Incidents?

[Unregistered]

Perhaps I wasn't paying attention, but I don't recall hearing of ANY major incidents/accidents during the rally.

Did we really pull that off with over 9000 in attendence?



Tom Steele
Montgomery Village, MD

[Rob Nye]

Greetings,

I was made aware of six accidents during the rally none of which required medical transport.

There was one back injury and one episode of cardiac issues on site both of which required transports.

Other than that I am very happy to say that there were no major injuries, crashes or other unhappy events.

Best,

[Unregistered]

We Rock!


Tom Steele
Montgomery Village, MD

[iRene]

Statistically speaking, of course, A MIRACLE! YAY!

[dugmar]

Considering I had about 5 feet visibility for four straight hours in the driving rain/fog/vehicle spray on the way home on routes 100, 89 and 93 and I was SURROUNDED by rally goer's, that is impressive.

[Belquar]

I had the unfortunate timing to deal with an incident that didn't go so well.

I had been at the rally working registration from 8-noon. WE finished up there. And headed back to our room at the Black Bear Inn to rest for a little while. We stopped at a pizza joint on the way and ordered pizza. Took the wife to the room then went back and got the pizza. On my way back to the room I was going up the mountain on the Bolton Valley Access road. I came over the crest of the hill and see several vehicles stopped and folks waving for a slow down. When I pulled around the cars and truck I saw it...

Two beemers pulling away. On the other side of them....a CBR and Benjamin Willet laying on the ground. I pulled up and jumped out....

Checked his pulse...nothing. Went to pull off his helmet...someone says...no don't do that....I was like....really....the guys heart ain't working....and your worried about the neck....My sister pulled up on her bike about that time...she is a RN. She came to my side and we decided to make an attempt. The guys on the scene who had called rescue hadn't done anything. THey said he had stopped gurgling a few minutes before we arrived. We started CPR. He was gone before we started and from the look of his injuries he wouldn't be coming back, but we gave it our best effort. 30 minutes of CPR...me on compressions and my sister doing rescue breaths. Some guy happened to have a CPR protective mask in his truck
(I recommend getting one of these and adding it to your riding gear.)

Medics finally showed....to my surprise...they didn't take over....Finally they did and shortly thereafter they called it. He was 22.

He skidded uphill almost 200 feet. He musta been flying. The old man he hit was making a left turn off the roadway onto a dirt road to go down to the creek for a swim. He said he started his turn and the kid came flying over the crest of the hill. The old man gunned the engine and drove his car right off the side of a 15 or so foot drop off to try and get out of the way. By this time the kid is skidding. Hits the car on the passenger rear door. Car ends up in the woods...kid and bike instant stop.

I wish I could have had pictures to show you (not the gore...it was very gory) but the skidmark and damage to the vehicles. I am not an accident investigator but from what it looks like....he skidded and highsided and got squished between the bike and the car. All the damage was to the top of the bike as if the handlebars hit first. They were bent completely forward so the underside of the bars was facing up. The forks were not bent at all. The dent on the car was low. bottom of the door to halfway up.

The kid had an open fracture of his left ankle. Face was somewhat distorted. He had a helmet on, gloves, shorts and t-shirt. He was pretty rashed on his left side. Blood poured from his nose and mouth. It sucked.

He was only 22 years old. We had to drive by the site every time we left the Inn. The owner of the Inn said that kid did wheelies up and down the mountain all the time. It is a shame. I feel sorry for his family.

So...the purpose of this post.... My CPR cert is long since expired. I encourage everyone to learn it if they don't know and get certified if you aren't. This experience has reminded me how important it is to know. Had I been there ten minutes earlier that kid might have lived. Everyone who had stopped didn't do anything for him. I am not saying my efforts would have been the saving factor....just any effort at all. Everyone just stood around looking at him and calling 911. Also....getting a CPR mask... The thing the guy pulled out of his truck was about the size for 4 quarters stacked together. Very small. He unwrapped it and held it over my sisters mouth and held her hair back while she did the rescue breathing. I am going to track a few of these things down and put them in all the vehicles cause you never know where the day will find you.

My condolences to the Willett family.

[marlycoe]

Tom Steele...
Did you by chance used to live in Bethesda, MD? If not, sorry to bother you.

[BradfordBenn]

Dang. That is sad. :banghead

[dancogan]

My condolences to the Willett family.

My congratulations to you and your sister for doing more than standing around with your hands in your pockets. CPR and basic First Aid would be good seminars to offer at a national rally. I attended a very shortened course on accident scene management and it was well attended and very well done.

[jmerlino]

Hey here's an idea: How about for future rallys we get someone to come in and give first responder classes? I know there was a class in my area earlier this Spring, and I wasn't able to go.

[cruizbz]

John Anderson crashed this morning on his way home to Kansas City.

John completed the 3 peaks tour, despite a handicap and having pneumonia before going to Vermont.

I will be checking on him at the hospital in the morning.

[jgr451]

Hey Belquar I deeply regret that you had to deal with what you described.Congratulations,however,on being the one who was there,with your sister.The result is not your fault or responsibility.
If I crash,I hope you will be there to ease it for me.
Thanks.

