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Helmet removal...after the get-off

I'd be more concerned about the responders knowing how to properly use that item, or worse, some unskilled bystander deciding that they could use it to remove the helmet.

Helmet removal is a standard skill that is taught to emergency responders and is not so difficult when you know how to do it right. I does require two people to do, one to stabilze the patients c-spine, the other to remove the helmet. Typically, unless the situation is life threatening, the need to remove the helmet is not the highest priority anyway, it's usually left until the assessment and stabilization are done or well under way.
 
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I've seen some stickers alerting first responders about the possible danger in helmet removal. (Don't recall where I saw them...)
 
I usually wear my modular helmet which is easier to remove after a crash.I have not had a crash bad enough to involve paramedics,but being a BEEMER rider,I am required to have all safety devises in place...helmet-check,armor pants and jacket-check,armor gloves-check,riding boots-check,air bags front rear and sides-check check and check.:D
 
I'd be more concerned about the responders knowing how to properly use that item, or worse, some unskilled bystander deciding that they could use it to remove the helmet.

Helmet removal is a standard skill that is taught to emergency responders and is not so difficult when you know how to do it right. I does require two people to do, one to stabilze the patients c-spine, the other to remove the helmet. Typically, unless the situation is life threatening, the need to remove the helmet is not the highest priority anyway, it's usually left until the assessment and stabilization are done or well under way.

Good advice in this previous post.

I was certified an EMT since 1976, rode as an ambulance attendant for 15 years and did 11 years as an ER technician at Memorial Medical Center (Sheboygan, WI) on the 'graveyard' shift.

Unless my initial assessment from the neck up indicated an altered level of consciousness, unequal pupils, compromised airway, skull trauma, bleeding out from a head wound or cerebrospinal fluid coming from an ear (both can be assessed by a finger sweep inside a worn helmet), we would leave the helmet in place for prompt transport, securing the patient's head to a longboard and not disturbing C-spine alignment.
 
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Good points:)

I suspect a lot of helmets would have to come off too, to establish if a person is breathing? I'm not a rescue person, just asking. I've had a bad head injury and the helmet would probably be more comfy on those backboards. Those guys straped me to a board, head injury and all. It hurt! Good thing they did, as I went into shock, needed oxygen and shook uncontrolably. Won't forget that day. Not m/c related, my injury. A fall from a rooftop:(. Thank you, Paramedics out there in the world:)...My Daughter today is one too. Randy
 
I suspect a lot of helmets would have to come off too, to establish if a person is breathing? I'm not a rescue person, just asking. I've had a bad head injury and the helmet would probably be more comfy on those backboards. Those guys straped me to a board, head injury and all. It hurt! Good thing they did, as I went into shock, needed oxygen and shook uncontrolably. Won't forget that day. Not m/c related, my injury. A fall from a rooftop:(. Thank you, Paramedics out there in the world:)...My Daughter today is one too. Randy

Glad you came out OK on the other end of your "up on the rooftop" experience!

Helmet removal is problematical. By that, I mean different circumstances and mechanisms of injury dictate different approaches by EMS.

Conscious patients w/o altered levels of consciousness - often helmet left in place when cervical injury suspected. Best removed in the ER, after x-rays and where more hands are available and complications can be managed.

However, should airway issues (inlcuding potential vomitting) become a concern, the helmet needs to be off, for example, to initiate a modified jaw thrust (a way to open the airway for breathing assistance with minimal disturbance of the C-spine).

My hat ( or helmet ) is off to your daughter for being motivated to be trained to paramedic standards and be of help to those in need. We need more like her.

Ride Safe, and keep your decorations this year at ground level! :whistle
 
To change the subject a bit;
Where or how would and EMT responder look for one's I.C.E. (in case of emergency) info? If I had an ICE file on my phone, or on a memory card in my sleeve pocket, or a written note on my chin strap, would it be found? - assuming I'm unresponsive.
 
I wonder, how many EMT/paramedics/ER docs/nurses who are non riders, can figure out how to open all the different modular helmets? A full face is a no brainer, cut the strap (if needed) and remove.

But I've noticed that with modular helmets, there isn't a 'standard' in mechanisms. Caberg is different than Nolan is different than Schuberth is different than Shoei. (Those are the modulars in the house, can't comment on any others).

Hmm... I may ask some of them EMT & fire dudes that I work with if they are familiar with the different helmets.
 
I've seen some stickers alerting first responders about the possible danger in helmet removal. (Don't recall where I saw them...)

I think this is the sticker your talking about. We got them at a Safety Booth in Daytona.
 

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I wonder, how many EMT/paramedics/ER docs/nurses who are non riders, can figure out how to open all the different modular helmets? A full face is a no brainer, cut the strap (if needed) and remove.

But I've noticed that with modular helmets, there isn't a 'standard' in mechanisms. Caberg is different than Nolan is different than Schuberth is different than Shoei. (Those are the modulars in the house, can't comment on any others).

Hmm... I may ask some of them EMT & fire dudes that I work with if they are familiar with the different helmets.

You raise excellent points. Here's a suggestion for chartered clubs this winter:

Schedule a meeting when you can invite the local ambulance crew to attend for the evening. Discuss with them your concerns as riders, and learn from their demo's how helmets are properly removed (you may need to do this yourself someday on a lonely road for your buddy/passenger!).

The ambulance crew can then take back to the shop your comments about ICE (In Case of Emergency) and where to look for it, as rmarkr brought up in an earlier post.

