A Moment of Silence and A Post for Wishes

[ChromeBoy 0]

Everyone please take a moment (I know that you probably already have) and think about the past two weeks and what has occured. We have lost a lot of loved ones we consider brothers and sisters and this hurts all of us inside a lot.
However, we all have learned what we have already known. The sport is dangerous and we all need to respect it and understand the importance of safety and knowledge in what we do.
The occurences are here and the happenings over the last two weeks have made us all think about what we can do to be more safe and have more knowledge for our sport.
Everyone stay safe and continue to educate yourself about our sport. More importantly, hug everyone you see at the dropzone this weekend!
Love you all,
Chrome

[ShortBus 0]

I'm still relativley new to the world of skydiving, with my handfull of jumps i have gotten closer to the people at my Dz then i can image. Everyone at the Dz is now considered my family. They took me under their wing and have protected me and taken care of me. With out the people i have been so fortunate to meet who knows where i would have ended up right now. Seems like the sport of skydiving is just one big family and everyone knows everyone in one way or another. It is very sad to lose a loved one and i wish that the impact they have had in everyones lives, it sticks with that person and they learn something that was taught to them. For all people lost in this sport Blue skys Forever...

[hobbes4star 0]

everyone be careful this weekend, and remeber have fun
why jump when you can fly

[Skyrose7 0]

much agreed. I only started last summer, and jump at a very small dz. I have become friends with so many people--and this only after 50 jumps! Blue skies and God bless!
The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP.

[skycat 0]

It's been a bad year in general and the summer is only starting, be safe out there I don't want to loose anymore friends.
Also, when traveling this year remember that new DZs have new hazards and if one of the locals tells you to cool your landings down, listen to them, what could it hurt being a little extra careful on a few jumps until you figure out the lay of the land. Don't forget though that they aren't being mean they care about you even if they don't know you and want you to be safe.
Kelli

[airann 1]

I lost 3 friends in 4 months this year.
Yesterday, I was at my Dr's office after hours and I cruized in with my new copy of Skydiving and Parachutist...
Dr Ott- Hey Ann -whats going on.. You look confused...
I said - Nothing, I am just looking at one of the new skydiving magazines and realized that I "know" or know about every one in here.... Weird, it seems like the more you are around the more people you know.
Dr Ott- What? you just figure that one out?
I said, Yeah- I sure think so....
The more people you know the greater the chances are that some where, some time, some place - some friend or some one you know is going to get hurt. You may know a guy who broke a finger or something. Lets hope the hurts are small. Lets take 4 people I nearly reguarly jump with, broken face, broken ankle, broken ribs and me broken foot and leg. 4 out of 4. But I shouldnt count - so thats 3 of 4.
You cant get mentally prepared for an bad accident. And you never believe it at first. I think I just dealt with what I had each time. I also think that shock is momentarily a blessing. IMO, Shock is a way that lets your mind ease into the idea a bit before the full force of the blow hits you. After that you get all kinds of emotions. Last time I got news a friend had passed away - I tried on all of the emotions. With time the grief part isnt so bad now and some days its really big smiles as I remember each of my 3 friends who are gone.
Anyway, Love the ones you are with......
..disclaimer - 99% of the time I dont know what I am talking about.
There are good days and bad days in skydiving.
AirAnn's Video Vault

[billo 0]

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You cant get mentally prepared for an bad accident.

