Practical guides – Moto-Net.Com Guide: How to react well to a road accident? –

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Guide Site: How to react to a traffic accident ?

Practical guides - Moto-Net.Com Guide: How to react well to a road accident? -

In the event of a traffic accident, three essential words should be remembered: protect, alert and rescue. Site details "P.A.S." step by step in the actions to be taken when you are a victim or witness of such an event and ask a specialist, Serge Celerin, on the specifics related to a motorcycle accident.

How to react to a traffic accident? Whether you are on a motorbike or scooter, bicycle or car, truck or tractor, the answer is in just three words: protect, alert and rescue. On their official website, if you attend such an event … Or you will one day attend.

Before delivering this little practical guide (at the bottom of the article), Site spoke with Serge Celerin: this senior reserve officer at the Republican Guard has founded and has been running SCE-Performance for ten years, a company with multiple missions. .. all filled by motorbike !

  • MNC of December 19, 2019 :
  • MNC special file :

"He works for radio stations, the press and television", we learn on its official website, and "he participates in the safety of very large sporting events and shows around the world (Dakar in 2005, Dancing Water in Macao, races mechanics at Le Mans, Paris Triathlon, Peter Pan in Brussels, etc.) ".

But if MNC turned to Serge Celerin to write this special "accident" article, it is also and above all because this Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite (SVP!) Worked 16 years in the Sapeurs brigade. Paris firefighters and that he was responsible for their Silver Helmets between 1994 and 2009. Interview.

Site: Certain procedures of the "P.A.S." do they change when you are a biker, victim or witness of an accident ?
Serge Celerin: Let’s agree on one point already. It is assumed that the person in question is not a first aid or has no training? Well. The first thing is to protect. To do this, all means must be made available to avoid a further accident. On a motorcycle, it’s true, you rarely have a triangle … But you may be able, on some motorcycles, to switch off the ignition while leaving the pilot lights on. This allows the machine to be viewed.

MNC: Can you place your motorcycle ahead of the accident as a warning, which is strongly discouraged with a larger car? ?
S. C .: It is not a question of power, but of common sense. You are on the highway where the guys arrive at 280 km / h (German highway therefore, Editor’s note!), We do not even think about it. Expressways in this case are very dangerous. However, you must ensure your own safety before assisting others. And even if someone else is in danger of death: there is no point in having two kill each other! It’s not that I don’t like the guy in question, I don’t know him.

MNC: The triangle can be replaced on a motorcycle by glow sticks more convenient to store under the saddle or to stow in a bag ?
S. C .: Absolutely. If you are with someone, that person can go up the road and wave the sticks to warn other users. You, you stay there to help.

MNC: Exactly, what should we do ?
S. C .: Establish a report of the situation so as to give a report and a call that will bear. An average person has a 5% chance of saving the life of an accident victim through their direct action, say. On the other hand, a good call, fast, clear, crisp, and precise, has a 95% chance. You don’t have to be a super good "technician": protect, alert and rescue (cover the person, shake both hands and tell him about your last vacation, for example), it will be fine.

MNC: You never take off a biker helmet ?
S. C .: Very simple. If the person is suffocating or in cardiac arrest, it will have to be removed. Otherwise, there is no urgency. Unless the biker wants to do it himself, if he feels it right. But be careful, you stand facing the biker, facing his face, and you look at him. Why ? Because it happened to me once I allowed the guy to take off his helmet because he was having trouble breathing. But when I started to remove his helmet, I noticed that the skull cap was following … I stopped him immediately: "no, no, wait, you’ll be better off with".

MNC: We must try to keep a neutral tone, not to worry…
S. C .: Yes because your attitude influences the injured. If he feels confident, his condition will often develop in a positive way. On the contrary, if the panic is palpable, its condition can deteriorate very quickly..

MNC: What to do with the motorcycle ?
S. C .: Ah, that is very important. Always stand between the rider and his motorcycle. Seeing his motorcycle, the rider will make a projection on his own state and if it is sprayed, he will have more difficulty recovering from it..

MNC: We recommend stalling the cars in the event of instability. Should you straighten a motorcycle that appears to be in good condition? We evacuate it ?
S. C .: Two scenarios! If it does not represent a danger you do not touch it – especially if there is body – and you freeze the scene by taking pictures. If it represents a danger, the emergency prevails so we can move it if necessary. But as much as possible, when arriving at the scene, try to take some pictures. Well, if it’s dark, you take two hours to put on your flash and it doesn’t help, you forget !

MNC: Photos are for sending to Paris Match ?!
S. C .: No, of course. But at the time, we never think about the after-accident. However, it is often more dramatic than the accident itself. It’s horrible to say, but you have to think about the after.

