Don't miss the last Annual WIM/TTRR ride!

 In typical fashion this ride will be escorted and will feature two days of parties and food. Enjoy two nights at the same hotel with a hospitality room all for a tax deductible donation that benefits motorcyclists!

Check out our itinerary that starts at the CC Rider's Clubhouse in Madison on July 14th. www.accidentscene.org/womeninmotion/signup.htm

June 2011 Newsletter :: AUSTRALIA!!!!

Accident Scene Management – AUSTRALIA!!!!

Early this May I found myself in the bush chasing mobs of kangaroo in a white station wagon that my friend Oz called his “tractor”. What led up to this experience you ask?

One year ago, Australian Motorcyclist Phil Lemin was in the USA for 6 weeks on vacation. He stumbled upon a popular American Rally at Lake George, NY called Americade. He stopped in his tracks when he walked past a stage where Accident Scene Management, Inc. instructors Gail and David Riley were doing a presentation on ASMI. As a Paramedic the topic was of interest to him and the more he listened the more he realized that ASMI was needed in Australia as well! Phil returned to the states in October to complete instructor training. He returned to Australia and worked on making connections and setting up a nonprofit. ASMI materials needed to be converted with pictures of people riding on the wrong side of the road substituted, etc.

Finally the time came that my friend and ASMI instructor Cat Hammes and I were flown to Melbourne to officially kick off ASMA. We taught additional instructors and spoke with press as well as others who are key to moving the program forward. They were so excited to know that there is a program out there that has been successful and is motorcycle trauma specific! Currently there are many people in Australia taking a CPR/1st Aid class with helmet removal called “Motorcycle Trauma First Aid”. It is taught by non-motorcyclists. They were like sponges soaking up the information and were excited to know that this training could make such a difference in Australia’s motorcycle safety efforts geared toward reducing injuries and fatalities. The Australian Govt has approved funds to examine helmet removal techniques so Phil is now working with them using what we have learned so far here in the states about one person removal.

So people keep asking “what is it like in Australia”? Well the best word I have for it is “charming”! It’s a lot like the USA with these exceptions:

Everything is opposite: seasons, time, north is our south, etc…..

They drive on the wrong side of the road which leads to a feeling that you are doing something terribly wrong (I loved it)!

They eat some funny things like Fairy Floss and Vegemite

They speak English but say funny things like “No Drama” (AKA No problem), You must be Buggered (Tired), He was Crook (Ill), 

Not only can Aborignies play a Digery Do but I met one man who could make Digery Do Rap music!

So what was my favorite thing? The people of course! While we were fortunate to be given motorcycles to ride by Harley Davidson we didn’t get a lot of time to ride them. We did, however, connect with a number of the people who rode motorcycles and a number of them were women. Women who found themselves empowered by riding! With only 3% of women riding in Australia it took me back in time to 24 years ago when I got my first bike.  Women are just starting to feel like the movement to ride is picking up. The first night we were there we heard about a Women’s Ride and we joined the group which included a guy dressed in pink. The following weekend we coordinated a very cold and wet ride for “Harley’s Women around the Globe”. Brett Lemin arranged a route that took us on some beautiful twisty roads to St. Andrews Pub.  Many of the people we met that first night and at classes we taught came along and we have been communicating via Facebook since!

People have also asked if I’d go back and my answer is a resounding YES!!!!  Now that I have experience I’d try to go when the weather is nicer and now that I have Australian friends I’d insist on another group ride. They know too that we will reciprocate as hosts for them if they come to the states. Friends around the world, ASMI training and a new riding experience – what could be better?

For more information and pictures go to www.accidentscene.org/events.htm

June 2011 Newsletter :: Sun Protection

Summer has returned!  Time to remember sun protection

Steve Johnson

Road Guardians Program Director

Steve@roadguardians.org

Ok, so this is the time of year that we’ve all been waiting for, right?  That perfect riding weather warm summer days and cool nights.  But, there are things that can be done to make that time more enjoyable – and I’m not talking about bike upgrades…

First, wear sunscreen.  Even on the cloudy days you can still get sun burned.  Sounds silly, but who has been wind and sunburned to pain the day after an awesome ride?  Not fun, but true for many of us, I did it Memorial Day spent the whole day out in the wind which kept me comfortable but did not protect me from the burn of the sun.  The next morning my sunburn reminded me of our trips to Sturgis with Tiger and Teri.  Every time we stopped, Teri would pull out her sunscreen and put some on and remind the group.  I just followed her lead and spent ten days in the sun without a burn.  The trick is to keep reapplying every time you stop, just once in the morning is not enough.  I wear a higher SPF when riding due to the fact I am going to be out in the sun all day, usually for several days at a time.

The National Cancer Institute recommends the use sunscreen that protects against UV radiation along with wearing long sleeve shirts, long pants, sun hats, and sunglasses, when outdoors.  The latest “gear” in sun protection is clothing that has a UPF rating, which for those of us that don’t wear leathers every time we’re out, is worth considering.  I haven’t seen these types clothes made and marketed for the biker market yet, but they are available in hiking/fishing gear department.

