Applicable to guided ADV / Big Bike / BMW R 1250 GS tours in Vietnam.

Status: Draft framework to be completed for each specific tour.

Tour Operator: [ … ] Tour Leader: [ … ] — Telephone: [ … ] Designated First Aider: [ … ] Operations Support: [ … ] — Telephone: [ … ] Last Updated: [ … ]

PRIORITIES

The order of priority in every incident is:

Scene safety → Life-saving assistance and activation of emergency services → First aid → Transport to an appropriate medical facility → Ongoing care and coordination → Motorcycle recovery, documentation and costs.

Do not delay calling emergency services while determining fault, arranging a deposit or payment, or obtaining insurance approval.
Do not leave an injured person alone.
Do not require a participant to continue riding to maintain the itinerary.
Do not expose rescuers to traffic, fire, landslides, floodwater or hazardous terrain.
Guides shall provide first aid only within the scope of their training. They do not replace doctors or emergency medical personnel.
If the severity of a condition is uncertain, contact emergency services for advice and escalate the response.

PRE-TOUR PREPARATION

2.1. Information to obtain privately from participants

With the participant’s consent, the Tour Operator shall obtain relevant information, including:

Full name, date of birth, nationality and preferred language.
Emergency contact name and telephone number, including country code.
Relevant medical conditions, allergies and current medication, particularly anticoagulants or personal emergency medication.
Support requirements or mobility limitations relevant to the tour.
Insurer, policy number and emergency assistance telephone number.

Medical information shall be shared only with those who need it for assistance, treatment or insurance administration. It shall not be posted in the general tour messaging group.

Participants shall carry essential personal medication in an accessible location and inform the Designated First Aider.

2.2. Insurance verification

Confirm that the relevant insurance arrangements address:

Riding large-capacity motorcycles.
Driving-licence requirements and lawful riding in Vietnam.
Dirt-road or off-road activities, where applicable.
Medical treatment, medical transport, inter-facility transfer and medical repatriation.
Notification requirements, prior authorisation and exclusions.

The statement “insurance is in place” shall not be presented as meaning that all costs will be paid.

2.3. Route-specific medical response plan

A separate plan shall be prepared for each day of the tour:

Item	Information to be verified
Route and higher-risk sections	[ … ]
Appropriate initial receiving facility	Name, location, telephone number and emergency care capability
Hospital with a higher level of care	Relevant trauma, diagnostic imaging, surgical and other capabilities required for the route
Ambulance provider	Dispatch number, operating area and access capability
Rendezvous or transfer point	Location accessible to an ambulance and approach route
Primary and alternative transport routes	Estimated journey times based on actual roads, weather and access conditions
Areas without mobile coverage	Alternative communications arrangements
Local rescue contact	[ … ]
Verification record	Name of person verifying the information and date/time of verification

A map listing does not replace verification of a medical facility’s capabilities and ability to receive a patient.

2.4. Personnel and equipment

Designate an appropriately trained First Aider and an alternate.
Prepare first-aid supplies appropriate to the group size, tour duration and remoteness from medical care.
Carry gloves, bleeding-control and dressing supplies, a resuscitation barrier, thermal blankets and other equipment appropriate to the team’s training.
Ensure phones, power banks, offline maps and emergency contact lists are ready for use.
For remote sections, assess the need for satellite communications and verify actual device and service availability.
Where a support vehicle is required, confirm the vehicle, driver, location and access capability. An ordinary support vehicle shall not be described as an ambulance.

If the minimum emergency support arrangements required for a route section cannot be met, that section shall be modified or cancelled.

INCIDENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Role	Responsibilities
Tour Leader — Incident Lead	Stop the group, organise the scene, assign tasks and coordinate responding assistance
Designated First Aider	Conduct the initial assessment, provide first aid within competence, monitor the patient and hand over care
Communications Lead	Contact emergency services, provide the location, record times and update Operations
Group Safety Lead	Move other participants to a safe area, account for everyone and prevent crowding or obstruction of the road
Operations Coordinator	Coordinate medical facilities, transport, insurance, emergency contacts and logistical support
Motorcycle Recovery Lead	Address the motorcycle only after life-saving assistance and scene safety have been secured

In a small group, one person may perform more than one role. However, the person providing first aid should not also be expected to manage every telephone call and administrative task.

Any participant may call emergency services immediately upon recognising a dangerous situation. Prior permission from the Tour Leader is not required.