MNC: There are concrete cases where the photos were sorely lacking ?
S. C .: Ah of course. From the moment when everything has been moved and if there is no witness, how to reassign everyone’s responsibilities? I did accident reconstructions, but it was sometimes very complicated because you had to work from simple testimonials, or even without anything at all. Whereas with a series of photos, everything is there.

MNC: Without bodywork to protect them, motorcyclists are more seriously injured than motorists. Should we put them in the lateral safety position (PLS) ? 
S. C .: So of two things one. If you don’t have any first aid training, you don’t and you don’t touch anything. You cover, you hold hands, you talk, period. If your alert has been properly carried out and help is on the way, great. Otherwise, but if and only if the witness is trained, he can act, apply the methods he has learned and mastered.

MNC: So to sum up ?
S. C .: When you arrive at the scene of an accident, you try to post someone upstream to warn the others, you take two or three photos and you interview the people who witnessed the scene. You ask for the names of the witnesses and you write them down. You will see, with emotion, people respond spontaneously and without lying. You look at the extent of the damage, the number of victims and their condition. Too bad if you do not have the ability to establish an accurate medical assessment.

MNC: All this in anticipation of the call…
S. C .: It is the most important. "Hello firefighters, I am Serge Celerin, I am in such and such a place, I am in the presence of a traffic accident involving a motorcycle, a car, etc. There are two injured, moving, talking, bleeding (or not), I have witnesses with me, we are waiting there "… And you do not hang up! You wait for the person on the phone to release you.

MNC: Then you have to stay with the injured. We cover it, even if it’s too hot ?
S. C .: Yes, because emotional backlash or bleeding always generates heat loss. Victims always end up feeling cold.

MNC: People trying to help them have to keep their cool, in addition to using common sense. Not easy in the heat of the moment !
S. C .: We totally agree. And it’s better to do nothing than do anything. But at a minimum we call for help, we say who we are, where we are and if there are any injuries.

MNC: And how to react when you’re a biker and you fall all alone ?
S. C .: It’s very complicated to answer. There is no systematic answer. You have to know yourself well and know your body. I know that on a personal level, I am very happy to practice judo because it gives a good conscience of its capacities, of its small injuries, etc..

MNC: Speaking of judo … Do professional bikers (gendarmerie, police, etc.) learn to fall? ?
S. C .: No, and that’s interesting. In fact it’s a bit of a shame, we should! A reflex that we should have is to spread the arms to avoid rotations because the latter increase the risk of injury. And above all, it allows you to have straight elbows, so that they do not come into opposition with the tarmac.

MNC: Oddly, some MotoGP riders bend their arms and place their hands on opposite collarbones !
S. C .: That is in the case of a forward fall, where it is better to regroup because we do not control the fall. The forward roll in judo, you can forget. On the other hand, in the event of a slip, you can try to manage as I explained earlier.

MNC: After a fall, we avoid leaving immediately, even if we feel good ?
S. C .: Yes, because if you get dizzy while riding your motorcycle, it’s nerd! You think you did well out of a simple bowl and you get over one, you further complicate your situation. So you have to take your time. It goes through work on breathing to lower your emotionality, as in sophrology. Inflate the lungs well, breathe correctly … And then you test your body, everywhere: flexions, extensions, rotations, stretching, you see how it goes and you spot any pain. After all, that’s what you do when you drop a precious or technical object: you pick it up and inspect it from every angle..

MNC: And how to deal with wounds, burns or other cuts ?
S. C .: As always, it depends on the context. There are no rules in this area. If you are alone on a tiny road in the depths of Lozère, you improvise, you have to do something! You clean the wound, you protect it and if you have to get back on the bike, you go. But if you fall in the heart of Paris, no problem, the operational coverage is such that help is there to take care of you within 5 minutes.

MNC: Should we recommend the number "ICE" (person to call in case of emergency) in the telephone, the little note in the wallet or other information which could be useful to the rescue? ?
S. C .: Nothing is unnecessary in this matter. It is still necessary to be sure of the information collected. If the victim borrowed a phone for example and you dial the ICE number to announce the accident or worse, the death of the owner of the phone … but that is precisely not the owner !

MNC: The telephone is a very personal tool that we rarely entrust…
S. C .: … but it can happen. It’s like those who put their blood type on their helmet … They never lend their helmet? It only takes once and pan, the accident. No luck. If in case of blood transfusion there is systematically a check of the group and the rh, it is not by chance.

MNC: Thank you Serge for all this information. A + and have a good trip !
S. C .: Thank you to Site for transmitting this type of information. See you soon !

