What Type of Medical Training Do You Have

Octavius Rex
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Carlsbad, CA US

Just like the title say, what type of training do you have? Obviously it's a dangerous sport and there are tons of places we ride where you do not have immediate access to EMS. Letting others know where you're going and carrying a sat phone is always good insurance, but I feel like you should be prepped for at least the basics of handling an emergency. Jut like carrying tools and knowing how to use them, having some medical knowledge could mean the difference between coming home or not. 

Even at a track close to a major town it can take a while for EMS to arrive and I'd rather not feel useless while waiting. I was on a trail ride last weekend with someone who was injured and needed a helicopter to extract them. Other than staying calm and calling 911 I had no idea what to do and would like to take some kind of training so I'm better equipped to handle a situation like that if it happens.  

Wilderness first aid? CPR? What kind of training/courses have you done? 

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USA
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Richmond, TX US
Fantasy
11/18/2025 3:57pm Edited Date/Time 11/18/2025 3:57pm

I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night

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SLAPAHO
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11/18/2025 3:59pm

All I know is to rub Tussin on it or walk it off. 

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FGR01
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AZ US
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11/18/2025 4:01pm

Army.   Little tip over and some scrapes you're getting a J tube and an IO.   😅

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disbanded
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Evergreen, CO US
11/18/2025 4:01pm

My wife is practically a doctor from taking care of me all these years

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The Shop

11/18/2025 4:07pm

Honestly, the best thing you can do is stay calm and call 911.  Here’s a long answer to your question:

1.  CPR training is invaluable, and everyone should have at least a basic understanding of it for everyday life. Hands-only CPR (compression-only) is heavily emphasized now because most people are uncomfortable giving mouth-to-mouth to a stranger — and keeping blood circulating to the brain is by far the most important factor.

2.  Knowing how to control severe bleeding and properly apply a tourniquet can literally save a life.

3.  Understanding how to apply in-line traction to a suspected femur fracture to reduce pain and bleeding.

4.  Knowing how and when to manually stabilize the cervical spine (“hold C-spine”) in back or neck injuries. Related to that (especially in the motorcycle/dirt bike world) is the proper two-person technique for removing a helmet from an injured rider when a spinal injury is possible: one person maintains in-line stabilization of the head and neck while the second carefully removes the helmet.

Most of these skills can be learned in a standard CPR + First Aid class. If you want more advanced, trauma-specific training, look for a PHTLS (Prehospital Trauma Life Support) course. You do NOT need to be in the medical field — these classes are open to the public.

These recommendations come from my 18 years as a career firefighter/paramedic (and 7 years as an EMT before that). 

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alphado
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Erie, PA US
11/18/2025 4:12pm

Was an EMT, let it expire years ago. Got certified as an EMR a few years for the fire department. 

5
Octavius Rex
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Carlsbad, CA US
11/18/2025 4:29pm
kylemenz1 wrote:
Honestly, the best thing you can do is stay calm and call 911.  Here’s a long answer to your question:1.  CPR training is invaluable, and everyone...

Honestly, the best thing you can do is stay calm and call 911.  Here’s a long answer to your question:

1.  CPR training is invaluable, and everyone should have at least a basic understanding of it for everyday life. Hands-only CPR (compression-only) is heavily emphasized now because most people are uncomfortable giving mouth-to-mouth to a stranger — and keeping blood circulating to the brain is by far the most important factor.

2.  Knowing how to control severe bleeding and properly apply a tourniquet can literally save a life.

3.  Understanding how to apply in-line traction to a suspected femur fracture to reduce pain and bleeding.

4.  Knowing how and when to manually stabilize the cervical spine (“hold C-spine”) in back or neck injuries. Related to that (especially in the motorcycle/dirt bike world) is the proper two-person technique for removing a helmet from an injured rider when a spinal injury is possible: one person maintains in-line stabilization of the head and neck while the second carefully removes the helmet.

Most of these skills can be learned in a standard CPR + First Aid class. If you want more advanced, trauma-specific training, look for a PHTLS (Prehospital Trauma Life Support) course. You do NOT need to be in the medical field — these classes are open to the public.

These recommendations come from my 18 years as a career firefighter/paramedic (and 7 years as an EMT before that). 

This is a great answer, thank you. 

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Octavius Rex
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11/18/2025 4:33pm
SLAPAHO wrote:

All I know is to rub Tussin on it or walk it off. 

Same, that's why I'm hoping someone smarter than me can give me better ideas. My usual go-to of telling them to not be a bitch wasn't as effective with broken bones as I'd imagined. 

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11/18/2025 5:17pm

I’ve got my masters in “give him some air” and a bachelors in “walk it off” 

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SKIDLID
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Fairmont, MN US
11/18/2025 5:20pm

I have been cpr certified over 30 years ago.  

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Nairb#70
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Ivoryton, CT US
11/18/2025 5:25pm

Zilch.

yamahaha131
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Newark, OH US
11/18/2025 5:27pm

PTA for 15 years. Not parent teacher association 😂

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bvm111
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Las Vegas, NV US
11/18/2025 5:58pm

Army Tactical Combat Casualty Care (tier 1)  taken prior to all of my deployments. 

I have been certified in CPR for the better part of 30 years but need to be re-certified. 