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS AT THE SCENE

Step 1 — Stop safely

Slow down and stop without creating an additional hazard.
Do not gather motorcycles on blind bends, in the carriageway or in areas exposed to landslides.
Warn approaching traffic from a safe position. Do not stand in a live traffic lane to block vehicles.
Switch off the affected motorcycle’s engine if this can be done safely. Keep ignition sources away from leaking fuel.
Do not rush to lift a fallen GS before assessing the casualty.

Step 2 — Identify whether anyone needs emergency care

Check promptly:

Does the person respond when spoken to?
Are they breathing normally?
Is there severe bleeding?
Is there an immediate risk of fire, another collision, a fall down a slope or being swept away by water?

If several people are injured, report the number and apparent condition of each to the dispatcher. Do not focus only on the person expressing the most pain.

Step 3 — Call for help and provide first aid concurrently

Assign one person to contact emergency services while a capable responder begins first aid.

Do not wait until photographs have been taken, the motorcycle has been lifted or the insurer has been contacted.

INITIAL RESPONSE CATEGORIES

These categories support operational decisions. They are not medical diagnoses.

Category	Examples	Required response
RED — Emergency	Unresponsive or not breathing normally; severe bleeding; breathing difficulty; suspected serious head, neck or spinal injury; chest pain; signs of stroke; anaphylaxis; heat-related confusion; entrapment	Call emergency services immediately, provide first aid and organise rescue and medical transport
AMBER — Prompt medical assessment required	Suspected fracture without an immediately apparent life threat; a wound requiring treatment; increasing pain; dizziness or symptoms following a head impact; inability to continue safely	Stop riding, obtain medical advice and arrange access to an appropriate facility; escalate if the condition deteriorates
GREEN — Minor incident	Minor abrasion without warning signs; fully alert with normal function	Provide first aid, monitor and reassess; continuation is not automatic
TECHNICAL — Breakdown with no injury identified	Puncture, failure to start or a technical warning	Move people to safety and follow the breakdown procedure in Section 10

A significant impact, ejection from the motorcycle or another concerning mechanism of injury warrants medical assessment even if the participant says they feel “fine”.

INITIAL FIRST AID

6.1. Unresponsive and not breathing normally

Gasping is not normal breathing.

Call 115, use speakerphone and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately. Ask someone to obtain an automated external defibrillator (AED), if available.
For an adult, compress the centre of the chest on a firm surface at 100–120 compressions per minute, approximately 5–6 cm deep, allowing full chest recoil.
A responder who is trained and able to do so should provide 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. If rescue breaths cannot be given, continue chest compressions as directed by the dispatcher.
Use the AED according to its prompts.
Continue until medical personnel take over, the person shows signs of life and is breathing normally, or the responder cannot continue because of exhaustion or an unsafe scene.

6.2. Severe bleeding

Use gloves if available. Apply firm, direct pressure with a dressing or clean material.
Do not remove an embedded object; apply pressure around it.
A trained responder may use a purpose-made tourniquet for life-threatening limb bleeding not controlled by direct pressure. Record the application time and do not loosen or remove it.
Activate emergency services, monitor the patient and maintain appropriate warmth.

6.3. Suspected head, neck or spinal injury

Ask the casualty to minimise movement. Do not pull them upright, ask them to walk or rotate their neck to “check” it.
Do not remove a helmet merely to make the casualty more comfortable.
If the helmet prevents airway management or resuscitation, removal may be necessary. Preferably, this should be performed by a trained responder with assistance and dispatcher guidance. Waiting for assistance must not delay necessary resuscitation.
Avoid moving the casualty unless there is an immediate danger or movement is necessary for airway management or resuscitation.
If the casualty vomits or cannot maintain a clear airway, prioritise the airway. Coordinate turning as instructed while minimising twisting of the neck and torso.
Do not allow a participant with suspected concussion to resume riding. Medical assessment is required.

6.4. Suspected fracture or dislocation

Support the injured part in the position found. Do not attempt to straighten or reduce it.
Immobilise only within the scope of the responder’s training.
Do not ask the patient to ride or travel as a motorcycle passenger to reach hospital.

