASM has trained nearly 40,000 motorcycle riders through the expertise of its instructors. ASM is the largest motorcycle trauma training organization in the world and classes can be done in-person or online.

Rider Justice ASM Basic class shows riders how to properly roll over a victim so that they can prepare to remove them from the road.
M. Busch got her Trauma kit at the Full Throttle Law ASM Basic Class

The basic 100 series class teaches you what to do in the first 5-30 minutes after a crash until professional help arrives. Some of the topics you will learn are helmet removal (many believe you don’t do that, but what if the rider isn’t breathing and needs CPR?), securing the scene, rescue breathing, moving the injured rider, controlling bleeding, and much much more.

Class attendees completing their ASM Basic Class in Las Vegas

Good Samaritan Law

Legal concerns can come up at the scene of an accident. Questions on legal issues come up in our basic and advanced classes, and there is a part of our instruction that deals with this. Many students ask me, “If I help someone at the scene of an accident, will I get sued successfully?”  Fortunately, in most states, there are statutes that legally shield you from liability. In Colorado, we have Revised Statute  13-21-108. This is the Colorado Good Samaritan Law.  In Nevada, there is NRS 41.500. The statutes in both states say that you are shielded from legal liability when rendering aid at the scene of an emergency or accident. There are some things you have to remember for this to apply. First, the person you are helping is not a person you are required to treat, and you are not there being compensated as part of your job. For example, Paramedics responding to the scene are not covered as it is their duty to respond and treat them. Volunteers on a rescue squad are protected from liability even though they have to react as they volunteer. 

Second, if you act in good faith and do not do something completely negligent, you are protected under the Good Samaritan Law. There is a scene in a funny movie where a woman performs a minor surgical procedure on someone she believes is choking. She has never been trained to do this and only saw the procedure performed on a television show. This woman would not be shielded from liability. For the record, we do not teach minor surgical procedures in Accident Scene Management, not even the advanced class.

Motorcycle Insurance and what that really means after an Accident

Call one of our motorcycle attorneys TODAY and get your FREE Insurance Reviews

Insurance coverages/Reviews – Bike insurance, 2nd to safety gear, motorcycle insurance is the most essential item you can have for your bike.  It outranks 85.00 Harley-Davidson shirts, cool chrome accessories, jackets, and rain gear….it outranks everything.  Without good bike insurance and add ons such as under-insured or uninsured motorists, the injured riders will be surprised how un-insured they are and what the current bike insurance covers.  RiderJustice.com, Full Throttle Law, Upstate Biker Lawyer, and Two-Wheel Attorneys has always offered any biker a FREE insurance review to discuss what your existing insurance covers.  In Colorado at the Colorado Motorcycle Expo, be sure to stop by the Rider Justice booth in February and get their suggested levels of insurance to keep you covered in the event of an accident.

At the scene of a motorcycle crash:

  • Do not move your bike from where it landed after the impact.
  • Take pictures of the entire scene, including your bike, the car, the intersection and debris.
  • Get contact information from any witnesses.
  • Take videos of witnesses explaining what they saw.
  • Take a picture of the other driver’s insurance card.
  • Make sure a police officer comes to the scene and files a report. (Never, ever, ever exchange insurance information with the other driver and leave the scene. You need that police report.)

Motorcycle Awareness begins with US, the motorcycle rider.

So in the event of an accident, having these 3 things in your arsenal will not only protect you and help you recover, but also help you help others. We must take control of our ride, in the event of an accident that trauma kit, ASM Basic class that you took, and the right kind of insurance, can actually help you SAVE LIVES of a friend, family member or complete stranger on a ride.

Do You Know What The Good Samaritan Law is?

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Mark Beluscak, Lead Instructor, Accident Scene Management

As our riding season picks up, I see more and more notices of motorcycle accidents. As an instructor for Accident Scene Management, I am on a mission to present training for everyone on what to do at the scene of a motorcycle accident before EMS arrives. (Accident Scene Management 100).  If more riders were trained in the basic trauma skills, we would all be doing something to prevent or minimize injuries or perhaps even deaths at these tragic scenes. Of course, some survival factors have to do with how the accident happens and the forces involved, but as I like to say, “Fortune favors the prepared,” and I want to do everything I can if possible.

