North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) paramedics attended 344 bike and scooter crashes in July, a 25.5% increase on the same month in 2025 and almost 50% higher than in 2024. The rise has prompted a summer safety campaign urging the public to take simple precautions.
Realistic training demonstration
Paramedic Adrian Langford spoke during a realistic recreation of a bicycle crash, similar to the increasing number of incidents he and colleagues have attended this summer. In the scenario, he said: "We've got a seven-year-old female cyclist - collision versus stationary car." He added: "There's no sign of catastrophic head injury at this stage," as he and two colleagues approached the casualty.
The team examined the girl, checked her vital signs and provided immediate first aid, including stabilising the patient, ensuring her airway was clear and using a "bag valve" mask to help her breathe. Fortunately, the casualty was a dummy, and the pool of blood below her head was not real. The demonstration showed the media how shocking the scene of any serious bike crash can be.
Summer safety campaign
A second demonstration involved young Aria and Helo Stanchfield, whose parents both work at NEAS, showing how ambulance staff would attend incidents involving two young cyclists. This forms part of NEAS' summer safety campaign.
NEAS HART and resilience manager Alun Ross said: "We've seen a significant rise in bike-related incidents this summer, with July recording 340 incidents across the region. Whether you're riding a bicycle, motorbike or scooter, wearing a properly fitted helmet is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of serious injury."
Ross added: "As children enjoy the summer holidays and prepare to return to school, we’re encouraging parents and carers to talk to them about staying safe and making helmet use a habit every time they ride."