Second, stay hydrated.  I know it’s something we all have heard million times however when riding in a group reminding each other of these simple precautions helps keep everyone safe.  Sunstroke is a real risk and it can creep up someone riding you have the breeze to make you feel comfortable and even help sweat evaporate away.  According to PDR health online, Dehydration contributes to sunstroke. Dehydration happens when your body excretes more water than it takes in. For example, increased water loss through excessive urination is a common side effect of caffeine, alcohol, and many prescription and over-the-counter medications. When the water supply in your body is low, cells begin to pull water from the bloodstream, forcing organs to work harder. Dehydration can also affect the skin's ability to cool the body efficiently. The heart must pump an adequate supply of blood to the skin in order for the skin to cool the body. When you are dehydrated, the blood's volume is reduced, so the cooling process becomes less effective. The taxing effect on the body escalates into the symptoms of heat-related illness. Prolonged exposure to the sun contributes to sunstroke. When body fluids are not adequately replenished, sun exposure can cause rapid dehydration. Even on mild or overcast days, the sun can have dangerous health effects.

Preventing heat / sunstroke includes:

Drink plenty of non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic fluids during the day, even if you are not thirsty.

Replenish water lost through sweat.  On a bike, this means every time that you stop.  I have found that gas stations often times a gallon of cold water is only a little more than the small bottles, grab a few of cups from the soda fountain and share it with the group.

Stay in cool, shaded, or air-conditioned areas when you stop.

Start your day early to take advantage of the cool morning and take a “siesta” after lunch.

Wear cool, non-restrictive, light-colored clothing.  I personally avoid wearing dark colored shirts on hot days.

Symptoms of heat / sunstroke include:  headache that starts suddenly, rapid heartbeat, muscle cramps, vomiting, hot and dry skin (not sweating anymore), and feeling faint or dizzy.

So, let’s say you’re out on a ride and someone pulls over not feeling well and you suspect sunstroke. What should you do?

Move the individual to a cool area or bring the shade to them by making a canopy out of an emergency blanket or jacket.  Provide cool drinks preferably a sports drink containing both sugar and salt or bottled water and electrolyte tabs.  Remove any constricting clothing and apply cool water or ice packs to the skin.  Drinking iced fluids also helps return the body temperature to a safe level.  If someone does not respond to fluids and shade, call 911.

Even though we all know about sun screen and the importance of staying hydrated, like I found out this Memorial Day, it is all too easy to  over look.  So when riding with others spread the word at stops to remind each other.  I know for me when reminded I really appreciate it especially the next day when I am sunburn free!

In closing we have some great opportunities coming up get together and well supporting Road Guardians and Accident Scene Management.  Every Tuesday night is bike night at the Road Guardians Compound in Big Bend.  On July 10^th we will be hosting a Bike and Car Show with a live band at the Compound.  Then the event of the year the annual Women in Motion Ride July 14 – 17 including a pig roast at Tommy Thompson’s ranch, this ride is always a highlight of the summer for Cindy and me.

Till next month get out and enjoy life in the wind and ride safe.

June 2011 Newsletter :: Defensive and Cautious Biking Tips

The following article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of ASMi or Road Guardians. This article is edited and reprinted with permission of the authors.

Defensive and Cautious Biking Tips

John Garley, Safety Officer, Wild Prairie HOG

Chris Hawver, Co-Founder, Road Guardians; Director, Wild Prairie HOG; Board Member, ASMI

Loud pipes may save lives, but there are other items that are also effective!

1.    Consider wearing a helmet

2.    Do not drink and ride, not even one beer. Stay alert and stay hydrated. How much hydration? Take your body weight and divide it in half. That is the number of ounces of water (non-caffeine drinks) you should drink, at a minimum, per day.

3.    Add distance to the vehicle in front of you. With more and more people texting and emailing – distracted – they are most likely to brake suddenly. At least double the space in front of you.

4.    Use your High Beam all day.

5.    Assume you are invisible.  Even with blaze orange, assume you are invisible.

6.    At intersections – stop signs and lights – establish eye contact with drivers in vehicles.

7.    Watch adjacent driver's head and steering wheel for early indications of lane change or turning.  Do not wait for the vehicle itself to start to move.

8.    Have your thumb on the horn button when aside another vehicle.

9.    Take another riding class every couple of years. Be a life-long learner.

10.  Two bikes are more visible than one – ride with a friend.

11.  Attend an Accident Scene Management class – know what to do when you encounter a crash.

12.  Go around the block with successive right turns rather than one left turn against traffic.

13.  Use your turn signals and hand signals – consider hi-vis glove covers.

14.  Carry and use clear glasses in the evening/night.  Never extend sunglass use.

15.  Scratched clear glasses or helmet shields hinder night vision (headlight halo) - get new ones.

16.  Choose which side of the lane you want and control your ride on that side.

17.  If stopped at night, flash your brake light.  Do not hold the brake on continually.

18.  Think of deer as Mother Nature's Suicide Terrorists. A texting or otherwise distracted driver is not much better.

19.  Wear sufficient clothing to prevent getting cold or wet.

20.  Every oncoming car can turn left in front of you without warning.  Anticipate and plan accordingly; this includes proper insurance coverage.