This month I would like to mention legal concerns some people have if they help out at the scene of an accident. Questions on legal issues come up in our basic and advanced classes, and there is a part of our instruction that deals with this. Many students ask me, “If I help someone at the scene of an accident, will I get sued successfully?”  Fortunately, in Colorado, we have Colorado Revised Statute  13-21-108. This is the Colorado Good Samaritan Law.  In Nevada, there is NRS 41.500. The statutes in both states say that you are shielded from legal liability when rendering aid at the scene of an emergency or accident. There are some things you have to remember for this to apply. First, the person you are helping is not a person you are required to treat, and you are not there being compensated as part of your job. For example, Paramedics responding to the scene are not covered as it is their duty to respond and treat them. Volunteers on a rescue squad are protected from liability even though they have to react as they volunteer. 

Second, if you act in good faith and do not do something completely negligent, you are protected under the Good Samaritan Law. There is a scene in a funny movie where a woman performs a minor surgical procedure on someone she believes is choking. She has never been trained to do this and only saw the procedure performed on a television show. This woman would not be shielded from liability. For the record, we do not teach minor surgical procedures in Accident Scene Management, not even the advanced class.

The Good Samaritan Law was written to encourage bystanders to help out at the scene of an emergency. So if you are a volunteer or happen to be present when an accident happens, you can help out without fear of placing yourself in legal jeopardy.

Mark Beluscak offers accident Scene Management 100, CPR, and First Aid through the Rocky Mountain Public Safety Training Group (rmpstg@gmail.com). If you are interested in taking the Basic class in Denver or surrounding cities, please contact us so we can get one scheduled in your area. 

Rider Safety – Accident Scene Management

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Mark Beluscak, Lead Instructor Accident Scene Management

Motorcycle safety is a subject some of us in the motorcycle community take very seriously. I remember approximately a year and a half ago I was on a long motorcycle round trip out to the Kansas City area and back. I do not remember who I was riding with, but we were on the way back on Westbound Hwy 36  near Last Chance. A member of our group riding near the back probably fell asleep or was blinded by the setting sun. The group leader was not keeping a steady pace and as the rest of us were slowing, he did not. He came up through the middle of the pack going at least 50 miles an hour. He glanced a friend of mine but solidly hit his own wife riding near the front of the group.  Her bike went off into the ditch on the right side of the road and she landed solidly on the pavement. I was the second to last motorcycle and to my horror, I saw the entire thing.

In this situation, would you be ready and willing to help your fellow motorcyclist? There IS a class you can take that tells you what to do if you are at the scene of a motorcycle accident before EMS arrives. Accident Scene Management 100, presented through local instructors (like me) prepares you for these situations. The training includes such topics as how to perform rescue breathing without moving the injured party and helmet removal only when necessary.

Instructor showing proper helmet removal when injured rider isn’t breathing

Let’s get back to the reason for this article. When the accident happened, several people came by to offer assistance. One of these people was a local EMT who professed to know a lot about motorcycle accidents, and I initially welcomed his help while we waited for EMS to arrive. Almost immediately he began to suggest we move the injured party into his vehicle and give her water and a snack. I remembered from my training that we give NOTHING to an injured party prior to EMS arrival in the way of food or water. If there are injuries requiring surgery, food or water in the stomach can complicate this. Also, we NEVER move an injured party prior to EMS arrival unless necessary (to get them away from more danger like a burning motorcycle). IF there are serious injuries present and we move an injured party, then we have probably made those injuries worse. I was able to politely tell this volunteer EMT that we shouldn’t do these things and luckily, he agreed. In the end we were ALL lucky because my friend was NOT seriously hurt. Both bikes were totaled but both my friend and her husband are riding again! Fortunately, we were all wearing our helmets and leathers.

Riders practicing how to properly get a blanket under rider to remove him from the road

Accident Scene Management 100, CPR and First Aid are all being offered through the Rocky Mountain Public Safety Training Group (rmpstg@gmail.com). If you are interested in taking any one of these classes I would love to hear from you. The classes can be offered at your location or one can be arranged.

To review and prior to EMS arrival …

  1. Do not move injured parties unless it is necessary to prevent further injury.
    1. Give injured parties nothing by mouth including water.

-Mark Beluscak has served the public as a firefighter, EMT, and other public safety professions. He is an active rider in his local chapter of the Harley Owners Group (Mile High 3615) and Blue Knights (CO1). He has a bachelor’s degree in education and loves to teach. When not teaching classes, he rides his 2018 Harley Davidson Road King which has provided Mark nearly 20,000 miles of wind therapy.

What’s Happening on Colorado Highways?