I can call in a mean 9 line medevac in a kinetic tactical environment. 

other than that, drink water and apply a tourniquet. 

5
tahoefd
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Minden, NV US
11/18/2025 6:05pm

I was a working EMT for 26 years. Drove an ambulance while a volunteer firefighter, and on a municipal fire department 22years. Wilderness first aid with local search and rescue 16 years. The wilderness first aid type of training is really appropriate because there can be so many variables that we may deal with, without the luxury of a lot of medical stuff available. That said any training is better than none. Check out your local Community College or FD for classes.

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11/18/2025 6:13pm

If theyre unconcious but still breathing give em a minute to wake up cause bro might not be able to afford an ambulance.

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wwdiii
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League City, TX US
11/18/2025 6:13pm

I might have spent most of my working life working for a big industrial Tech firm.  But prior to that I learned many years back in my blue collar days working as an Instrument Technician in a large Texas oil refinery some EMT stuff. They did a good job of making sure we were trained up in case somebody got hurt.  Similar training to what the EMT guys got.  I never had to use it but can’t complain about what I learned.

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zippytech
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Bethesda, OH US
11/18/2025 6:20pm

For me sadly just what I have seen in movies.

kage173
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TX US
11/18/2025 6:21pm

I’ve got my masters in “give him some air” and a bachelors in “walk it off” 

Associates in "drink some water".

 

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Wandell
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Cairo, GA US
11/18/2025 6:32pm

I'VE HAD CPR TRAINING AS WELL AS A STOP THE BLEED CLASS. DURING MY LAST FEW YEARS AS A LEO, WE WERE TRAINED THAT IF YOU MAKE A HOLE IN SOMEONE , YOU NEED TO PLUG THAT HOLE. AS FOR CPR, SOME PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT IS ONLY FOR WHEN BREATHING AND THE HEART STOPS. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I WATCHED A USE OF FORCE VIDEO WHERE A FEMALE OFF ICER SHOT A MAN FOR NO REASON AND HE WAS TALKING AND ALERT AS HE KEPT ASKING, WHY THE HELL DID YOU SHOOT ME? WELL, THE IDIOT LEO THEN STARTED DOING CPR UNTILL HE  BLED OUT AND DIED WHILE ME AND MY CLASS WERE ALL SAYING: BITCH, WHY ARE YOU DOING CPR, YOURE GONNA KILL HIM. I THINK SHE WOUND UP FIRE. PROSECUTED AND SUED AND HER DEPARTMENT HAD TO WRITE A LARGE CHECK TO HIS FAMILY.

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Wandell
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Cairo, GA US
11/18/2025 6:36pm
kage173 wrote:

Associates in "drink some water".

 

IVE GOT A MASTERS IN" HANG ON, EMS IS ON THE WAY. I ONCE THOUGHT A TEENAGE STABBING VICTIM WAS GONNA PASS OUT ON ME WHEN I TOLD HIM TO : TAKE THESE GAUZE AND HOLD A LITTLE PRESSUE ON THE WOUND SO NO MORE OF YOUR INTESTINE COMES OUT OF THE HOLE.

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Sully
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JP
11/18/2025 6:37pm
bvm111 wrote:
Army Tactical Combat Casualty Care (tier 1)  taken prior to all of my deployments. I have been certified in CPR for the better part of 30 years...

Army Tactical Combat Casualty Care (tier 1)  taken prior to all of my deployments. 

I have been certified in CPR for the better part of 30 years but need to be re-certified. 

I can call in a mean 9 line medevac in a kinetic tactical environment. 

other than that, drink water and apply a tourniquet. 

"But, Doc, I just sprained my ankle..."

"Shut the fuck up, the tourniquet will keep you stable until we can get you to some Motrin and clean socks."

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11/18/2025 7:26pm Edited Date/Time 11/18/2025 7:27pm

I have a google search engine medical degree.

I had to learn CPR cause Big Richard is a heart breaker

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Phillip_Lamb
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ORANGEVALE, CA US
11/18/2025 8:51pm

basic first aid or wilderness first aid will probably be the most applicable 

TG130
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US
11/18/2025 8:54pm

Watching "Emergency" when I was a kid. Seriously, nothing other than a few tips from my paramedic nephew. 

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ando
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Perth AU
11/18/2025 9:07pm

Get basic first aid training.  That will equip you to at least deal with most injuries as a first responder until paramedics/ambulance or other better equipped and trained personnel can attend.

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paul walker
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Ottawa Lake, MI US
11/18/2025 10:09pm

Board certified ER doc for 35 years. Twenty years on a Life Flight helicopter. It’s been my bittersweet pleasure to take care of dozens of injured riders over the years. 

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11/18/2025 11:00pm

Family Med/Sports Med. BLS training would be great for more people to have. 

1
11/18/2025 11:14pm

I did a BLS/CPR/First Aid class a few months ago, it doesn't expire until 2027, one of those things that you hope you don't have to use and hope you don't forget your training if you need to use the skills learned.

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1
Rab
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Ok, OK US
11/19/2025 12:07am
alphado wrote:

Was an EMT, let it expire years ago. Got certified as an EMR a few years for the fire department. 

likewise, think my EMR is out of date now. Been out of Fire for a couple years now 

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