What is FBoS training? This first aid course has been developed with motorcyclists in mind. It covers CPR, rescue breaths, crash helmet removal and other necessary first aid skills. It gives students the confidence to know what to do at the scene of a motorcycle accident. Bleeding. Casualty movements. Communication and hygiene. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Crash helmet removal. Emergencies in public. Head injury. Primary survey. Rescue breaths. Shock. Unconscious casualty.

Myself (AndyW) and Dave Hobbs were lucky enough to secure a couple of places on an FBoS course May 2009 set up by Jim Newman of SRSP (Somerset Road Safety Partnership) and had a great day. FBoS is a course designed specifically for motorcyclists by the ambulance services (original concept by Lancashire Ambulance Service although available country wide now I think). The course came about in response to enquiries from motorcycle rider groups/organisations who did not feel that traditional first aid courses addressed the specific issues encountered at the scene of a road traffic accident (RTA) involving a motorcyclist.

Basically the course teaches you what to do if you come across a road traffic collision, such as assessing the situation, making the area safe, what action to take, how and when to remove a helmet, also CPR, logrolling (a technique for moving the 'patient' into a safe position), recovery positions and more.

We spent the morning covering the theory side of things with presentations and videos with hands-on sessions and training in the afternoon. Very well presented, very informative and with lots of involvement required by attendees. We went through an awful lot in the day - self preservation, communications and then moved into practical aspects of coming upon a scene - plenty of audience participation!

Understanding the when's and where's of moving casualties, when & how to remove helmets with great emphasis on controlling the spine. Strange but vomit was the subject of a great deal of the training! :-0  This is a killer and was quite rightly discussed in a lot of the days presentation - you really don't want to swallow your 'puke' boys n' girls! Clearing the airway and then moving the 'casualty' so he/she can 'puke' in a safe manner was part of a log roll technique we learned amongst other things.

Kissing the old Ressuci Annie was a delight and I think Dave got her phone number! (he made me delete the image) lol

Ironically, I found much of the practical sessions very difficult with my 'bad' leg [irony = bike crash injuries :-( ] as, as you can see from the photos above you need to get down on your hands and knees for most/all of the procedures!)

Everyone found the course interesting and beneficial, hopefully we will never need to use our new found skills but who knows?
The course lasts about 7 hours, including lunch and coffee breaks and you get a certificate on passing the course.

If you get a chance to go on a FBOS course have a go - cost will depend on numbers (we were VERY lucky as SRSP were subsidising our course) but you may expect to pay £25 or more per person.  

Some insurance companies offer a discount on premiums for holders of the FBoS certificate ;-)

Links

http://www.fbos.co.uk

Somerset Road Safety Partnership 

Ride Safe, STAY SAFE!

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