How to react well in the event of a traffic accident ?

1. Protect

Ensure your own safety:

  • Turn on the hazard warning lights as soon as you slow down
  • Park carefully: it is important to prevent an additional accident from occurring and not to hinder the arrival of help
  • Equip all passengers with yellow safety vests
  • Shelter the passengers outside the vehicle, leaving through the doors least exposed to danger, and stand behind the safety barriers if they exist, or away from the road

Limit the risk of a further accident:

  • On the road, mark the accident with a triangle at least 30 meters in both directions of traffic, if it is possible to do so in complete safety (traffic density, visibility, etc.)
  • At night, illuminate damaged vehicles using the high beams of other vehicles present
  • Prohibit smoking near crashed vehicles to prevent fire
  • Keep traffic flowing when an accident occurs on the oncoming lane. Don’t slow down to watch.

Intervene on damaged vehicles:

  • Switch off the ignition of all vehicles
  • Disconnect the battery as sparks can cause a fire
  • Stall vehicles in the event of instability (shift a gear or apply the handbrake).

2. Alert

Alert the emergency services as quickly as possible because every minute counts !

In case of emergency, a single number: 112 !

112 is the free emergency number accessible anywhere in Europe, allowing you to reach the emergency services of the department who will send the appropriate means. The 112 works even from a locked phone or one without a SIM card.

Never think that another person has already alerted the emergency services and, as far as possible, remain calm, be brief and to the point. The information to be given in priority is the place and the situation:

  • The place: indicate, as precisely as possible, where you are to allow the emergency services to locate you quickly (road, city, street, number, emergency call terminal or kilometer point on the motorway or expressway …).
  • The nature of the problem (accident, fire, illness, etc.)
  • The type of accident
  • The number of vehicles involved
  • The condition and number of victims
  • The emergency operator on the telephone may ask you for details to which you must respond (particular dangers, etc.)

Never hang up first! The person who took charge of your call will tell you when they have all the information you need. Give your phone number and if possible, stay on site, in safety, to guide the emergency services.

On the motorway, expressways and tunnels (where we do not necessarily receive …), emergency call terminals are placed every 2 km and are available 24 hours a day. They allow you to be put in contact with the security checkpoint. The call is free and geo-located.

3. Rescue

While waiting for help to arrive, it is necessary to assist the injured without risking worsening their condition..

  • Leave victims in vehicles, except in the event of fire or other risk
  • If the victim is unconscious, loosen his clothes, clear his airways (nose and mouth). If the person – the rider … – is on the ground, put him in the lateral safety position or PLS (lying on his side with the top knee bent so that he does not roll over)
  • If necessary, perform cardiac massage
  • In case of profuse bleeding, compress the wound. If necessary, place a tourniquet over the wound to stop the bleeding
  • Cover the victims
  • Talk to the wounded, comfort them
  • Ask passers-by to help you … or to walk away !

Please note, certain actions should be avoided:

  • Do not move an injured person, except in cases of imminent danger (fire, risk of explosion, heavy traffic, etc.)
  • Do not remove a victim’s helmet
  • Do not give him neither to eat nor to drink
  • Never take clothes off a burnt person.

In the event that the victim must be moved, take certain precautions:

  • Do not pull it by the limbs
  • Avoid any twisting of his spine
  • Place the victim in PLS (lying on his side, etc.).

In the event of a vehicle fire:

  • If a fire starts, if possible, use an extinguisher to attack the fire under the engine and through the grille. Do not take unnecessary risks while waiting for help to arrive
  • If the fire is already declared, move away from the vehicle as quickly as possible, after having brought any victims to safety.
  • Never use water on a fire, it will make the situation worse
  • Do not lift the hood of a burning car
  • Beware of the risk of explosion, especially on LPG vehicles.

“Do you travel on motorized two-wheelers?” Ask the firefighters. "On a scooter or a motorbike, equip yourself properly by wearing your helmet, gloves, a jacket, thick pants and reinforced shoes. The slalom between vehicles is to be avoided, be extremely careful when going up the line". Good luck, have a good trip !

Finally, Site allows itself to conclude with this little reminder of the law…

Article 223-6 of the Penal Code:

  • Will be punished (five years imprisonment and 75,000 euros fine) whoever voluntarily refrains from bringing to a person in danger the assistance that, without risk for him or for third parties, he could lend him either by his action personal, or by provoking a.

Article 434-10 of the Penal Code:

  • The fact, for any driver of a land, river or sea vehicle or machine, knowing that he has just caused or caused an accident, of not stopping and thus attempting to escape criminal liability or civil he may have incurred, is punished by three years imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros.

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