SIMCAS used to be invited to provide cover at Goodwood. Not sure what
happens now.

We used to provide an MIO at lots of big events but that no longer seems to
happen, not sure why when one considers all the new laws re mass gathering
etc.

Problem with providing an MIO from the poolnto all these types of events is
that bthere are so many it could become a full time job. Ambulance Services
cannot afford full time medical directors never moind MIOs  so they are
stuck really. I do not think it reasonable that MIOs turn out every weekend
to cover private events for no reward.

What is importnat is that ALL DOCTORS who turn up to coverr such events MUST
be trained and equipped to deal with the problems that might occur. There is
no place for untrained volunteers these days and the recent Watson ruling
means that they will be in trouble with the courts if they are not so
prepared. The Boxers, Swimmers and horsey folk seem to be addressing this
but I suspect few others are. I wrote to all sports bodies some months ago
to see what there views were and was met with a stoney silence, except for
the bowling(the big balls on the grass type of bowling) association who
werre very grateful forn my interest but they had a very "senior nurse" who
would deal with all their troubles - and very well she will do it too. I
would like to think that BARC and other motor sports bodies demand trained
staff but confess that I do not know - covering motor sports is for me very
boring and I have never investigated! Who knows?

Iain
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeremy Mayhew <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2000 7:03 PM
Subject: Major Incident - Event coverage


>
> > Hello all, as a recent subscriber to this list I have been reading this
> > thread with interest. It was bought home particularly today, by the
> > tragic accident at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. A driver lost his
> > life and two marshals were seriously injured. The event was covered
> > medically by the BARC, who were there for the participants, Sussex
> > Ambulance who had paramedics mainly for the crowd, but also to transport
> > any seriously injured to the local hospital and the St Johns who were
> > also there for the crowd.
>
> Hi Mark,
>
> Nothing like starting with a bit of controversy! I thought that BARC docs
> were trained along similar lines to BASICS, and I think there is some sort
> of affiliation, ditto horse events (?). Doubt whether all the docs there
> were trained to that standard though. Did the paramedics even get near the
> patient? I suspect cover at these events comes down to who you know.
>
> I have always been a bit bemused by event coverage. Was Matt
BradstockSmith
> there? Ignoring the incident you talked about due to sensitivities, I
wonder
> if there is any sense in ambulance services requiring at least deployment
of
> an MIO to the scene for cover of large events. The potential for a major
> incident at this, plus airshows etc are high. Knowing the BASICS cover for
> that area, I'm 25-30 minutes away, Matt 10-15, Priscilla 15-20mins.
>
> As local scheme members, we are all fully used to working with you guys as
a
> team week in week out, which is what you need when the 5H1T hits the fan.
We
> are also used to clambering about inside vehicles to attend victims- with
> all necessary protective clothing, and fully equipped for pre-hospital
> emergencies with kit bags full of stuff we use every week.
>
> We have a local airshow too, and if there was a major incident back up
from
> my BASICS colleagues is some 30 minutes away (except Iain McNeil, who
tanks
> along at 120!). I'm away attempting the Diploma for this September's. It
> seems that for a high risk activity, the local community is missing out on
> all local MIO's and other BASICS docs, all trained and practised for these
> events.
>
> Anyone any thoughts? Iain?
>
> Cheers
> Jeremy (GP/BASICS/MIO/MIMMS Instructor)
>



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