First aid and rally cars

So, I was reading through STPR stuff at specialstage and there was all this talk of red cross situation and such things. It got me to thinking...
I was involved in a Red Cross and Helicopter requiring situation as first car on scene at my first rally. There was 3 or 4 broken ankles, at least one broken back, driver had massive contusion from hitting head on steering wheel, and from my first aid kit I used one gauze pad to stop the bleeding from head. I feel fairly confident that just about everything that we are required to carry is pointless and we'd not even use. Take the Sam Splint thing. The only time I can think of that I would use that would be if I wrecked and broke something on myself and wanted to splint it until the stage was finished and I could get medical assistance. Though if it were a compound fracture, it'd likely be a red cross situation. So it's pretty much for your wrist if you pull a Pat Richard and grab the A-pillar during a roll and break your wrist but don't want to shut down the stage?
Roger Matthews, doctor and rallyist, was telling me about his search and rescue dog that last month woke up one morning and was super lethargic. Took him in to the vet and they discovered his spleen was bleeding and they gave him hours to live. Wanted to put him down right then. Roger took him home instead, administered Yunnan Baiyao, a chinese herb that stops internal bleeding, and a few hours later, they were playing fetch with a tennis ball. His dog is still alive and being treated for the cancer that caused the bleeding, but Roger mentioned, he thought it was something that should be carried in a rally first aid kit.
Most rally deaths are from massive internal injuries. Seems like something that could slow internal bleeding makes way more sense to carry in a rally first aid kit than anything we currently carry.

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Grant Hughes

I agree with you Grant. The most important thing in the rally car first aid kit is a way to stop heavy bleeding. I like the "Quick Clot" pads. Everything else is either convienience or uneeded.

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Robert.

"You are way too normal to be on Rally Anarchy." Eddie Fiorelli.

you are opening a whole can of worms with me on this one. My wife just beat cancer using all natural herbs and no doctor wants to see her because of this of one reason- if common cures are readily available, the medical comunity wants nothing to do with it if it does not provide income. I hear everything that you are saying, but it will never be backed by anyone at a power level. My grandmother (still living very well at 92) was one of Jonas Sulk's nurses at Pitt univ, when he developed the polio vacine. Medicine and how things were done back then were for the common good of humanity. Now, evrything is driven by dolar signs. Sorry I'm f'ing up your thread, but you do have a very goodpoint!

Yeah, but rally organizers do not profit off people having kits...

Most likely it's just a CYA. "Oh, but they HAVE first aid kits! You know, being in remote areas and all..."

But, like Grant said, if you roll into a tree and need aid, it's not going to be a 1x4" band aid...


I could see those as being more of a "convenience" thing, like accidently slicing your finger while doing a quick check on something during a transit or something. Not so much a "Well, I just balled up the car, and need 10 band aids"

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Welcome to the cult of JVL drink the koolaid or be banned.

I don't believe in band aids.

Sean. That is awesome about your wife. Seriously.

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Grant Hughes

I've taken the two day first aid course for work (and rally) every three years for the past 15 years (so about five times). It used to cover all kinds of crap like making splints, treating burns, objects in the eye, etc etc... The last time I took the course, it was whitled down to four major things;

1. secure the scene against secondary incidents (including yourself)
2. stop major bleeding
3. CPR
4. wait for proffesional help

That's it. The rest is fluff.

Too much liability in reducing what's "required" in a first aid kit though, so don't hold your breath.

2 lawn chairs and a cooler full of beer would make more sense. If/when I toss my car into the trees the last thing I'm gonna want are some band aids...

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Less talk. More rally.

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Ckgtimk2
2 lawn chairs and a cooler full of beer would make more sense. If/when I toss my car into the trees the last thing I'm gonna want are some band aids...

Might be best to have something not carbonated. A bottle to toast away a car does seem fitting though

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This isn't floor mat anarchy

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alosix

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Ckgtimk2
2 lawn chairs and a cooler full of beer would make more sense. If/when I toss my car into the trees the last thing I'm gonna want are some band aids...

Might be best to have something not carbonated. A bottle to toast away a car does seem fitting though

A fishing rod might be nice for the idaho stages, That'd be the best way to spectate here. Fish for a bit, sit down watch a few cars go by, and go back to fishing.

Super glue is very handy to have in any emergency kit, Might be handy in the car. Slice your finger on a fender you've just pulled off the tire and glue it back up.

For bleeding, quik clot is nice stuff to have, but be careful, as it works by cauterizing the wound.

For a pressure dressing, Israeli trauma dressings are nifty things to have.

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It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favour of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion.
William Ralph Inge

TANSTAAFL

besides heavy bleeding, knowing how to deal with someone in shock is critical. Its not that tough, you just have to know what to do. Like all first aid stuff, practice and review are key, as its freaky when its real.

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alkun
besides heavy bleeding, knowing how to deal with someone in shock is critical. Its not that tough, you just have to know what to do. Like all first aid stuff, practice and review are key, as its freaky when its real.

"We don't need practice, we just need to test if our bodies can handle our badassitude"._{Alperti Kunkanenen}

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/2012 10:07PM by john vanlandingham.

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alkun
besides heavy bleeding, knowing how to deal with someone in shock is critical. Its not that tough, you just have to know what to do. Like all first aid stuff, practice and review are key, as its freaky when its real.

Oh jeez, yeah. Shock is really important to know how to deal with. Reason to keep the space blanket!

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Welcome to the cult of JVL drink the koolaid or be banned.

I'm surprised how many people are writing off bandaids. Sure, they might not be that useful for serious emergencies... but I've been really happy to have them in the car for the few times that I've cut a finger doing something under the hood or changing a tire or whatever. Much rather patch it up than bleed on my steering wheel and shifter for a few stages. Although that would have been more badass....

FWIW, other stuff I've used (for actual emergencies) and have been happy to have:
-lots of gauze
-gloves to wear when treating someone
-alcohol wipes to clean stuff up
-tape

Although, to be honest, most of it got used one time on a transit helping a civilian with low blood pressure who rolled his SUV in front of me.
-Eric

Know your ABC's

Airway, if they aint' breathing, they should be

Bleeding - gotta get it under control

Circulation - If their ticker isn't pumpin' it needs to be restarted.

And as long as I live, I'll never forget ILABCAB. Thanks to Sgt. Dave Todd, one of my EMT adjunct instructors.

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It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favour of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion.
William Ralph Inge

TANSTAAFL