Derwin you asked me a question about helmet removal in last nights chat

[dltang]

Sorry, I was busy at work and missed your question about why you do not remove a helmet at a motorcycle accident. I did say only if they needed an airway but I didn't get to answer the rest of your question. Here it is.
If breathing is taking place normally, leave the helmet on!
It is very dangerous to remove someone's helmet if they have some type of cervical/back injury. The only time it should be removed is if the airway is blocked and cannot be cleared with the helmet on or if it is necessary to perform CPR.

If the airway is blocked or there's no respiratory action, then you should remove the helmet. The method recommended by the American College of Orthopedic Surgeons requires two people.

Open visor, remove glasses and unbuckle the chin strap. One person should be to the side of the head of the victim and the other person should be directly behind the head of the victim, stabilizing the head to avoid excess movement.

The person on the side puts one hand under the victim's head supporting at the base of the skull. They put their other hand on the jaw bone/chin . They will be supporting the head, so it is important to get a good solid grip. Keep some tension in the arms so that if the person pulling the helmet slips the victim's head won't drop.

The person sitting behind the head will then slowly pull the helmet directly back and off of the head. Watch out for catching the nose on the chin-guard on full-face helmets, as well as ears and earrings. It's normal to rotate the helmet forward as you pull it off, but not this time. Pull straight back so that the head and neck are not rotated.

After the helmet is off, put a leather jacket or something under the head of the victim! If the person supporting their head lets go, their head will drop a good 4 inches or so. This would not be good. If possible, it would be best to have a third person ready with something to place under the victim's head once the helmet is off.

After the helmet is off, the person behind the head should again hold the victim's head to promote cervical immobilization.

I hope this information helps with anyone that is ever on the scene of a motorcycle accident.

 

[Derwin]

Good answer, and great advice. Hopefully we will never be unfortunate to be involved in such a thing.

Derwin

 

[NancysToy]

Well, explained, Deb. I wish half the EMTs were as well as informed and trained as you. This is something that has always scared the heck out of me. Back in the days when I was driving dragsters, and my wife was in the push car, she had strict orders to insist they leave my helmet on, until it could be cut off with a bone saw at the hospital. Of course in those days, there were no back-boards or cervical collars. I had one friend paralyzed by having his helmet removed, and another die, so it was a mortal fear...and still is to some extent. A few years back I crashed a BMW, and was knocked unconscious. I woke up with the EMTs working on me. First thing I realized was that my helmet had been removed. Petrified me! Everything was fine, and I was already collared and strapped to a backboard, but I would have been much more comfortable if the EMTs had known to leave it on. Passed out again right away, so didn't labor the point, but had lots of thoughts of the unpleasant possibilities, afterward.
-Scotty

 

[docdoru]

Do not move the patient. DO NOT remove the helmet. Improperly removing the helmet can cause spinal chord injury, paralysis or even death (you can get a free helmet sticker that says: “WARNING - Do Not Remove Helmet Until I am Examined By A Doctor” by calling Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) at 1-(800) - ON-A-BIKE.

 

[hevnbound]

Do not move the patient. DO NOT remove the helmet. Improperly removing the helmet can cause spinal chord injury, paralysis or even death (you can get a free helmet sticker that says: “WARNING - Do Not Remove Helmet Until I am Examined By A Doctor” by calling Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) at 1-(800) - ON-A-BIKE.

+1 on all of the posts above on this subject! Excellent info.

I have a Medical Information Carrier System on each of my three helmets. I have about fifteen of these systems in case anyone wants one. Send me an email at [email protected]. It gives me a little more peace of mind knowing that I have this information on my helmet.

You can also check out this web site: http://www.meds.org/catalog/motorcyclehelmetsystem-p-85.html

Aerostitch Rider Wearhouse has a little more sophisticated system you can see at: http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Rescue-Facts-Emergency-Packs-p-18290.html

I sincerely urge you to place something like this on your helmet (or, in the case of Aerostitch, somehwere on you body).

Here are a couple of pictures of the Medical Information Carrier System I use. Although it's hard to make it out, the picture of the carrier itself is on my black helmet

 

[Danimal]

Good information!

I've been first on the scene of more car accidents then I care to remember... but never a cycle accident.

I've never really given the helmet issue much thought... but it makes perfect sense NOT to remove it... and I bet most people have a first reaction to remove the helmet... just like people seem to want to get out of their car after an accident.