First Aid Training
September 8, 2025
Joe, Paul and Richard joined in with members of Hutt Valley Thunderbolts to receive First Aid training delivered by Peak Safety. It was a mix of classroom sessions with discussions and exercises and going down to the track and discussing and responding to scenarios that we may come across at BMX.
We started off looking at a couple of incidents in groups and how we would manage the scene, this is even before getting to respond. With our events being outdoors, potentially worried parents and friends it really got me thinking. We then went onto the basics of responding to an accident.
With the forecast against us we headed down to the track.
The senarios were hands on and each casualty had been briefed first on what had happened leading to the accident as well as their injuries. We started off with the basic where we got to go through our list of things to check starting off with making sure there were was no danger to us or others, was the rider responce, sending for help if required and checking air ways, breathing and circulation. Then we started our secondary survey where we chacked the rider over from head to foot to identify the injury.
The scenarios become more complex as we moved towards accidents involving riders who we suspected may have neck or spinal injuries. This involved someone supporting the head to stablise the spine. In reality it can take some time for an ambulance to arrive and lying on the track even for a short period of time can be uncomfitable. We practiced how to roll a rider on their side so a mat or blanket can be placed under them to make it a little bit more comfitable. This involved us work in groups of three, with one supporting the head and two prople all working together to roll the rider on their side and slipping a blanket or mat underneath.
Oue time at the track was very hands on which I found very valuable and everyone got a chance to be in different positions.
Taken a spill after trying to keep up with the Sprockets.
The racing down at the track must have been pretty full on as on turn two three riders went over the corner together.
After lunch it was back to some classroom lessons including CPR and using defibrillators. The Rescue Anne dolls had bluetooth connectivity so we could seen on the screen if we were keeping up the 120 compressions per minute and if our compressions were deep enough.
We then discussed some of the more common injuries that we may deal with, namely cuts and grazes, discolations, broken bones and sprains. The examples from others with accidents from different events made it a lot easier to link the theory with what we may respond to at the track.
As the rain hadn’t come through we went back down to the track to practice our bandaging.
Joe after taking a tumble
Finally we practiced removing full face helmets of each other when there is a suspect neck or spinal injury.
A lot was taken away from the days training. The big take away for me was looking at the incident and the injury and weighing up is this an emergency that requires an ambulance or is this something that we can provide first aid for, make the rider as comfitable as we can and take them to the hospital. I had also never thought about how to safely remove a riders helmet when there my be neck or spinal injuries.
Big thank you to Hutt Valley for allowing us to join in and a shout out to Peak Safety for an engaging course and putting us in scenarios we hadn’t really thought about.