[Woodie]

Hey here's an idea: How about for future rallys we get someone to come in and give first responder classes? I know there was a class in my area earlier this Spring, and I wasn't able to go.

ASM Inc. (http://www.accidentscene.net/) offers courses, however there are only a few instructors in the northeast. Two of them put on a seminar on Friday morning. One of them will be going out to Minn in the fall for a "train-the-trainer" class, so I'm hoping that we can have an instructor class before Christmas.

I've already made some preliminary contact with a potential sponsor in southern New England, and they're very interested in hosting a class.

[tessler]

Sorry to hear about this tragic accident. Brian, you and your sister were on the spot and should be commended for your assistance and expertise.

[maddog]

This was related to me by the beer distribution event coordinator. As one of the beer garden co-chairs, I vouch for its veracity.
One of their big rigs was at an intersection, stopped, and poorly set up for a right hand turn. With a Beemer right behind him in the blind area. Yep, the truck backed up and crushed the front wheel. The rider was able to jump off unhurt. From the sounds of it, it was an LT. I told the rep, " nice going, you nailed one of our most expensive models!" No question that the rig was in the wrong. Backing up in an intersection! This happened prior to Thursday, and did NOT make his day.

Jim Faucher

[threeflys]

Be aware, there are new guidelines out. There are a lot of changes to ratios and what-not.
Chris
ASHI certified trainer

[madcatdad]

I'm the education director for the central VT Red Cross....and I couldn't agree with you folks more! My volunteers and I teach over 5,000 people a year CPR, First Aid and other lifesaving skills in our Chapter.

The ability to recognize an emergency and be comfortable in providing basic lifesaving help is critical when you're the first on the scene. And since we all go home to loved ones, having that knowledge becomes even more important.

I would encourage everyone to contact your local Red Cross (you can find yours by entering your zip code at www.redcross.org) and register for a First Aid and CPR class. You can purchase a rescue pocket mask (for protecting yourself and the victim from bloodborne pathogens) at your chapter and it will cost you less than a long afternoon in the Beer Tent. And much less than a short walk through the Vendors at the national rally!.

I pitch the Red Cross classes because your class tuition will help underwrite the LOCAL disaster services that your Red Cross Chapter provides...

[bullit7801]

This was related to me by the beer distribution event coordinator. As one of the beer garden co-chairs, I vouch for its veracity.
One of their big rigs was at an intersection, stopped, and poorly set up for a right hand turn. With a Beemer right behind him in the blind area. Yep, the truck backed up and crushed the front wheel. The rider was able to jump off unhurt. From the sounds of it, it was an LT. I told the rep, " nice going, you nailed one of our most expensive models!" No question that the rig was in the wrong. Backing up in an intersection! This happened prior to Thursday, and did NOT make his day.

Jim Faucherand a mad mad mad mad mad mad welcome to the forum for a first time poster. I note that no laws were broken and no animals were harmed in your first post. :laugh

What took you so long??? :stick

tb , fellow beer garden cochair
in Errol, NH on the way to Trenton

[BradfordBenn]

Thanks for the info

[SheRidesABeemer]

tb , fellow beer garden cochair
in Errol, NH on the way to Trenton
Enjoy your stay in lovely Errol, they have internet access in Errol?
I hope you mean Trenton, ONT. Happy travels.

[bullit7801]

Enjoy your stay in lovely Errol, they have internet access in Errol?
I hope you mean Trenton, ONT. Happy travels. The Errol Motel, 11 rooms, has wireless. That is good because there in no, zero, none, zip for cell phone service here. The guy at the motel desk said that if it was really important, there is a place about five miles up the road, at the top of a rise, where most folks can get a signal. Yes, it is Trenton, Ontario. I cross into Canada this AM for the Loonie Reunion.

Good to see you in the Beer Garden, and your daughter. /hijack

tb

[BoxerTwin]

Tom Steele...
Did you by chance used to live in Bethesda, MD? If not, sorry to bother you.
Phew, finally got that whole registration thing worked out.

I lived in Bethesda when I was three years old (1968), but not since then. I did live in Garrett Park until '97, though.

[buckeye]

Sorry to tarnish the rally safety record...My wife and I had a rear tire blowout on the way home from the rally. Monday morning on I90 just outside Erie, Pa. We ride an R1200 CLC. Rear tire blew at cruising speed and before I could control the fishtailing and come to a stop we went down. :banghead Chose to low side it and come down on the left side. No one ahead of us or behind us, thank goodness. Landed in the slow lane and someone helped move the bike to the side of the road.
Can't say enough for the assistance we received. Bystanders making the 911 call, ems, fire and state police. Long story short, my wife came out of it with only sore muscles and I broke my left fibula (lower leg small bone). Used our BMW roadside assistance, paid all the recovery expenses. Had my son bring my trailer to haul us home. Two points to be made here: had we been on a lesser bike I believe we would not be so lucky. ATGATT- Yes, we had all the gear on and it saved our butts. Left jug is scarred from road rash, left hard case also scarred. Mirror is scuffed, tire is toast.
Tires are bridgestone. Gonna replace both tires, need your advice on replacement tires. As I said, CLC, two up lots of the time, what brand and model tires do you think?
Tim & Sue

[BoxerTwin]

Wow, glad you guys made it out (relatively) OK.

