I saw a video of my post crash care by the corner workers at BHF May 9th in T7. I have to first say thank you for the care you provided me. Secondly, I want to say that I am not sure it was the best choice to remove my helmet prior to EMT care given the condition I might have presented at the time - passing out, dizzy, etc. I am not blaming anyone for my concussion, I just want you guys to follow the emergency care procedures, and try not to be too overzealous. In this case, I cannot say for sure that you didn't, I don't remember anything prior to being put in the ambulance. If my injuries were more severe, that helmet removal prior to EMT care may have resulted in much greater harm than good.
Thanks again for the care, but please be a little more careful in the steps you follow after a rider has sustained an obvious head injury.
A corner worker removed your helmet? I believe they are instructed to never do that before medical help arrives.
In the case of our MARRC training we teach new workers to never remove a riders helmet.
Hopefully this can be addressed and corrected at your venue.
I edited my original note because I thought it unfairly presented the actions of the cornerworkers following my accident. My intentions for this note were to just to highlight that even though you want to help the fallen rider, take time to really understand his/her state before removing a helmet.
Oh and by the way, no one prompted me to write this followup note. I truly appreciate the efforts of all cornerworkers, and know they are a neccesity, not an impedance, and I want each and every one of they to keep coming out the races and give us their best.
Thanks again all,
Interesting subject...........
We were always taught that the most we could do is to lift the visor and loosen the chin strap. That is regardless of whether you are trained to remove a helmet or not. Some Orgs. are different. We are also told we can never move a rider regardless if they ask you to help or not. This also reminds me of a situation a friend of mine was stuck with...........
He had a rider down just a couple of feet off the race line. Rider was obviosly broken and couldn't move on his own. My friend told him that fluid was on the track and he had to try to move immediatly. Not taking any chances on what the fluid was, the rider begged for him to drag him out of the way. After about 30 seconds my bud went against all he was taught and moved him. Considering the circumstances, it was a brave yet difficult decision on his part. It also saved this rider from more injury. This cornerworker was "talked to" about this incident.
I don't know the entire story of the helmet removal, but I do know in "some" situations there is no time for procrastination.
Glad it worked out for you MOTO. Some aren't so lucky.
Mark Bentley was the corner worker that day. He saw the desperation of the situation and took control of it. He saved a life that day........and I am damned proud to work along side of him. If anyone visits Jennings GP, you ought to say hello to him. He answers to Bentley or "Sugarbear". LOL
somtimes a racer might ask for help with his/her helmet, " i tell em i'll take off your gloves , you remove your own helmet"...it might sound nasty
but they get the picture;generaly its still a hot track
and their probally better w/ it on.....great topic
thanks to the racer that brought it up....v
QuoteA corner worker removed your helmet? I believe they are instructed to never do that before medical help arrives.
Gordies right. We are told NOT to remove them.
Found out the guys that removed my helmet were trained EMT's. That makes me feel a lot better. However, for those that are not trained, please just be aware of the potential harm such action may cause.
Thanks again.
Myself being a paramedic, removing a helmet in the field after a crash should only happen if there is suspected airway problems. Simply stated if you lift the visor and check, and the person seems to be breathing normally, leave the helmet on, if there is little or no breathing, or possible airway trama, by all means pull that helmet off. Without air, you wont have to worry about being paralized :(
QuoteMyself being a paramedic, removing a helmet in the field after a crash should only happen if there is suspected airway problems. Simply stated if you lift the visor and check, and the person seems to be breathing normally, leave the helmet on, if there is little or no breathing, or possible airway trama, by all means pull that helmet off. Without air, you wont have to worry about being paralized :(
I am an EMT in New Jersey......And what firerider said is exactly to the point. If a helmet must be removed in order to assist with a patients airway.......by all means CAREFULLY and with the head being supported (preferrably by another trained person) SLOWLY remove the helmet.
You got it Sir ;) ;D
I see a lot about helmet removal dos and don'ts. WHen I corner worked we were always told that was a no no. Let the medics take care of it. Someone brought up that its ok if they are trained. I know I have my medic first aid and all the other stuff but how many of the corner workers are trained or certified in CPR and First Aid?
QuoteI see a lot about helmet removal dos and don'ts. WHen I corner worked we were always told that was a no no. Let the medics take care of it. Someone brought up that its ok if they are trained. I know I have my medic first aid and all the other stuff but how many of the corner workers are trained or certified in CPR and First Aid?
I think we have a few nurses and EMTs corner working BHF.
I've never seen any corner worker try to remove a helmet out on a corner, and I have spent a lot of years working corners!
At BHF last weekend (5/7-8/05) there was a vendor there that is introducing a new helmet removal system. It is basicly an air bag that is placed under the linning of your bucket and has a hose that runs down the side that a hand held pump is attatched to and inflates the bag and pushes the helmet off the racers head when inflated. There is a little sticker on the side of the helmet indicating the location of the hose. This is a very nifty system! No pressure is excerted on the riders head as the bag is inflated to remove the helmet. The bag is about a 2x2 inch (flat) square and is not noticable when installed. The vender said that the system will cost us about $35.00. Personally, I think that this system should be made mandatory for the next season. I plan on getting one at the next BHF.
Bernie!
Get one if you like, but it won't do you a bit of good because the EMTs at BHF don't have a pump to attach to it and don't want one.
I spoke with them at length after the demo. They are opposed to it since it isn't in their "protocol". They said it would probably have to be made mandatory before they'd use it.
Their reasons were that it comes with a CO2 cartridge (unlike the hand pump that was used in the demo we saw) that doesn't allow them to slow the inflation of the bag. Also, that it doesn't help one of the main difficulties which is getting the helmet past the occipital point (the bump on the skull at its base). They claimed they'd have better control using their hands to remove the helmet as they do now.
I don't know if their points are valid. I suspect there's risk in jumping into a new method, no matter how impressive it looks.
:-/
I agree that the system looked like a simple solution and I hope more research is done.
BTW, they confirmed earlier posts here that EMTs are the only ones allowed to remove a helmet at BHF.
Good info Don. I didn't know that about the EMT's. I think you are right tho. More research is definatly needed and everyone needs to be on the same page. You brought up a couple of points that I didn't know about. It will not do any good unless the EMT's are willing to use it. They are the ones who would know best IMO.
I spoke with the rep for the product, workers would use a hand pump not a CO2 cartridge (CO2 is often used for speed purposes during a demo) for better control.
Other than cutting off your helmet, it should be better than one person trying to hold your head while another person pulls on your helmet.
Here's a web site which looks and sounds like the same product.
www.hatsoff.info
Honestly, from my training and my knowledge of track procedures I quite honestly hope that a medic unit would opt to leave the helmet on and let the doctor's deal with it if they were that concerned about head/neck/or facial trauma.
This product has to put at least SOME pressure on the top of the head. I can't see it not exuding some pressure against the skull.
Plus if the person were choking or having a breathing problem they would remove the helmet even if there were neck injuries present.
As long as 1 person is correctly supporting the spine the second medical person should be able to remove the helmet.
Injury dictates protocol.
QuoteHere's a web site which looks and sounds like the same product.
www.hatsoff.info
Yep that's it.
Brian, it's good to know the hand pump would be used. That was a concern of the EMTs and I wonder if there was some confusion during their demo. If this is mandated by IRL and CART you'd think it wouldn't be controversial. We'll see if it gains acceptance.
The Midwest Safety Crew has purchased a hand pump. This is FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY! The cornerworkers will not be removing helmets. I may consider letting the track medical units use our pump. To me these look like a good idea. If you purchase one you should go to the med-shed at your track and let them know about the helmet removal system. ;)