[NCNCA] medical support-a solution from San Rafael

[Ron Castia]

This is the exact reason I suggested more data and a report.
$1,500 price tag would mean our club would not be able to put on a race. As well I would suspect it would close the doors for many others.

On the upside, there is an ER about 5 minutes from our course. If I remember correctly the ambulance was on location in less than 5 minutes from when I made the call.

We always make it a point to let the local hospital know about our event so that they can be prepared.

FYI: Based on the number of participants this year this additional expense would be reflected in an entry fee increase of $5.00 per participant.
For some races, that cost would be even higher per participant. 
Rain on race day? Forget it, that club just lost money putting on a race.

I don't know about your club, but it would destroy us to run our race at a loss.

Ron

----- Original Message ----
From: william matthews <wilmatthews at yahoo.com>
To: ncnca at ncnca.org
Sent: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 7:59:32 AM
Subject: Re: [NCNCA] medical support-a solution from San Rafael

Hi Y'All
Not having an EMT with ambulance, or even better, an
ALS/paramedic with ambulance on site is just an
irresponsible gamble.
I personally know the costs are high, about $1500
minimum. I've paid more than $10k to have coverage in
San Rafael since 1998.
Here's a solution: Create a NCNCA contract with AMR to
cover all the races, and they'll probably drop the
pricing for everyone across the board to a much lower
figure. They service the entire NorCal area I believe.
As for two units on site, the odds are still exactly
the same that a rider will go down the moment unit 1
leaves the venue as if it were still there. 
A few options are 1) Have AMR dispatch another unit
immediately upon unit 1 leaving for transport, or 2)
create a contingency plan with local FD for transport
of any injured rider needing it, or 3) have local FR
act as backup if unit 1 leaves.
In any case, it's important to show the riders and the
public that you're doing everything possible to have a
safe race.
That's all,
Wil



--- trishsemail at aol.com wrote:

> >From the perspective of both an official and a
> racer....? I'm wondering what happens after the
> first crash and the ambulance transports the injured
> person and the next crash occurs--what then?? How
> many ambulances is enough?? 
> 
> >From the perspective of a race promoter....? The
> budget needs to be balanced.? As a racer are you
> willing to have higher race entries and lower (or
> no) price list in order to pay for this additional
> expense?
> 
> We have to be realistic.? Ben brings up a valid
> concern; however, if you are concerned about not
> receiving adequate medical care in the event of a
> mishap, it is your choice whether or not to
> participate.? (Bike racing is a dangerous sport.)
> 
> I like Chris' idea of publishing the planned
> medical?facilities/personnel in the race flyer.?
> This should be easy to accomplish since as part of
> the race permit process, the Chief Ref approves
> the?Competitive Event?Check?List?of which the?Event
> Medical Plan and?Checklist form is part of.? Once
> the Event Permit is granted the Chief Ref also
> approves the Race Flyer.? It would then be up the
> individual racer if he feels safe to participate in
> the event.
> 
> Trish Bell
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cblackride at aol.com
> To: zronn at sbcglobal.net; salsamanben at yahoo.com;
> ncnca at ncnca.org
> Sent: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 10:28 pm
> Subject: Re: [NCNCA] medical support
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  I wonder if Ben pays an ambulance to follow him
> around on training rides? :-)
> 
> Seriously, I think this will prove to be cost
> prohibitive. Most races have an 
> EMT somewhere (any race where I am the chief ref
> does)? Ambulance response 
> should be no worse than if one were involved in a
> crash on a training ride or an 
> automobile accident, regardless of the location.
> Maybe an announcement on the 
> line by the chief ref where medical is. And what is
> available? Also published in 
> the race announcement? That way riders can chose not
> to attend events that they 
> believe to have inadequate medical support.
> 
> In my short time racing, I have been involved in
> several crashes. Four broken 
> collarbones. Head injuries. Lots of road rash. I
> have never allowed the on site 
> ambulance personnel to touch me. I don't want to pay
> for it (even though I have 
> good medical insurance). I have never been
> transported from a race to the 
> hospital by ambulance; always private vehicle, and
> only when necessary. The 
> ambulance people will strap you to a backboard and
> transport you if you slip and 
> fall on the start line. They have to in order to
> protect themselves from 
> lawsuits (I also have a little bit of experience
> dealing with these guys too). I 
> have raced all over the country (and outside the
> country) and have seen medical 
> support range from an ambulance with a safety crew
> and a doctor to nothing at 
> all (I suppose someone had a cell phone).
> 
> I don't think having an ambulance sitting at the
> start line of Copperopolis will 
> reduce the response time if someone crashed on the
> back side of the course. 
> Perhaps someone could put together a medical
> response unit like they have a 
> Superweek? I have no idea what Jeff charges for that
> service, but it has to be 
> more affordable than paying a fully staffed
> ambulance. 
> 
> A bigger problem is all of the road races we do
> where there is no support; no 
> medical, no mechanical. and no referee. This happens
> a lot in NCNCA. We are out 
> there racing alone, with no one to report the crash
> until we pass someone. Even 
> then are we too busy (selfish) to stop and report
> it? 
> 
> No answers here, just a bunch to think about.
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> ?Chris Black
> Morgan Stanley Racing Team
> San Luis Obispo, CA
> 
>  
> 
> 
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Castia <zronn at sbcglobal.net>
> To: Ben Stern <salsamanben at yahoo.com>;
> ncnca at ncnca.org
> Sent: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 7:46 pm
> Subject: Re: [NCNCA] medical support
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hi Ben,
> This is a good topic and worthy of attention.
> I think a bit of research and data on feasibility
> would help your cause.
> 
> Can you put together a report showing what you are
> proposing and the costs?
> Perhaps even a list of service providers with costs
> for different events, road 
> races, and criteriums (all day staffing).
> 
> 
> Ron
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Ben Stern <salsamanben at yahoo.com>
> To: ncnca at ncnca.org
> Sent: Monday, September 3, 2007 7:28:27 PM
> Subject: [NCNCA] medical support
> 
> Folks, I think it is very necessary for NCNCA to
> review its position/stance/regulations 
> 
> as it applies to medical presence at races.
>    
>   Simply too much is at stake, namely peoples health
> and even lives!, to have 
> such weak medical care presence.
>    
>   As a racer who has just completed my first season
> here, (raced previously in 
> TX, WI, OR, IL, LA)  I was amazed that the largest
> region in UCSF has such a 
> relaxed plan for medical attention.  
>    
>   As most of our races occur in the middle of
> nowhere, it seems imperitive to 
> have ON-SITE medical personnel.
>    
>   I had the misfortune to crash at four events this
> year.  In my estimation, 
> none of them had adequate medical support.  Most
> states require on site 
> Ambulances for races, this is a good idea!  
>    
>   Screw the cost (I am sure you are thinking about
> it), it pails in comparison 
> to the potentially serious/fatal costs that can
> accompany a poorly handled 
> injury. 
>    
>   Lets fix this before someone is paralyzed or dies,
> due to lack of experienced 
> medical personnel.  For next season's RD's it should
> be mandatory to provide 
> suitable medical care; namely an ambulance/doctor on
> site.
>    
>   A few teams are sponsored by healthcare providers,
> lets offer them a NCNCA 
> sponsorship to provide race day support.
>    
>   Can I come to a meeting of the board and further
> this discussion.  I have no 
> intentions of putting this to rest until something
> is done.  I am on a mission!  
> 
> I hope you all will join me.
>    
> 
=== message truncated ===

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