Posts
36
Joined
9/19/2018
Location
Sacramento, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
7/28/2020 8:26am
Here's what happened; I see a kid go down on the far side of the track at our local race series, it's one of the last motos of the night and there aren't any other adults close by. He's off of is 85 and isn't moving. I wait a couple of seconds to see if he moves and he doesn't, then another second to see if anyone is running out there, and they aren't. The flagger is out there waving to get some attention but nobody is responding.
As the closest adult, I run over. When I get there the kid is pretzeled in a jarring and unexpected way. I check in with him and ask the basics. Move your feet, move your hands, move your neck. The kid is crying and says he can't move his leg. Uh oh. The kid is still pretzeled and I'm afraid to move him.
I signal to the other flagger that the paramedics are needed then return to the kid. At this time his dad is on the scene, takes control, and suspects an ACL injury.
I'm a moto-dad and had been scooping up kids in the 50 class and putting them back on their bikes all night. My son included. Usually, it's no big deal. But, in this case, I realized I'm really unprepared for anything beyond a quick dust off and bike restart. I do know CPR but in the case of a potential spinal cord injury or other skeletal or ligament trauma, I'm over my head. So what's the protocol? That kid could have easily been my own and beyond a vitals check, I'm not sure what to do. I'm hoping that some of the elders here will have some sage advice or resources to better help one another.
As the closest adult, I run over. When I get there the kid is pretzeled in a jarring and unexpected way. I check in with him and ask the basics. Move your feet, move your hands, move your neck. The kid is crying and says he can't move his leg. Uh oh. The kid is still pretzeled and I'm afraid to move him.
I signal to the other flagger that the paramedics are needed then return to the kid. At this time his dad is on the scene, takes control, and suspects an ACL injury.
I'm a moto-dad and had been scooping up kids in the 50 class and putting them back on their bikes all night. My son included. Usually, it's no big deal. But, in this case, I realized I'm really unprepared for anything beyond a quick dust off and bike restart. I do know CPR but in the case of a potential spinal cord injury or other skeletal or ligament trauma, I'm over my head. So what's the protocol? That kid could have easily been my own and beyond a vitals check, I'm not sure what to do. I'm hoping that some of the elders here will have some sage advice or resources to better help one another.
It had me thinking how unprepared I would be for an emergency scenario as well. You just never know when an emergency can arise and each situation is always different. (Not super related, but the thought process is in the same place)
Full disclosure: Not a medical professional
1) ABC. Airway, Breathing, Circulation
If they’re unconscious I look for Airway obstructions, if they’re Breathing, and if they have a pulse. The answer to all of those is CPR first and foremost. Don’t care if there is a spinal injury. Don’t care if they’re pretzeled. If they’re unconscious and not breathing, they are being moved - helmet is coming off and CPR is starting.
2) If they’re conscious and in pain. I usually ask them to under their own power lay flat on the back. There is no rush to get up. Most people with the wind knocked out want to pace, which is difficult to triage with that urge to get up - but if they’re able to do that - I typically write off any major injuries.
3) If they’re pretzeled and in agony with something like a femor or ACL, I usually make a connection first and foremost. I’ve been there... laying on the track with strangers attending to you. Most of the time they’re confused on what to do, and you feel like you’re not really being tended to. I’ll make a point to check in with the rider, make eye contact, grab a hand and reassure we’re there to get them taken care of. If something like a femor has ruptured the femoral artery - and paramedics weren’t there I’d do something like a tourniquet to slow the bleeding.
4) Keep checking in on ABC.
With a musculoskeletal injury - there isn’t much you can do at a track - paramedics included. Keep the rider calm and alive from unconsciousness or bleeding - and transport.
The Shop
unfortunately this is the united states and you can get sued for being the nice guy, it sucks but the reality of the world we live in.
It doesn't necessarily mean that you would end up making the injury worse than it is, but seeing as you would be the first person to touch/move an injured person the blame would automatically fall on you. Like bvm111 mentioned, you would be sued for all you got.
It's best to just try and calm them down, let them know not to move and that medical professionals are on their way.
Many may not know, but before I did this, I worked at a local track in Ft Lauderdale called Pepsi/Air Dania, was, in retrospect, an insane track. I won’t say dangerous, but it certainly was sketchy as hell. I was announcer and so much more, and when someone went down, I was the guy dodging bikes and sprinting across the track. Feels like I’d have to do this two or three times a night.
First, MxKing is correct, ABC.
I am not a medical professional, but have had advanced first aid training and I guess now, a ton of on the job training.
After ABC, asses the situation. I always made a point to tell the rider to not move. Could create more damage or issues depending on the situation and injury. I tell the rider to hold still, relax and to take a self assessment. What hurts? Can you wiggle toes? Relax, breathe, assess. Take your time. 9 times out of 10, it seemed that all a rider really needed was to catch their breath and gain their composure. Once we get to that point, and they think they’re ok, I ask them to SLOWLY try and start moving. Take it easy. Then try to get up, also slowly, in case of any missed injury and also in case they become light headed (possible concussion).
