Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I find myself confused as to just what we ARE supposed to do if we find a person in need of first aid.  We can't put on a Band-Aid, yet what if someone is bleeding.  I guess if someone is bleeding heavily, we apply pressure in the proper spot to control it and send the other rider for help.  Maybe the restrictions are just for the state park in which we patrol. 

 

Barbara

----- Original Message -----

From: Carolyn Burgess

To: Barbara McCrary ; RIDECAMP

Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 9:08 AM

Subject: Re: Fw: [RC] Woman hurt at Loomis Basin Arena? Perhaps First Aid Training should be added to our horse training?

In Massachusetts, there is a good samaritan law which protects someone who stops to administer first aid.  This was started years ago because doctors, nurses and other trained individuals who stopped at accident scenes were afraid to render aid because of liability. 

 

Carolyn Burgess

Barbara McCrary <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

We belong to a State Park Mounted Assistance Unit and all of the member patrol, in pairs, once a month.  Some patrol the beach and some, like us, patrol the forest and mountain trails.  We are required to take CPR and First Aid and keep qualified by reviewing the course at least once every year or two.  It sounds like your training is far better than ours, however.  The peculiar part of our duty is that although we carry a first aid kit while patrolling, we are not allowed by the State to administer anything at all.....no Band-Aids, no aspirin, no painkilling cream for wasp stings, nothing.  We could give someone a Band-Aid, but we can't apply it.  All this because of liability risks.  Is this just a California thing?  Of course, if someone needed CPR, we could administer that in dire cases, but other than that, all we can do is use our radio to call for help (providing we can reach anyone ! from our location) or leave one person with the injured party while the other gallops for help.  I guess it's better than no training at all. 

 

Barbara

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Jim Holland

To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 2:27 PM

Subject: RE: [RC] Woman hurt at Loomis Basin Arena? Perhaps First Aid Training should be added to our horse training?

I concur.  I just finished a ?First Responder? course.  I would encourage everyone who rides ?remote? areas as I do and/or is involved in Search/Rescue to take this course in your area.  Most, but not all, states/counties require their First Responders to take a National First Responder Registry Test, which is ?standard? type of test that tries to ensure consistency in the training.