Your Medical Information "just in case"

When you participate in a race, do you always have someone with you?  Someone that knows you as good as or better than you know yourself.  Chances are the answer is "no".  So how will anyone get critical information on you if you are involved in an on track incident, or have a medical emergency and are unable to communicate!  Information like your: Medications, Blood type, Allergies, pertinent medical history, emergency contact names and numbers.  The fire department has available to them a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) book located in any property housing Hazardous Materials. This information is paramount to the success of firefighters handling the emergency. The same could be done for medical and contact information for a racer. There could be a common place (i.e. on the wall just inside the trailer door) and in the event of an incident, an official could be dispatched there for the info. The only problem with having the info on your person is that it could be compromised/damaged as part of the incident (fire, trauma, discarded, etc.) and the EDI (Emergency Driver Information) (I just thought that one up, LOL) would contain much more detailed information for Medical personnel.  This could alleviate any pause (for possible reaction testing) in the rapid treatment/actions of the Emergency and/or Trauma staff.  Time is critical and seconds count in these situations!

Wade Mahaffey  2/15/10

Fire Extingushers in the trailer

It is a bad feeling when you find your battery is junk in the lanes, and the charger is at the trailer. It's a horrific feeling when there's a fire, and nothing to fight it with.

We as racers should try to standardize the location of our extinguishers. In the fire department, we told folks to mount them by the door. That way you could get to them as you retreat toward safety. I like my extinguishers (2) 2-1/2 gal. water and (1) 20 lb Dry Chemical mounted on the side door where most folks have there folding counter/oil rack. If you place your mount so that it will slide in resting in the footwell as you close the door it will take the weight off of the door hinge. The best reason for the door mount is "accessibility right now"! Also if there is ever an incident while towing (or parked), as you open the door you are shielded from any fire conditions and as you fold the door back, there they are at the ready! Also I do not lock the trailer doors while in transit. (It's tough to steel anything the way I roll anyway LOL) If you need to get in fast, or get the car out in a hurry there's no time to be fumbling with keys. NOTE: Those pressurized water cans are sweet when removing mud from your baby. (DON'T FORGET TO RECHARGE THAT CAN!)

Fire extinguishers are in four basic categories Class (A) is usually straight water under pressure in a can and used for wood, paper, fabric, grass, etc. Class (B) is a powder and used for flammable liquid fires. Class (C) is Co2 and used for charged electrical fires. Note: you can kill the power and use Class (A). Class (D) is dry powder and used for flammable metals i.e. Magnesium. Some race tracks and Fire Departments will take a water can and fill it with AFFF foam or Purple "K" agent for flammable liquid fires. There are also multi use extinguishers ABC using a powder for your car or home. Halon extinguishers are normally used where there are computers or restaurant setting and leaves very little residue.

Wade Mahaffey 

Racing safety after hours part 2

In the interest of safety while at any event where trailers, motorhomes etc. are parked together over night, I would like to offer a few points for consideration .  These are a few simple actions that could provide a more favorable outcome in the event of a emergency.  Event pre-planing for specific situations ie. fires (fuel, structure, brush/trash, motorhomes, trailers, auto etc.),  medical emergencys (heart attack, stroke, diabetes, etc.), trauma (open and closed injuries, fractures, blood showing, etc) and then training the event staff on procedures and/or tactics to mitigate the emergency.  At the very least begin operations and request additional resources as needed and provide onscene information to incoming units.  A chain of command for track or event operations is probably already in place.  The chain of command should be different for emergency situations, with a span of control of 5-7 persons per group leader/officer/supervisor.  An event liason person should be in place to interface with local Fire/Police/EMS officals.  They would coordinate planning (site layout/grounds, location of water sources, EMS and Firefighting equitment and supplies etc.), assignments (who does what) and training (this is how you do it).

The problem with all of this, is that the people I just talked about are not available "Right Now" if your situation happens at night!  Now I'm sure anyone around would come running to help.  But, it would be nice if one of those running actually knew what to do (first aid, CPR, use of the extinguisher etc.) or the correct action to take (go in and get them out, alert and evacuate etc.).  Chances are that some of the events participants have such training, and could and should be used to take immediate life saving actions when needed.  You may not get a second chance!

Event applications should have an area that would identify an individuals abilities in Fire,Police,EMS incidents.  These folks should be parked in strategic areas on the grounds ie. (end of the row).  And identified with a small marking on the trailer for rapid intervention when needed.  Track personnel and/or event participants could gather these folks in the event of an emergency (during off hours at night, MCI mass casualty incidents,etc.).  Medical emergencies happen regularly, but my biggest fear is a fire in a rig (motorhome and/or trailer at night)!  The rigs are parked so close together and they are so big.  They need to be parked at a 45 degree angle instead of straight in.  It would be so much easier to move other rigs in danger out of their spot and away if a fire were to breakout.  This would contain the fire to the area of origin (one rig).  Parking them straight in and that close together will cause them to become a part of the fire by way of the "radiant heat transfer".   Well, I think that's it for now folks.  There will be a part three, stand by!   

Wade Mahaffey

Custom made shadow boxes for special people!

When shopping for that special gift for that special person, personalize it and share the memories forever.  These shadow boxes are custom built to contain items of special meaning for an individual.  They are great for retirement, special achievement, promotions, graduations, etc.  Lighting is availible in the cabinet, as well as other visual enhancements for a one of a kind tailor made gift!  

Wade Mahaffey

enough snow already

What is all this snow about?  Where is the global warming?   Wade