[NCNCA] medical support-a solution from San Rafael

[Eric]

AMR isn't everywhere.  We no longer have AMR in Monterey County, for 
example.

That idea does open some interesting sponsorship ideas, though...  
Bring back the Cat 4 Challenge?

Eric



On Sep 4, 2007, at 07:59, william matthews wrote:

> 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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