Unfortunately we have had to respond to too many incidents in the recent past, ranging from someone tripping over a tent rope and breaking an arm to some much more severe.
I did not attend this example directly.
Last weekend the gang of
young trailbike riders and 4wders we know that tends to collect around our property kindly moved off down the track to avoid making to much noise and were playing around when one influenced by peer pressure thought he could do a mono around a corner and overpowered the
trailbikes rear wheel resulting in a spin out.
Our son following, managed to lay his bike down just in time avoiding all but a few scratches however the front rider's arm was trapped under the bike as it slid down a heavily gravelled road and he was wearing no arm protection.
The result was just like laying on a grinder as in excess of 1 cm of flesh was ground off.
The reactions of those around seeing stripped flesh and bone ranged from turning white to throwing up to simple head in the sand avoidance.
I tend to find it to easy perhaps, to assume an abstract stance in these things and immediately go into a do something(anything) frame of mind, perhaps activity stops and protects one against immobilizing emotions ?
Lots of blood right across the track and the phones were soon active, an Ipod quickly showed local hospital availability , directions eta etc and the Pathfinder was chosen as
ambulance with its plush ride courtesy of 4 wheel independant
suspension.
The rider was in shock and needed help moving and all that could be done was to wrap a towel around the arm to limit blood loss and hold it together.
Doctor's are only on call at this time and by phoning ahead one was able to be their by the time the kids got him there 30mins later.
At the local hospital the doctor took one look and said he wouldn't touch this, not even to wash it out ?
It needed immediate surgery and he summoned an
ambulance to ferry the patient 100+ kms to a major
Melbourne hospital.
With a 21st birthday in the bush organized for this weekend there is a chance the patient can attend.
But I am wondering about this - will a lesson be learned by the rest - or will it be a bragging session and better avoided ?