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By:  Don Enninga, ABATE of Colorado Northeast Regional Coordinator

Here’s what the Colorado Department of Transportation found out from their recent survey of Colorado Drivers.  There are several items on their survey but this article is focusing on issues that have a primary impact on motorcyclists.

New CDOT survey reveals risky roadway behaviors

Most Coloradans engage in distracted driving and violating posted speed limits

Results from a new statewide driver survey by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) found that nearly all Colorado drivers engage in distracted driving. This is just one of problematic driving behaviors CDOT learned from 897 Coloradans in a survey administered between February and June 2020.

“Over 9 in 10 Coloradans admitted they drove distracted in the last week. Being present behind the wheel can be especially hard with all of the pressures people are under right now with the challenges we face with the COVID-19.  Unfortunately, distracted and impaired driving are contributing to a tragic pattern of increased roadway fatality rates in the past months.

Some  key findings  from the survey include:

Distracted Driving

  • In the seven days prior to the survey, 92% of respondents reported driving distracted. Of things people did most often, eating food and drinking beverages tops the list (32%) of distraction behaviors. Selecting entertainment on a handheld device (21%) and talking on a hands-free cell phone (18%) were the second and third most common distractions.

Impaired Driving

  • While 69% of respondents strongly disagreed that they could drive safely under the influence of alcohol, fewer people strongly disagreed that they could drive safely under the influence of cannabis (57%) or prescription medications excluding cannabis (50%).

Fatalities

In 2018, there were 632 traffic fatalities in Colorado. Nearly 25% of all fatalities involved an alcohol impaired driver.

Distracted driving was the contributing factor in 54 (8.5%) of the 2018 fatalities.

What can we do?

Distracted driving crashes have a devastating and quite often deadly result for motorcyclists when vehicle operators are not paying attention to the very serious task of controlling their vehicle.   This is a battle that the motorcycling community has been engaging in for several years by promoting awareness campaigns and working with legislators to come up with an acceptable distracted driving bill that will help protect vulnerable road users.  Unfortunately, each year a bill has been introduced, it has met with defeat.  The 2020 Colorado State legislative session was rudely interrupted by the China virus or the distracted driving bill that was put forward would have had a fairly good chance to make it through to become law.  This was one of the bills that got put aside once the legislature did get back to work.

There is discussion about bringing a similar bill up in the next Colorado legislative session.  I would hope that all motorcyclists would get engaged with their legislators should a distracted driving bill become a reality again.  I find it interesting, at the very least, that motorcyclists in Colorado seem to have a lot of trouble coming together on issues that affect us all.  There have been instances where several groups have been able to work on issues such as the distracted driving bills but there are many more groups that need to be engaged in these important discussions.  As we work to improve the lives of all who ride, take the time and energy to become involved, make your voice heard and let those who legislate know we are here and not going anywhere!  Until next time, have a great fall, ride safe and enjoy your life in this great state!

The full 2020 survey results are available on CDOT’s website at:

https://www.codot.gov/safety/safetydata/driver-surveys.

By Colorado Department of Transportation |

Motorcycle Crashes – How Do You React? By Don Enninga

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By Don Enninga

  • 191,403 registered motorcycles in Colorado in 2019
  • 1965 motorcycle crashes in 2019
  • 1361 motorcycle injury crashes in 2019
  • 96 motorcycle fatal crashes in 2019
  • 1022 motorcycle crashes were non intersection in 2019
  • 595 motorcycle crashes were intersection related in 2019
Don Enninga

We don’t really think of motorcycling in terms of numbers like these.  We tend to see what we enjoy as living in our own little bubble until reality hits us in the face.  Now, reality can be in the form of being involved in a crash or witnessing one.  Hopefully you have not experienced either one but the truth of the matter is that you probably will in your riding career.

There has been way too many reports of motorcycle crashes in 2020 and far too many serious injuries and death.  The latest one I saw in the news was an Aurora Police Department off duty officer that died in an intersection crash when a driver failed to yield the right of way and turned left in front of her at an intersection.  We all need to watch out for motorcycles when driving as they have a very small “footprint” on the highway.  I have had instances in my own life where I almost failed to see someone riding a motorcycle so I work constantly to make sure I look twice to save a life! 

Rider Justice and BikerDown Foundation sponsor classes thru out the year.

When the unthinkable crash happens, how do you react?  Do you provide care? How will that look? What is safe, what will put you in danger?

