This is a question I have been thinking about al lot since I attended a first aid course last autumn. The opinion seams to differ in between countries witch is confusing.

Previously when I have attended fist aid courses in Sweden the instructions have been clear about the priority, if the person is not breathing, remove the helmet. Naturally removing the helmet is a trycky business and it has to be done with great care of the neck and spine, there is a special procedure to do it safe, preferably by two people. But if you don’t breath you die, so helmet of to start mouth to mouth and chest compression.

At the first aid course last autumn, here in Spain, the teacher got a bit upset when I told about what I had previously learned. She claimed that it was to risky for the spine and that mouth to mouth could be done through the visor gap (aparently she didn’t know how a healmet fits the head) or simply just do the compressions. She also said that in Japan mouth to mouth is not done at all, only chest compressions. Later when I checked info with friends in Sweden, that are both bikers and medical doctors, the information was clear, helmet off, but do it safe. So aparently this is something that are thought differently about in different countries. A bit surprising that there isn’t standardised European guidelines about this.

Since I often ride alone the matter of bringing vital info has always been ocupying me. Before I have made cards to put in my wallet or in my bag, but this can be difficult to find for others. Now one solution was presented by the Swedish bikers union, SMC. They have sent ICE medical cards to their members to put inbetween the shell and the padding of the helmet combined with a sticker saying “medical card in helmet”. All neat and nice if the helmet will be removed.
Medical card

When riding behind a Tele Pizza scooter delivery I could read a sticker on his healmet saying “in case of an accident, don’t remove helmet”. So it might be the case that I now live in a country where I in case of an accident will die with my spine intact and with my helmet on. Maybe this is to prevent people ripping the helmet of at first chance, but I think rather educate people how to do it prorperly than inform not to.

But I found something that might be more usefull outside Sweden, U-tag ICE. It is an Id plac to put around your neck and the beauty with it is the USB that you can fill with the information you want and it works in 7 different languages. Some initial information can also be engraved on the plac. Additional stickers can be ordered to stick to the bike to inform that ICE can be found on the rider.
U-tag ICE