6.5. Medical and environmental emergencies

Situation	Initial response
Heat exposure with confusion, loss of coordination or collapse	Call emergency services; move the person to shade or a cooler location if safe, remove excess outer clothing and begin active cooling with cool water, wet cloths and airflow while awaiting assistance
Chest pain or significant breathing difficulty	Stop activity, call emergency services and allow a position that eases breathing; do not allow the person to ride
Sudden facial droop, limb weakness or speech difficulty	Call emergency services and record the onset time or the last time the person was known to be well
Suspected severe allergic reaction: tongue/throat swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse	Call emergency services; assist with the person’s prescribed adrenaline auto-injector in accordance with its instructions and the responder’s training; do not allow the person to stand or walk
Seizure	Remove nearby hazards, protect the head and record the duration; do not restrain the person or place anything in their mouth

Do not give food, drink or oral medication to a person who has reduced alertness, difficulty swallowing, repeated vomiting or serious trauma.

A fully alert person who can swallow normally and has only mild symptoms of heat exhaustion may take small sips of water while being cooled and monitored.

Do not administer treatment based solely on informal group experience.

COMMUNICATIONS AND COORDINATION

7.1. Emergency numbers in Vietnam

Assistance required	Number
Emergency medical services	115
National emergency assistance, accidents/rescue and incidents requiring coordination	112
Police	113
Fire and rescue	114
Tour Operations	[ … ]
Verified route-specific ambulance provider/medical facility	[ … ]
Insurer’s emergency assistance service	[ … ]

For a medical emergency, call 115. Where rescue or multi-agency coordination is needed, contact 112 or the appropriate service.

Tell the dispatcher if another service has already been contacted to help avoid duplicate or conflicting arrangements.

Do not assume that an emergency dispatcher can communicate in English. The tour shall have a designated Vietnamese-speaking contact.

7.2. Information to provide

Report the following in order:

Location: GPS coordinates, road name, commune/province and a recognisable landmark.
Incident: Motorcycle accident, acute illness or entrapment.
People involved: Number injured and their apparent condition.
Critical signs: Responsive/unresponsive, normal/abnormal breathing and severe bleeding.
Hazards: Fuel leakage, fire, steep drops, water, traffic or landslides.
Access: Suitable vehicle access and the rendezvous point.
Callback details: Telephone number and the person assigned to meet responders.

Ask for confirmation that the information has been received, immediate instructions and the proposed access arrangements.

Sending a message does not establish that assistance has been dispatched.

Suggested report:

“This is motorcycle tour group [name]. We are at [coordinates/road landmark]. There are [number] casualties. The casualty is [responsive/unresponsive], is [breathing normally/not breathing normally] and has [severe bleeding/no severe bleeding identified]. Access is [description]. Our callback number is [ … ]. Please provide first-aid instructions and coordinate assistance.”

7.3. Loss of mobile coverage

Use the planned backup communications method. If a connection is available, send a short message containing the coordinates and patient’s condition.
Satellite SOS equipment shall be used only with an activated and verified service. It does not guarantee helicopter attendance.
If someone must travel to obtain a signal, do so only when the route is safe and the destination and reporting arrangements have been clearly assigned.
Keep someone with the casualty.
Do not allow the entire group to disperse in search of coverage.

Before entering a coverage gap, establish check-in times, an overdue threshold and the Operations contact responsible for initiating a search response when that threshold is exceeded.

ACCESS TO HOSPITALS AND EVACUATION

8.1. Selecting a medical facility

The objective is to reach a facility appropriate to the patient’s condition and the available access, not simply the nearest facility or a hospital familiar to the participant.

For serious cases, coordinate with emergency services to identify appropriate initial treatment and onward referral.
Stabilisation at a nearby facility may be necessary before transfer to a larger hospital.
Do not bypass a facility capable of providing necessary immediate care merely to reach a preferred international hospital farther away.
Operations should notify the receiving facility in advance where possible. Emergency transport shall not be delayed solely because administrative arrangements remain incomplete.

8.2. Three stages of movement and transport

Stage	Lead responsibility	Principle
Rescue or extraction from a hazardous or inaccessible location	Rescue personnel working with the First Aider	Do not improvise cliff carries, dragging or rope rescue without the required competence
Transport from the scene to a medical facility	Emergency medical personnel according to the patient’s condition	Use appropriate transport and medical support
Inter-facility transfer or medical repatriation	Treating clinicians, medical transport provider and Operations/insurer	Require assessment of fitness for transport and confirmation of the receiving arrangements

Do not transport a person with suspected serious injury by motorcycle.

