Firefighters provide safety training for bikers

12.00 | 12 March 2014 | | 21 comments

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has launched a training initiative to reduce the number and severity of motorcycle casualties across the county.

The Biker Down course is designed for riders of motorcycles, mopeds and scooters, of all ages and experience. The course is free to attend and teaches practical skills to help bikers avoid collisions, and gives motorcycle-specific first aid training.

Biker Down was devised in Kent but is now being delivered by the HFRS Fire Bike Team at local fire stations across Hertfordshire. The course teaches essential first-aid and gives advice to bikers about what to do should they find themselves first on the scene of a motorcycle collision.

The course comprises three modules: accident scene management; motorcycle-specific first-aid training; and classroom-based tuition on safer riding techniques.

Participants receive a certificate of attendance, a biker safety pack and a laminated ‘aide memoir’ of what to do should they come across an accident.

Tony Smith, from HFRS Fire Bike Team, said: "Instead of just teaching bikers about consequences, we believe that the information provided in Biker Down will encourage a sense of responsibility and a change in attitude, both in motorcyclists’ riding technique and how they react at the roadside."

Contact Tony Smith for more information.

 

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    Biker Down – such a valuable course, I’ve attended it twice! (The second time was to ensure I hadn’t missed anything.) This course should be part of the bike test.


    Jo Davis, Kent
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    A very informative evening that taught stuff that you may not think about in coming across a fellow biker down. Highly recommend this course. I hope I never have to use what I learnt but I now know I would be of use at an accident scene rather than a hinderance.


    Colin McVittie Maidstone
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    Over 400 riders trained in Buckinghamshire in the first year and going strong! Thanks to Jim and his colleagues in Kent for being so generous with their time and encouragement to other Fire & Rescue Services who expressed an interest in running Biker Down.


    Keith Wheeler, Road Safety Officer, Bucks Fire & Rescue Service
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    I attended the course at Ashford, it has a friendly, fun atmosphere throughout the the entire evening, making it easy to take in the information and instruction you are being given. And it’s all for free, with goodies to take home!


    John Dixon Chadwell Heath, Essex
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    Having ridden bikes for over 50 years I am still learning and this course added to that learning. It should be made compulsory for all new riders!


    Dick kent
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    I attended a bikerdown course in Ashford with Jim and had a great time whilst learning valuable lessons. You can read more about my experience here:
    http://www.swinton.co.uk/bike/swinton-bike-blog/biker-down-save-a-life/


    Luke ashford
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    I don’t know what else to add to all those positve accolades above! I attended Jim’s course in Ashford in January. Al I can say is ‘brilliant’! And I think one of the earlier comments about this being mandatory is certainly worth considering!


    Karl Child, Sheerness
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    Brilliant course given in a very informative but fun manner. The people at Ashford where I did mine put a lot of time and effort into giving us a bit of knowledge that would enable us to help if we did ever come across an an accident. If anyone gets a chance do the course if you are a rider or a pillion.


    Pete, Maidstone Kent
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    After all the positive comments I had from members of Cardiff MAG, I was keen to enrol on a Bike Down day in Pembrokeshire – I hope we get one here?


    Phil McFadden, Pembs
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    Went on the course a couple of months ago and realised there was a lot to learn, fantastic course and the survival skills section was informative and interesting too.


    Steve Davis, Medway Kent
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    I attended this course at Chatham Fire Station late last year. Excellent course, would recommend it to everyone. The course was in two parts, the second part was Survival Skills, another excellent course about defensive riding & being seen – it’s not all about dayglo – you will be surprised.


    Doc. Medway Natives Social Secretary. Kent
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    Biker down should be compulsory for all riders. In fact, other motorists could learn a thing or two. Jim is so passionate and the first aid instructors are fantastic. Well worthwhile.


    Richard Lloyd, Ashford, Kent
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    I did the course a month or so ago and it was great. Interesting topics delivered well. It would be good to see it rolled out for more areas. If you have time I’d recommend attending.


    david berman
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    Jim, I am still needing to get on a course as soon as, please.


    Katherine Lily Jones
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    I have attended a Biker Down course in Kent. It is a fantastic initiative. Several members of the Triumph Owners Club Medway attended. All of us were impressed with how the course was run and the professional way the information is delivered. Even though I had been riding for nearly 15 years I still learnt some important information. Several of us commented that we would be more comfortable riding with friends that have attended this course. The first aid that you learn is heavily based upon motorcycling but not isolated to motorcycling alone. Much of what you learn can be applied in every day situations. I cannot recommend taking part in this course highly enough. Well done to Jim and everyone else that has been involved in bringing this worthy course to us motorcyclists. By the way, you will laugh quite a lot as well.


    John Kennedy. Rochester, Kent
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    Attended the Kent region’s course and have used some of the knowledge I learnt on two seperate occasions. One was an off by a fellow biker and the other was aiding my nephew after a fall on ice. This course is fantastic, I am so glad I attented.


    Vanessa Reigate
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    I attended a course in Kent, a really fantastic worthwhile event, I recommend to all bikers I meet and it’s free. I have done many different first aid courses over the years but this one was more realistic,


    Robert Cross. Chatham Kent
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    Did a course with Jim Sanderson a year ago…next morning helped out at a RTC. The course gave me the confidence to get stuck in and help out and not be one of the headless chickens that were running about. Can’t praise this course enough.


    Chris Roberts Hailsham
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    Excellent evening and well worth attending whatever level of riding you have.


    Jamie- Kent
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    Many thanks for the kind words Duncan! It’s great to see Herts FRS launch the scheme, there are now 10 teams around the UK offering the course and I am hoping to see many more form and yes, it is me dream to see every County in the UK have a team! Feedback from Bikers who have participated in the 3yrs since we have been running it in Kent has been great and we have now trained around 1500 Bikers in Kent alone!


    Jim Sanderson, Rye, East Sussex
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    This week I was lucky enough to be invited along to a Biker Down course run by the Kent Fire Brigade so that I could see what it entailed. I have to say that this was one of the best short courses I have ever attended as it gave the audience lots of really useful information and loads of practical advice all delivered by enthusiastic and knowlegeable people. We all hope that we never encounter a road accident, but if we do then knowing this stuff might well help to save somebody’s life.

    I know that Jim Sanderson, the firefighter that devised the course, would like to see it offered by every Fire Brigade in the country and I for one can only agree with him so well done to HFRS for helping to spread the word.


    Duncan MacKillop, Stratford on Avon
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