AN initiative to help motorcyclists involved in an accident get the aid they need as quickly as possible has been launched by the East of England Ambulance Service. With support from Hertfordshire County Council s casualty reduction unit, Hertfordshire

AN initiative to help motorcyclists involved in an accident get the aid they need as quickly as possible has been launched by the East of England Ambulance Service.

With support from Hertfordshire County Council's casualty reduction unit, Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Hertfordshire Constabulary, the Crash Card was unveiled at Knebworth House last week.

The official launch involved experienced paramedics and bike riders talking about the card, which could save a motorcyclist's life. This means that Hertfordshire bikers can benefit from the free scheme almost immediately.

Paramedic Ian Burrell, chairman of the Ambulance Motorcycle Club, said: "This card is borne out of experience - it has been designed by serving paramedics who have been on both sides of an accident as an injured rider or attending as medical help.

"If a biker is injured and unable to talk coherently because of concussion or having been knocked out, how does the ambulance crew find out who the patient is, what medication they take, or medical history? This is the information the 999 call centre needs.

"So far, the card has enjoyed a very successful pilot in Essex, and is gaining a national interest as more and more bikers spread the word about this simple but effective approach to casualty reduction."

Designed to be an aid to both the motorcyclist making the 999 call and the crew who attend the incident, one side of the card carries the details of the casualty for helpful hints such as any pre-existing medical condition which will assist paramedics at the scene.

When an ambulance crew arrives at the scene of an accident they will identify that an unconscious or seriously ill rider has a card in their helmet by a small green dot placed at the side of the visor.