Taking an Accident Scene Management course can provide you the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions and do the best you can in a tough situation.  Avoiding being hurt or killed and keeping the victim and those around you safe is kind of important!  Look around:  What will harm or kill you?    Scene safety is just one of many valuable skills offered in the ASM Bystander Assistance course.

Imagine this if you will: It’s a great day for a ride and you with several friends have put on a couple hundred miles when a deer vaults out of the trees into one of the motorcycles who was 20 yards in front of you.  The impact is on the front end of the bike causing the rider, who has leathers and a helmet on, to be thrown violently onto the pavement and skid down the highway stopping in the middle of the road.  You are able to hit the brakes, avoid the motorcycle and deer and stop in time to avoid running into the rider who is lying motionless.  You have thought about taking some kind of first aid or maybe an Accident Scene Management class but have not “taken the time”. 

If this picture strikes a nerve or you feel a bit rusty on trauma skills you may have learned at some point in the past, then it’s time to act, find an Accident Scene Management class and learn the skills you need to manage a motorcycle crash scene.   The $85 cost of a class is a small price to be able to feel confident and manage a situation that calls for calm thinking and decisive action for the best outcome.  In Colorado, there have been and will be opportunities to take an ASM class that is sponsored by Scott O’Sullivan from Rider Justice and BikerDown.  Both of these great organizations have dedicated the resources needed to help motorcyclists get the training to properly manage the injured rider on a crash scene. The best part is their sponsorship will reduce the cost to you by half or more depending on the class and location.   

It’s been great to have bikes back on the road but that does increase the chances of crashes and injury.  With the Covid 19 virus and the restrictions on contact, wearing of masks, smaller class sizes and issues with appropriate venue size for classes to allow for social distancing, planning of classes is more difficult but not impossible.  Contact Rider Justice, BikerDown or myself and we will be happy to schedule a class for you and your group.  Even though 2020 quickly turned upside down, here’s to life getting back to the point of normal, whatever that will be and we are able to provide you, the motorcycling community, with the tools necessary to react and treat the biker who has crashed.                  

Ride free and ride safe!

Don is the Colorado instructor for ASM Road Guardians and a Colorado Rider News motorcycle safety contributor

* 2019 Most report

Motorcycles and Education: Don’t Ride One Without Taking the Other

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By Don Enninga, ASM Lead Instructor & Instructor Trainer

October offers a special, cost-saving opportunity for ASM classes!  Rider Justice is subsidizing both of the October courses making them incredibly affordable for riders by sponsoring up to 20 riders per course making their cost only $35 each, a $50 per course savings!

From: www.roadguardians.org: Accident Scene Management is the leading Motorcycle Trauma Training Organization in the world and the only accredited non-profit Bystander Program in the USA. The key to reducing injuries and fatalities to motorcyclists is education. Road Guardians encourages all motorcyclists to become lifelong learners, and to do all they can to avoid a crash from occurring. We go one-step further than many other safety programs – we connect motorcycle trauma first response as part of the solution.

Are You Prepared?

Will you be prepared to help another rider in a time of need? After a crash occurs there is a gap in time of 5-30 minutes before an ambulance arrives. Will you know how to help? 

Don Enninga, EMT & Motorcycle Rider says, “I believe motorcycles and education do go hand in hand! Without the education, someone crashes, and then you are left to wonder: How do I manage this motorcycle crash scene? How do I make the scene safe for me and others including the victim? How do I know if he/she is breathing?  Do I have the ability to stop serious bleeding?  These questions and many more can be answered as you prepare yourself to react when the unimaginable event of a motorcycle crash occurs.  How you might ask?”

Very good question!  The Accident Scene Management (ASM) course will provide you the answers you seek.  How do you take this valuable course?  In conjunction with Rider Justice, the Advocacy Arm of The O’Sullivan Law Firm and BikerDown Colorado who provides assistance to injured riders and their families, we are providing two upcoming courses for you and your many riding buddies to take! 

October Schedule 

Clear your calendar for classes coming up at the Hampton Inn Denver West in Golden, CO in October. On Saturday, October 26, 2019, a level 100 Series Basic Instructor Led Class called “A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist” will be offered. This is our most popular class. Learn what to do in the first 5-30 minutes after a crash until professional help arrives. Fully Instructor Led (IL) by a certified ASM instructor, this 7 hour class (8 with lunch) teaches helmet removal, jaw thrust rescue breathing, moving the injured, controlling bleeding and more. All skills are all taught and practiced.

