All motorcyclists – whether on motorbikes, scooters or mopeds – are being encouraged to learn more about basic first aid in a new drive to improve public awareness of life-saving CPR techniques.
CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation – is a proven technique to use when someone goes into cardiac shock, most often through a heart attack. It involves using your hands to deliver chest compressions over the victim’s heart, to help restart it after it fails.
It is estimated that over 40,000+ out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK each year. Each one puts the victim at risk, but when CPR is given within 3 to 5 minutes of collapse, or an external defibrillator is used, survival rates can reach 70%. Every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10%, making immediate bystander intervention crucial while waiting for emergency services.
Many cardiac arrests occur after road traffic crashes at which motorbikers may be first on the scene, or we could witness a fellow biker have a crash that leads to them going into cardiac shock.
The government is so convinced that CPR skills are needed among bike riders that knowing how to perform CPR will be added to the motorcycle theory test next year.
All riders are being encouraged to learn more about CPR and how to use defibrillators before then.
You can find out more on how to perform CPR via The Resuscitation Council UK, at https://www.resus.org.uk
- Motorcycle theory tests are the first step bikers need to take to access 125cc+ motorcycles.
If you are currently riding on L plates having taken your Compulsory Basic Training (CBT), to upgrade to a full motorcycle licence you must first take a motorcycle theory test. This is in two parts: a hazard perception test, followed by 50 multiple choice questions. The CPR element will be included within these questions.
You can take the theory test from your:
16th birthday onwards if you're learning to ride a moped (no more than 50cc)
17th birthday onwards if you're learning to ride a motorcycle.
You can take the theory test before or after you've taken compulsory basic training (CBT).
