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Fort Worth bikers urged to carry a 'Rider Alert Safety Card' with medical history

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Fort Worth's is urging motorcyclists to carry their medical histories inside their helmets after a spike in motorcycle accidents in Texas. It is distributing free Rider Alert Safety Cards that also include emergency contacts.

A sticker on the outside of the helmet indicates to first responders that the biker has a Safety Card on the inside. The sticker also warns untrained civilians at an accident not to take off the helmet. That could cause more injuries.

鈥淥ftentimes, motorcycle crashes result in patients being unresponsive,鈥 said Matt Zavadsky, an EMS provider at MedStar. 鈥淚t's very difficult for EMS responders to really know what that patient's medical history might be, what medications they take, what significant medical problems they have.鈥

MedStar 911
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MedStar 911
A sticker on the outside of the helmet indicates to first responders that the biker has a Safety Card on the inside.

Fort Worth鈥檚 emergency ambulance services has treated about 450 crash victims in the past year. Officials from TxDOT noted a in Texas compared to 2019.

Zavadsky speculated the increase is due to the rise in popularity of motorcycles.

鈥淕iven the current gas prices, people might want to ride motorcycles [compared to other vehicles] because they are much more fuel efficient,鈥 he said.

Speeding, not being aware of other vehicles and not wearing a helmet all contribute to the severity of motorcycle accidents.
The free cards and stickers can be picked up at MedStar911 headquarters at 2900 Alta Mere Drive, at any Haslet, Haltom City or Lake Worth Fire Station, and at most area motorcycle dealerships.

Gloria is a News Reporter at 四虎影院 covering news from the Fort Worth and Tarrant County area.