If an ambulance cannot reach the location or a serious delay occurs, Operations shall seek medical guidance on the safest feasible alternative. The group shall not improvise transport for a seriously injured person merely to save time.

An ordinary support vehicle may be used only where the person’s condition is suitable following assessment. It is not a substitute for necessary emergency medical transport.

8.3. Air rescue and aeromedical evacuation

These options shall be considered only where necessary and feasible, subject to:

Clinical indication.
Availability and authorisation by the relevant authorities and providers.
Weather, terrain, access or landing arrangements and timing.
Service terms and financial/insurance arrangements.

Helicopter evacuation shall not be advertised as a guaranteed benefit unless an actual arrangement has been confirmed.

Maintain an appropriate ground transport contingency.

MONITORING AND HANDOVER

While awaiting assistance:

Continuously observe responsiveness and breathing, and record changes.
Maintain warmth or provide cooling according to the condition, with appropriate protection from rain and sun.
Reassure the patient and explain actions briefly without promising a medical outcome.
Record the incident time, symptoms, first aid and any medication administered.

At handover, provide:

Identity, age and mechanism of injury.
Initial symptoms and subsequent changes.
Interventions performed, including CPR, tourniquet and medication times where applicable.
Known allergies, medical conditions and relevant medication.
Insurance details, emergency contact and the tour’s point of contact.

Where possible, assign a representative to assist at the hospital. This person does not replace medical personnel during emergency transport.

Personal belongings, documents, phones and luggage shall be inventoried, secured and handed over with a record.

BREAKDOWN PROCEDURE WHERE NO INJURY IS IDENTIFIED

Stop safely → Report location → Assess the technical problem → Repair safely or recover the motorcycle → Arrange onward transport for the participant.

Check that the rider is not injured, dehydrated or exhausted.
Do not continue riding with unsafe brakes, steering, wheels/tyres, fuel leakage, an oil-pressure warning or overheating.
Do not open a hot cooling-system cap.
Do not restart a motorcycle suspected of water ingestion or serious engine damage.
Do not carry out roadside repairs where there is a risk of being struck by traffic.
Attempt on-site repairs only within the responder’s technical competence and where post-repair safety can be checked.
If roadworthiness cannot be confirmed, recover the motorcycle and arrange a replacement motorcycle or alternative transport.
Do not improvise towing a motorcycle with a rope.

The motorcycle shall be returned to the rider only after a technically competent person has confirmed the corrective action and conditions for safe operation.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS, INSURANCE AND COSTS

Operations shall coordinate:

Notification of the participant’s emergency contact with their consent, or where necessary in an emergency.
Communication of verified information without speculation about diagnosis or prognosis.
Early notification to the insurer, opening of an assistance case and required procedures alongside patient care.
Language assistance, documentation and communication with the hospital.
Retention of invoices, treatment records and transport documentation.

Before departure, the Tour Operator shall establish an emergency expenditure arrangement and identify the person authorised to approve it.

The respective costs payable by the tour, the participant or subject to insurance assessment shall be clearly disclosed. No promise of “all costs covered” shall be made without a basis.

Motorcycle compensation shall be addressed after life-saving assistance has been secured. A dispute concerning the motorcycle shall not be made a condition of access to emergency assistance.

Do not publish images of an injured participant or their health information without an appropriate basis and consent.

DECISION TO CONTINUE OR END THE TOUR

Continuation may be considered only when:

The rider is fit to continue and has received medical assessment where required.
There are no remaining symptoms affecting awareness, balance, movement or reaction.
Medication does not make riding unsafe.
The motorcycle is safe to operate.
The group retains the personnel, equipment and support capability needed for the remaining route.

A person with suspected concussion shall not resume riding. Return to riding shall follow medical advice.

After a serious incident, if the First Aider or support vehicle leaves the group, the Tour Leader shall reassess whether the entire group can safely continue—not only whether the injured participant can continue.

No participant shall be pressured to continue because of the itinerary, cost or a desire to “complete the route”.

POST-INCIDENT RECORDS AND REVIEW

Following handover and management of the immediate situation:

Prepare a timeline identifying actions, times and responsible persons.
Record calls, transfer points and receiving facilities.
Keep medical information separate from motorcycle damage records.
Check and replenish first-aid supplies and equipment.
Review the route, communications and any delays to identify improvements.
Update the participant and emergency contact through the agreed point of contact.

Records shall be stored with appropriate access controls and protection of personal information.