RE: NC and dialing 911

["Corbelletta, Antonio" <Antonio_Corbelletta@affymetrix.com>]

I am going to have to disagree with your post:
If a person is badly injured and is not competent at that moment, they can
be treated, and will be treated.  Ride management must call if there is a
serious injury or reason to believe that there has been one.  The Fire and
EMT's will make a decision whether to treat or not.  Cost should NOT enter
into the decision especially if dealing with head trauma, like lots of horse
related injuries are.  
I have been on scene with Fire and EMTs where we have forced the victim to
accept treatment.  Even though the victim was refusing.  
Injury at an endurance ride should be the responsibiliy of the individual,
yes, but that victim may not be in any condition to make good decisions.
So, they now become our "problem".  If ride Management or anyone else calls
911 they are not going to be in trouble. 
Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: PatOlivatigger@aol.com [mailto:PatOlivatigger@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 3:55 PM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: NC and dailing 911


First I want to say that the National Championship rides were first class
and the people who rode them and the people who managed them formed a group
I was proud to be a part of. It was fun, be was friendly and the rides were
a challenge to the horses and the riders. 

I have to say something on the dialing of 911 for people who are unwilling
to be seen.  I have been a critical care emergency  nurse  in a busy city
hospital for over thirty years.  You cannot treat a person who is injured if
they say NO.  It is not ride management's job to call an ambulance for
someone who refuses. The paramedics are trained professional but they can
not force treatment.   

In many states there is a direct charge for the service.  5-8 years ago it
was between $500 and $900 in some of the western states, well over $1600 if
a helicopter was needed.  In Maryland there is no charge, still if the
person is alert and able to make a decision -- it is their decision. 

Any injury of any kind at an endurance ride should be the responsibility of
the individual.  Horse events are one of the most  dangerous and severe ways
of getting hurt.  We all know this when we go to a ride.  We come willingly
and we submitted ourselves to the danger even when it is getting run over by
someone's horse or falling off a mountain. 

Do not look at the rides insurance for money.  There will be no rides if
management pays our bill and makes decision for us.  They won't be able to
get insurance.  Pat