Even things like broken arms, collarbones and such, riders can typically get up and walk back to pits or ride in mule once they regain composure. There’s always exceptions to every rule.
If a rider is KTFO, I stay with them and try to protect them from oncoming traffic, while continuing ABC. I try to wake them, knuckle rub to center of chest (if possible) or pinch to side. In these cases, once woken, go very slow, easy to pass back out. I would also tell hem their ride for the day is over (once back to pits)...no one rode after KTFO
When it came to broken legs, I kept them comfortable and waited for EMTs to arrive (practice had none on duty, race day had to have on site). Femurs I would be especially cautious, those can get ugly quick. Take no chances with femurs. I’d wait for EMTs on tib/fib because it didn’t have proper equipment to stabilize it enough to get the rider back to the pits, even on a bumpy mule ride.
With some basic or advanced first aid training and some common sense, much of which you gain hanging around this sport, you can handle most injuries.
Again, I am not a healthcare professional and nothing said here is professional advice. Get some proper training.
But as said....ABC, stabilization, assess....
Sounds to me like you did know what to do. Dont go beyond your limits. You are not going to save that kids life or their ability to walk. Keep the scene safe, dont let him get him hit by anyone else. Be there to comfort them and keep them as calm as possible.
Good job bro. You were alert and recognized the situation early.
I've announced a million local and fair races and usually down with the action and generally the first one to the downed rider.
My m.o. is to tell them to relax, and that I'm here with them, but I never touch them.
Ask questions like what hurts, where we are, etc, to see and evaluate how they really are.
Sometimes taking their mind off of things with a small conversation helps.
Try to evaluate as best possible and keep them calm. A lot of these guys know me so that helps a little too.
Basically killing time to wait for the (slow) local medics or if the rider is ok, get him up on their feet and off or away from the track.
Most times they are just shocked from hitting the ground.
Anything serious, I tell them the medics are coming and to take deep breaths and remain calm.
Never fun, but it seems like I do it on a weekly basis.
DD
Most all knew me as well, they had to listen to my shit on the microphone all the damn day/night, so I was a familiar voice or person, and I agree, that helps to calm them and even the parents/friend/significant other.
I have to admit, there were times I’d reach a guy, go through initial motions and then ask “dude, what we’re you thinking? That was pretty stupid”
Usually lightened the situation and got their mind off any injury or shock, and they’d be ready to get going after a little laugh.
Knew a guy who cased this MASSIVE blind triple we had, broke both legs.
The very night he came back, like 8 weeks later, that night, he did same crash again...I was standing there and saw his legs snap....ran up and said, “Dude, are you fucking stupid?”
He said “I guess so”
"I ride dirt bikes, don't I?" -Every motocrosser ever
If they’re conscious but the legs are wrapped up it’s best to just leave them there until EMS can get there with proper stabilizing equipment. Majorly broken legs can be extraordinarily painful and difficult to manage without proper equipment.
It doesn’t matter what else is wrong with you, if you’re bleeding really bad or not breathing, you’re fucked no matter what. Gotta assess those things first.
Nothing worse than coming up on a kid who is clearly injured and distraught. Those are very difficult situations to manage because you got to get the kid to calm down first.
When I rolled up no one was doing anything and I assumed no one had the training and neither did I. Was a helpless feeling standing there looking at someone that obviously needed help and I can’t imagine how the three riders that found him felt. I got back to the truck packed up my stuff and left haven’t been back since.
I was referring to the finish line front triple, blind AF and 110’ at one point, with a fairly short run
The other stupid one, when it was there, was the uphill triple....that had to be about 80-90’, but an elevation change of maybe 20’
In retrospect, that track was pretty stupid, but a shit ton of fast guys came out of or through it
Pit Row
Do not move
ABC. (Finger swoop mouth, ear to nose watching chest, are you ok? Are you ok?)
No response
Call for help (911)
Chest compressions
If they pass ABC, still do not move, calm, cover and consult then treat as situation allows (first aid training) tourniquet, slings, stabilizers, etc.
If you’re not a certified or once certified emt all we can really do is be another set of eyes for the professionals, get to rider as fast as you can, flag down the emt as fast as you can and try to keep the victim calm, safe from traffic and still is really all you can do until the emt gets there hopefully within seconds assuming there is one on sight
It sounds like you did your best in this situation, don’t give yourself too much grief
2- Proceed with the rest of the above advice to the best of your abilities and no more.
Such a fun jumps though .
I'm not a medical professional by any stretch, but I've been First Aid/CPR trained for over 20 years, so Ive been through at least 10 of those classes. Thankfully havent had to use that training a whole lot as it is very basic, but its better than nothing. Still feel pretty helpless in a serious situation, but not totally useless at least.
The first thing they teach in those classes is making sure the scene is safe for the victim as well as for you the rescuer. They teach you to take control of the scene, do a quick assessment of the severity of the injuries, and if warranted call 911 ASAP to get real help on the way.
If an EMT showed up to ride, we’d left them ride for free in exchange for their services, if needed.
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