MOTORCYCLE riders in the Island are being urged to fill in a Crash Card this TT.
The card, which contains vital information about the rider, is helpful to paramedics should a rider have an accident and be knocked unconscious.
The Crash Card initiative was created by the committee of the UK Ambulance Motorcycle Club. It was launched in Essex by the East of England Ambulance Service who then introduced it to the Isle of Man last year.
This is now the second year that riders, both local and visiting, have been encouraged to fill out the small card with their details including their name, address, date of birth, medical history and information on any medication that they are currently taking.
After filling out the card riders are asked to put it inside the lining of their helmet and to place a green sticker on the visor of the helmet to alert paramedics that they are carrying the card.
Joy Hale, the communications manager for the East of England Ambulance Service, said: "It's one of those things that you think 'it's so simple'. If everyone could carry round that basic information it just makes a lot of difference. When you have an unconscious rider every minute counts. This could be a life saver."
Russell Thornhill, a paramedic in the Isle of Man, explained the thought process behind the cards. He said: "The card itself serves three purposes.
"Firstly by the riders completing the card and placing it inside the lining of the crash helmet it allows paramedics, if they were to attend them and they were unconscious, to retrieve vital information about them.
"The second one is that on the flip side of the Crash Card it also gives advice on what to do if you are first on scene at the site of a road accident. That's aimed at channelling people's thought processes on the correct course of action.
"Finally the hidden message is that when we are distributing the Crash Card and talking to riders it's putting out that road safety message of 'go easy out there'."
Terry Holmes the chairman of the TT Marshal's Association said the cards were a good idea. He explained: "I think they are an excellent idea. Through all the different organisations we will try to promote it to as many people as possible.
"It's a godsend. If you are unfortunate enough to have an accident when they take your helmet off all your details are there - things that you wouldn't be able to communicate if you were unconscious. Without a shadow of a doubt this could save someone's life."
Anyone who would like to obtain a Crash Card is asked to call Ambulance Headquarters on 01624 642582 for more information.
