[NCNCA] medical support-a solution from San Rafael

[Jim Volsansky]

All,
 
 It's a great idea to have an ambulance on site but as
Ron Castia pointed out in most cases services are only
a few minutes away, excluding road races. 
 And not to be interpreted as a cheapskate the cost of
having an Ambulance on site is prohibitive to running
a race. If I'm not mistaken the cost of having a unit
there doesn't cover the ride to the Hospital either.

 For the EMC race this year we did have to pony up for
an EMT as we couldn't locate our resource from last
year. In most cases you can find an EMT that has a
community service quota to fill which means both
parties get a little something out of the deal. Hours
for the EMT, and no cost to have an EMT present to
attend to fallen racers.

 What I would suggest is that we require having at
least one EMT on site and that Members of the hosting
club have at least two on hand that are First aid
certified.

 Back to the EMT situation.
I think it would be great if we could start an EMT
Database on NCNCA somewhere to help all the Clubs in
locating and securing EMT services.

Bullet points/suggestions (Crits):

1. Require 1 EMT on site (ours cost $125 and Lunch)
2. Two People that are certified First Aid at event.
   Mainly to assist the EMT and perform Triage.

Sorry but I don't have anything for road events,
logistically those would be on a case by case Basis.

Best Regards
Jim V

 




--- Eric <eric939 at redshift.com> wrote:

> 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
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> 
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