Could be a Win-Win afternoon/evening for both of you! :thumb
 
and someone on another thread mentioned donating used helmets to your local first responders to use in their training. I thought it was an excellent idea and have been passing it along.

Holly
 
Well, I had a quick chat with one of our fire dudes today. He also rides, so is familiar with modulars. He did mention, though, that unless they absolutely MUST remove a helmet to save someones life, it stays on until the rider gets to the ER.

But he did say that most of the guys probably wouldn't have a clue how to open one up (just lift the facepiece, not remove the whole thing). I did kinda mention that if they needed to intubate, they better know how to open the stupid thing.

So I offered to bring our helmets to the stations and let them look and practice. I may even get a hold of the Honda dealer to see if we could maybe borrow one or two of the display modulars. he said he'd bring it up with the Captain and let me know. If this works out, I will offer to do this at some of the other fire districts that we work with (two counties, seven fire districts each plus ambulance co's)

With all the awesome mountain roads and countless miles of USFS trails out here, I think it might be a good thing.
 
Well, I had a quick chat with one of our fire dudes today. He also rides, so is familiar with modulars. He did mention, though, that unless they absolutely MUST remove a helmet to save someones life, it stays on until the rider gets to the ER.

But he did say that most of the guys probably wouldn't have a clue how to open one up (just lift the facepiece, not remove the whole thing). I did kinda mention that if they needed to intubate, they better know how to open the stupid thing.

So I offered to bring our helmets to the stations and let them look and practice. I may even get a hold of the Honda dealer to see if we could maybe borrow one or two of the display modulars. he said he'd bring it up with the Captain and let me know. If this works out, I will offer to do this at some of the other fire districts that we work with (two counties, seven fire districts each plus ambulance co's)

With all the awesome mountain roads and countless miles of USFS trails out here, I think it might be a good thing.

This is an excellent idea. I will contact my local fire stations and do the same. If more members do the same perhaps all of us will be part of the solution and maybe save someone one day.:thumb
 
Out of curiosity and not putting any plugs in for this company.

Has anyone else taken the courses offered by Accident Scene Management Inc. in Wisconsin.

They have two or three different classes that teach the basics on caring for victims.

The advanced course goes into helmet removal and the reasons why you would do so. Like so may other classes they are time limited so the information covers the basics and gives you a base to grow from if you desire.

The owners are riders and have taylored these classes towards MC type injuries.

Roy
 
Out of curiosity and not putting any plugs in for this company.

Has anyone else taken the courses offered by Accident Scene Management Inc. in Wisconsin.

They have two or three different classes that teach the basics on caring for victims.

The advanced course goes into helmet removal and the reasons why you would do so. Like so may other classes they are time limited so the information covers the basics and gives you a base to grow from if you desire.

The owners are riders and have taylored these classes towards MC type injuries.

Roy

They do excellent work, Roy.

When I was assigned as an escort motor officer for a full week at Harley's 100th Anniversary (2003), many of us (myself included) took the course, as they offered it to the 125 motor officers present as part of a group of seminars we could select from.

Again, excellent assessment/immobilization material presented, including helmet removal. :thumb
 
Thought I would give this a bump seeing the discussion on the success of Boxflyer’s inflatable vest success story.
Ride safe.
OM
 
To change the subject a bit;
Where or how would and EMT responder look for one's I.C.E. (in case of emergency) info? If I had an ICE file on my phone, or on a memory card in my sleeve pocket, or a written note on my chin strap, would it be found? - assuming I'm unresponsive.

ICE information is in my phone. The emergency response people I know know to look in the persons phone. I have two names/numbers under contacts listed simply as ICE-In case of emergency
 
My indirect experience with the importance of caution when removing a helmet was up in Alaska. A friend, Paul, was riding a Concurs back from Coldfoot on the Dalton Hwy; he rode it up from Miami, FL. His girlfriend of over 30 years was behind him in a rental SUV; she flew up to spend a few days with him in Alaska. She said once they got on the paved Elliot Hwy Paul stopped on the roadside when it started raining to put on some rain-gear. Afterwards as he began to pull back on the road a moose crossed in front of Paul so he slowed to let the moose pass. Once the moose disappeared into the brush he began to accelerate the moose bolted out of the brush back onto the road and crashed into Paul and the Concurs, The girlfriend said she saw Paul's head slap on the road with great force. The bike, Paul and the moose were all down, but the moose got up and stomped on Paul 3 or 4 times and then walked back into the brush. When the girlfriend got to Paul she saw that his helmet, a Nolan modular, had rotated 90* so Paul's face was where an ear would normally be, and Paul was gasping for air. The girlfriend was a RN and worked in the ER of a trauma center in Miami. She knew to leave the helmet alone but also knew she needed to clear Paul's airway or he might die. Fortunately, she also knew how to support his neck while getting the helmet off or turned (I'm not sure which she did). We were brought into this when the girlfriend called us for help from the hospital. Paul was being evaced to Seattle and she was going with him. We took possession of all their gear and turned in her rental SUV.

Paul had 3 cracked vertebra in his neck as well was some cracked vertebra in his lower back, his collarbone was displaced, a wrist was fractured as was an ankle. He also had a head injury and was unconscious until he got to Seattle. One can only wonder what damage would have been done if an untrained person had tried to remove the helmet. Paul was up and moving around his hospital room five days later with casts and a halo on. Six months later he was fully recovered with the exception of some loss of strength in one arm. The Concurs club replaced his Concurs that had 140K miles on it with one that had a mere 70K miles.
 
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