Accident Protocol

This brief is intended as a help guide should an accident occur on a DRCC cycle ride.  

Before the ride

Determine who in group may have medical competency or a wish to be responsible should there be an issue. Ensure phone fully charged and has DRs Phone number in it – 01564 783332

Agree a responsible rider – second leader- who could lead the group when if the leader is engaged with the accident or who may stay with any casualty when the ride needs to be taken on or to a place of safety. By assessing the weather conditions, assess that you have the capability to stop should the weather be adverse, e.g. cold or wet.

At the Accident 

Immediately assess the site around the casualty and accident scene and that it is safe. Assess any danger to the rest of the group and remove the group as necessary. Move the rest of the group to a place where there is no issue with cold or wet or have them continue to ride. Move on anyone not necessary to deal with the situation. Next Steps:- 

If the casualty can move 

If casualty can move get them and the bike away from danger. If you have a medically competent person on the ride use them to make that assessment. Move off the road away from traffic. Get the rest of the group away from the scene to a point of safety. 

Assess the casualty and bike for fitness and determine if you are going to ring for medical assistance. Again use medically competent person if available. If the rider is capable of continuing then have someone ride with them monitoring until gets back to the shop or home. If they ride home, offer someone to go with them. If that does not happen ask to them to ring the leader or an agreed person when home. 

If they cannot continue with the ride, agree with them how they are going to get home with their bike. If they need non urgent medical treatment then agree how they are going to go to A&E. Note: For non-urgent medical making your own way to A&E is necessary as an Ambulance will likely only respond to urgent issues. It’s possible this make take time so it may be expedient to have the rest of the group continue.    

If the casualty cannot move or be moved 

Send out riders up and down the road to alert traffic by waving down hi Vis. if possible. Station one/two riders around the casualty, again waving hi Vis. if possible. Get the agreed medically competent person to assess.  Send the remainder of the group off to a safe place.

 Next actions will depend on the severity of injury.

If possible get the injured rider to the side of the road and remove traffic control after assessing if it’s medically ok to do so. If you can’t move the casualty ring 999 stating the urgency of the situation and make the casualty as comfortable as possible until professional help arrives or take advice on the next action from the 999 call handler, particularly on the issue of moving the casualty. 

Likely outcome is casualty goes to hospital either in an Ambulance or if deemed non urgent from the 999 call in a taxi or a lift. When it’s clear there will be a delay send the rest of the group off to complete the ride or go to the shop. After the casualty has been cleared from the scene go back to the shop with any remaining riders. Phone Dynamic Rides to inform them of the accident. Agree with DRCC who is going to phone the contact information held on file for the person. 

After the Accident

Return to the shop and debrief accident with a Committee Member. Agree who is going to phone the contact details to follow up condition of rider if required by the severity of the accident. An accident report may be required by the Police or DRCC may choose to undertake one to capture any learning that can be gained from this to improve future safety.

 Issue #3 6/6/2023