"Hats off" system info needed

[spyderchick]

Does anyone have the US contact info for the "Hats Off" emergency helmet removal system? I found their UK website, but I need their contact info for a fellow rider in Colorado.

[tzracer]

Try this

http://www.hatsoff.info/hatsoff_contact.html

[Suzy]

That's interesting, I was gonna ask you what it was about.  8)

[Super Dave]

I wouldn't use it.

If you had an head injury, using it to take your helmet off would just make it worse.  

Nice idea, but the execution might not be right.

[MELK-MAN]

i dunno.. looks like a perfect product. A head injury in our sport would likely be brain related from the brain hitting the inside of the skull due to sudden force, not dealing with a skull injury. Having a device that inflates to push the helmet from the top of your head, then off, is ideal. Pulling on the helmet with a cervical injury would cause more damage.
If you had a crash, SO BAD that the little pillow would further damage your skull cap and thus brain, you have bigger problems....

[tzracer]

The product is designed to help remove the helmet in the event of a neck/spine injury. Broken skulls while wearing a helmet are quite rare. Pushing from the top of the skull is a much better idea than pulling the helmet off. They are now required in the IRL.

[spyderchick]

Found it...for anyone wants this for future reference:

John Deagan
3715 Cuba Road
Long Grove
Il 66047
Tel: (847) 438 7142
Fax: (847) 438 8404
email: j.deagan@hatsoff.info

[dylanfan53]

Unfortunately, the device is worthless unless the EMS have a pump to inflate it.  I don't know about other tracks, but they don't have the pumps at Blackhawk.

I asked EMS at BHF about the device and why they aren't being supported since I'd heard about them being tested, proven and now used by some race orgs (cars, not bikes).  I got an earful about why they don't use it.  Bottom line is that they have protocols that they strictly follow and this isn't in them.  

Actually, that's not the bottom line.  The bottom line is that the country's run by lawyers but that could take an ugly twist.   :-X

[motobenco]

What's to stop you from scewing with your friends "hats off" system. I mean, the old hit the kill switch at the starting line was funny but pumping his helmet off at the line would take the cake.

[crazyracer]

I like it. If it's going to help on reducing neck and spinal injures. The EMS don't need that much training on the system. Don't they have to go for training any ways. If it is proven to reduce injury then won't any emergency service want to use it. What about CCS authorizing the Hats Off system. Other racing organizations approve safety systems to help reduce injury to the racer. Why not approve a system to help reduce futher injury?

[weggie_man]

CCS cannot dictate to the medical/rescue personnel what systems they should use. I believe IRL has trheir own safety/rescue team so they can do that.

Blackhawk Farms medical personnel are a group of full time EMT's from the area that work part time for the track. They are not part of any organized association. They are good at what they do, some of the best around.  

At least that was up to this year. Rumor has it they may be replaced by an outside ambulance service.

For what it's worth I sent an email to Ray Irwin asking him not to replace the current team as they are good at their jobs and are familiar with motorcycle crashes and injuries.

As for the Hats Off system, I'm all for it if it helps prevent further serious injuries. I'll be investigating it further.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I've seen the med team at Blackhawk enough times to know that they are a good bunch.   :-[  Where can I send an e-mail like yours, Gordie?