[Belquar]

Sorry to tarnish the rally safety record...My wife and I had a rear tire blowout on the way home from the rally. Monday morning on I90 just outside Erie, Pa. We ride an R1200 CLC. Rear tire blew at cruising speed and before I could control the fishtailing and come to a stop we went down. :banghead Chose to low side it and come down on the left side. No one ahead of us or behind us, thank goodness. Landed in the slow lane and someone helped move the bike to the side of the road.
Can't say enough for the assistance we received. Bystanders making the 911 call, ems, fire and state police. Long story short, my wife came out of it with only sore muscles and I broke my left fibula (lower leg small bone). Used our BMW roadside assistance, paid all the recovery expenses. Had my son bring my trailer to haul us home. Two points to be made here: had we been on a lesser bike I believe we would not be so lucky. ATGATT- Yes, we had all the gear on and it saved our butts. Left jug is scarred from road rash, left hard case also scarred. Mirror is scuffed, tire is toast.
Tires are bridgestone. Gonna replace both tires, need your advice on replacement tires. As I said, CLC, two up lots of the time, what brand and model tires do you think?
Tim & Sue

Tim I used to ride a CLC...I recommend the ME880. I have been really happy with Metzler. I had two nails in six months on my rear tire. First nail I didn't know I had. Got on the bike in the morning after work to head home. Didn't do a proper pre-ride check having just ridden to work 12 hours earlier. Tire was flat. Didn't even notice it when I walked out to the bike. Approaching the bike from the left...don't really see the tire well. Since I park it 4 ft from my office door. Anyway....got on the bike and only noticed it acting a bit spongy during turns. Pulled into the next service station....1 mile away and check the tire....flat flat flat. Rode really nicely even flat. Granted...a blowout at speed is a different story altogether. Dad and Mom went down on his R69S when I was a little tike due to a rear blowout. Same deal. Lowsided at 70mph. Walked away.

Glad you made it out with only minor injuries.

Again incase you missed amongst my babble....I strongly recommend the ME880. Great Tire.

[PGlaves]

ASM, Inc put on an Accident Scene Management seminar at the AMA/FIM International Women's Conference in Athens, GA earlier this month. If I recall correctly it was a 1-1/2 hour seminar - shortened from their two day training course. It was one of the few very best seminars I've ever attended.

I was sufficiently impressed that I intend to try to get the local Kansas City club(s) I belong to to bring the whole training session to KC for a weekend.

I have not yet researched cost, minimum attendees, etc. but will sometime in the future. It looks like a great way to spend a cold blustery weekend in the winter.

[BradfordBenn]

I recommend the ME880 Also.

Glad youwere not hurt worse.

Heal fast and follow the directions of the doctors....

[dancogan]

ASM, Inc put on an Accident Scene Management seminar at the AMA/FIM International Women's Conference in Athens, GA earlier this month. If I recall correctly it was a 1-1/2 hour seminar - shortened from their two day training course. It was one of the few very best seminars I've ever attended.

I was sufficiently impressed that I intend to try to get the local Kansas City club(s) I belong to to bring the whole training session to KC for a weekend.

I have not yet researched cost, minimum attendees, etc. but will sometime in the future. It looks like a great way to spend a cold blustery weekend in the winter.

Paul, they did one in VT, too. It was excellent. About 1 1/2 hours, and it's enough to make me want the long version, as well as a CPR/First Aid course.

[Brownie]

While not a pleasant subject to discuss publicly, I am very proud of "Belquar's" response to a nasty "scene." The most important thing is that he "got involved," instead of joining the minions of "Looky Lou's."

At future major rallies (MOA,etc) it might be possible for licensed trauma nurses and paramedics to publish their cell phone numbers, ONLY in case the 911 system (local aid) wasn't responsive to our needs. Even if a medic can't get there physically rapidly, they can offer worlds of advice.......

These folks did an awesome job under the circumstances......... :usa

Shep Brown
Lifeflight 2 Pilot
Mobile, AL

[maddog]

With the advent of almost everyone having a cell phone comes a helpful feature. Go to your contact list for entries, hit space, then ICE. this will make the first contact show as ICE, which stands for " In Case of Emergency". Otherwise it will be alphabetical and might be missed.
Then put in the phone number of whomever you want contacted if you tragically cannot. I am also an EMT, and this fairly new developement is one that we look for at accident scenes.
I personally have ICE and ICE TWO on my cell. My wife and I are each others ICE, and someone from my home area is #2.

Jim Faucher
Beer Garden CoChair :drink

[BradfordBenn]

I have spent $5 and gotten dog tags from dogtagcity.com that have my contact info on them. Figure they are small and people will look at them. Plus don't have to worry about someone finding a cell phone that might not be connected to me.

[Brownie]

Hey guys.............................great ideas!!!!!!!! :thumb


Brownie