Road Safety and Head Injuries

I don’t want to be the one jumping on the band wagon, but the way things are going, and with the behaviours I am seeing on the roads with kids and e-bikes, someone is going to get hurt soon. Over the last 15 or so years that I have been involved with ambulance on Norfolk, I have witnessed, along with Jimbo and all the other volunteers, a fair share of trauma associated with unfortunate decision making. While I am 100% (well 95%) behind the idea of personal freedoms, accidents are always going to happen. Sometimes things happen in life that are unavoidable, and we can’t do anything about that, what we can do though, is give ourselves the best chance when things do go wrong. Usually, I’ll bang on about people on the back of trucks doing silly stuff, loose eskies, sitting on rails or just standing up over the front cab, silly, avoidable actions that may have significant consequences. The current situations with e-bikes, is similar. There are kids out there who are great, look where they are going, are aware of their environment and pose little risk to themselves or others. Unfortunately, there are also the opposite, no awareness, helmets on the handlebars while giving their mate a dink, bare feet (that’s going to be nasty) and just no idea what damage they could do to themselves, or the hapless old person who steps out in front of them on the footpath. I know as much as anyone that getting kids to do the right thing can be arduous, but it is going to hurt all of us if we lose a youngster. E-bikes are great, but they aren’t for everyone.

The possibility a head injury could result in permanent disability or impairment is real.

A blow to the head can cause bleeding within the brain, and often the blood cannot drain from within the closed space of the skull. It is always better to have a head knock checked by medical staff, if you lose consciousness, and feel a bit groggy, get yourself to hospital.

Signs and Symptoms

• Headache, loss of memory, wound to the scalp or face, confusion, nausea
• Loss of memory, changed sensation to commands or touch
• Pupils are not equal in size, or reaction to light, you may have blurred vision

WHAT TO DO:

As always, check for any danger to yourself, or the casualty.

If the patient is unconscious, call triple zero (000) immediately.

If the patient is not breathing, begin CPR.

Remember - call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

For the full copy of the fact sheet, visit

https://www.stjohnvic.com.au/news/head-injury-first-aid/

Our next skill drill will be held on Tuesday, 8 July, 18:00 start at the St John Shed on Grassy Road.

If you are interested in becoming a St John volunteer or, for more information, please email norfolk.island@stjohnnsw.com.au or james.garden@stjohnnsw.com.au