The 300 Series Instructor Led (IL) “Advanced Bystander Assistance” course will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at the same location. Learn to be a leader at a scene as well as how to assist the EMS when they arrive. Advanced Airway management, Common medical emergencies, assisting the EMS with Extrication, Femoral Traction, role play and more are taught in this 7 hour instructor led class (8 hours with a lunch break).  The pre-requisite to attend the Advanced Bystander Assistance course is completing a 100 series class or a Basic Refresher within two years.  

How much is a 7-8 hour day of quality motorcycle trauma instruction worth? Normally, these valuable courses are $85 per day to help you be more prepared in the event of an accident. A small investment when it comes to peace of mind as you prepare for the worst while hoping for the best when out riding.  

Save Money in October

October offers a special, cost-saving opportunity for ASM classes!  Rider Justice is subsidizing both of the October courses making them incredibly affordable for riders by sponsoring up to 20 riders per course making their cost only $35 each, a $50 per course savings! Additionally, Rider Justice is making a $10 per registrant donation to BikerDown. If you are a road captain or otherwise frequently ride with others, we encourage you to take full advantage of the Rider Justice sponsorship by taking both the Saturday and Sunday courses.

Great minds think alike!  Get all the great minds you know together and come take one or both of these courses. As your Lead instructor, I look forward to working with you to be prepared.

Please contact me at denninga@kci.net or 970-768-5599 or REGISTER NOW at: www.RiderJustice.com/events to make sure you have a spot reserved.  Registration is on a first come/first served basis.

Prepare Yourself! A Crash Course To Aid The Downed Motorcyclist

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By Don Enninga, ASMI Instructor/ABATE of Colorado Northeast Coordinator

Summer is about half over! Already! Even more than half if you consider kids going back to school in mid-August, the Broncos starting their camp and Sturgis almost here!

The news has had a lot of motorcycle crashes and injury and death, unfortunately. After experiencing an incident while driving back from the ABATE state board meeting in Gunnison recently, it’s a wonder that there aren’t more tragedies involving motorcycles and vehicles.

We were not riding this time, too much stuff to take, but it didn’t stop the crazy drivers out there from almost causing us to have a crash! Case in point, a Cadillac SUV from Texas went flying around us, immediately swerved into our lane and hit the brakes to make a right turn. Between a quick, and loud, warning from Kristi and an instant reaction on my part (didn’t have time to think about it) we were able to take evasive action to the left without hitting this idiot, having a head on with other traffic or getting rear ended by the person behind us. God was guiding this situation. This may or may not have had a bad outcome if we were riding instead of driving. People driving do stupid things which can be made much worse on a bike. I hope and pray that all riders are safe and able to avoid those who may not see us or who cause crashes by their careless actions.

Accident Scene Management

That takes me to a familiar theme: Accident Scene Management and the Bystander Assistance Course that teaches motorcyclists how to safely manage a motorcycle crash scene, assess and treat the injured and interact with EMS when they arrive. This one-day class is based on the national First Responder curriculum and prepares students to handle the unexpected when riding. It’s amazing how a person can react with the proper training and education to provide safe and effective first aid. Don’t let yourself be in the situation when something happens that you don’t know what to do. Take an ASMI class through ABATE of Colorado!

Scheduling for Fall 2018 – Spring 2019 for ASMI classes is ongoing, so, as you decide that this would be a huge benefit to you and your group, getting your class on the schedule sooner rather than later will ensure that your needs can be met. Generally, a Saturday works well for most people, but classes can be scheduled on the occasional Sunday, or an afternoon into an evening class.

Space considerations

The ASMI course requires a space large enough for the number of students to sit and do their skills, a place to project the course material on a screen, and related equipment. There may also be a need to provide lodging and travel expenses depending on class location and timing.

The Accident Scene Management class is $75 per student, but there may be options to help reduce the cost to students. One idea is to get a sponsor for the class to help pay part of the cost. For instance, if you could get a business or individual to sponsor $25 or $50 of each student attending, that would cut down the cost for each person. There may possibly be foundations or other entities that might be willing to provide grant funding to assist with class costs too.

Make it happen

Inquiries for setting up classes can be made at: denninga@kci.net  or by phone at 970-768-5599. ABATE of Colorado, a motorcycle rights organization, has offered many of the classes and can be reached at www.abateofcolo.org or 303-789-3264 office. Act now to get your class scheduled!