{"id":117107,"date":"2015-08-06T22:12:02","date_gmt":"2015-08-06T12:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=117107"},"modified":"2020-11-19T14:33:04","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T04:33:04","slug":"racq-backs-coroners-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/08\/06\/racq-backs-coroners-call\/","title":{"rendered":"RACQ Backs Coroner’s Call"},"content":{"rendered":"
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RACQ CareFlight helicopter at the scene of a quad bike accident near Biggenden in 2013 (Photo: RACQ CareFlight)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August 6, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

The RACQ has backed calls for better training and safety campaigns to protect Queenslanders using quad bikes.<\/p>\n

A spokesman said that during the past 12 months, RACQ CareFlight Rescue crews had treated more than 15 patients injured in quad bike crashes and mishaps.<\/p>\n

RACQ Executive Manager Technical and Safety Policy Steve Spalding said too many Queenslanders were being killed and seriously injured in quad bike incidents.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe know quad bikes are an essential part of life on many farms, but more needs to be done to ensure vital safety precautions and training are undertaken,\u201d Mr Spalding said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore education around rider responsibility will be a key component to potentially changing dangerous behaviours.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Coroner\u2019s report shows head injuries account for a third of quad bike fatalities, and in 84 per cent of those cases people weren\u2019t wearing helmets \u2013 a tragic statistic to consider.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly we\u2019d like to see recreational quad bike riders using helmets as a matter of course, and RACQ will join the conversation on practical ways their implementation could be of use in day-to-day farming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senior CareFlight Emergency Physician Doctor Tim Harraway said patients often have spinal and head injuries after quad bike crashes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe combination of not wearing a helmet and having the large, heavy vehicles roll on an adult or a child can cause very serious injury in a matter of seconds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n