ok now i know what i'm saying may sound morbid and uncaring initially, but read on, this is something we have discussed at my dz and there is merit to it. i don't know if it's really about being mentally prepared for an accident, but reading this post made me think of this topic.
if there is a bad accident, and i'm NOT referring to a fatality accident, ***keep video cameras rolling***. there should be plenty of pc-9's and pc-100's running around that this shouldn't be an issue.
BACKGROUD TO THIS ODD STATEMENT: so my buddy and i were in a bad accident back in october, both with back injuries and me with a nastily broken arm. the EMT crew administered incorrect treatment for our injuries, thinking that we merely made a small fall as opposed to having an forward/downward impact with the ground at nearly 50mph. the poor care on-scene possibly complicated our injuries. doctors would have been able to heal us quicker if knowing the full extent of the added injury caused by the care provided shortly after the accident.
also, the director of the ambulance service could see the quality of service that her employees were providing. video evidence would not be used in an effort to sue or sour the relations with the city and or ambulance service. fact is, we will need to seek their help again someday. perfect safety records are nice, but chances are that some year we will have to call another ambulance to the airport for whatever reason. i only pray that anyone in the future would receive more professional and CORRECT immediate medical treatment than we were receipents of.
i'm not saying get in peoples' faces with the camera, just have someone hold back and let the professionals do their job once they arrive. other than that, everyone should know their basic first aid stuff well, and not crowd the person laying on the ground too much. being in shock is a pretty wild ride.
well have i rambled enough? hope a few of you made sense of my point through the gibberish. blue 1's,
billo

[skymedic 0]

Bill was the EMS crew on the scene EMT-Basic's or EMT-Paramedics.....HUGE difference in the ability of care rendered..and also in assessment skills...and also from a professional liability stand point also...
3..2..1..C-YA
marc

[freeflir29 0]

Along these lines Biilo. I thought the article in the new Parachutist was great. Especially the "getting to know your local EMS" It definately strated me thinking and it's something I will take up with my DZO. We have had some of the Dr's that jump at our DZ give some basic medical training to the staff there but I think bringing out your EMS people to aquaint them with skydiving equipment and the types of injuries they might expect to see is very important. May save a life or your rig one day. Breaking a bone or two would be bad enough without the added torture of having your rig, jumpsuit, etc. slaughtered as well.
"Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[skymedic 0]

I have some horror stories of the local EMS at Sebastian that I had to *help* out there....clueless wonders...
3..2..1..C-YA
marc

[airann 1]

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Breaking a bone or two would be bad enough without the added torture of having your rig, jumpsuit etc. slaughtered as well.

I pray this never happens- but if the Medical Crew decides they need to cut something off ~CUT IT~...... Cut it all off....
THAT IS WHY I WEAR CLEAN THONGS everytime I go to the dropzone.
You have lost your mind.... Clay
AirAnn's Video Vault

[ChromeBoy 0]

Whenever I was at Skydive Orange they had the local EMT come to the dz and instruct all the experienced jumpers and staff members what to do in certain emergency situations. Including when to move and when not to move an individual, crowd control, what to do if someone lands off and is injured, etc. These are important things that DZ should be prepared for. Orange had a boogie and donated over a grand to the local Emergency Response Team.

[freeflir29 0]

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THAT IS WHY I WEAR CLEAN THONGS everytime I go to the dropzone.

Good girl!!!

Quote

You have lost your mind.... Clay

I have seen EMS people that just want to cut everything off because thats how they were trained. If all I did was break a leg and some jerky EMS guy wants to cut off my jumpsuit and rig I'll tell him to get the hell away from me. Now...if someone is unconcious or has sustained head or neck injuries, OK....cut the stuff off. With a concious patient that has a broken extremety there is no reason to cut stuff. None.
"Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[Billy 0]

Blue Skies and Jump Safe guy's an gal's,,
One thing in the last Parachutist that irritated me was the letter that said that only the ambulance crew could launch a helo,, IMHO that is just plain bullshit and should be worked on,, usually through the local EMS folks medical director,, you don't need ta be a highly, or basically trained EMT to make that call,, anybody in the inland northwest can launch our helo's,, we'd rather get cancelled after EMS folks arrive and know they are capable then delay rapid transport of a critically injured patient,, so good idea to get together with these folks and get it straightened out beforehand,, now I'll be quiet... oh and Ann if ya get hurt on my shift I'm cuttin off all your clothes and doin a full, thorough, detailed, full body inspection,, I mean assessment,, Clay no worries bro,, I won't damage your new suit for a broken finger : )

[airann 1]

I know, Clay ... I do distinquish the differences here...
They wanted to cut my stuff off and were talking about it and somehow this big country accent came out of me saying "You are gonna play hell cuttin off MY jumpsuit" and then in the film -I start unzippin and pulling shyt off left and right.... LOL
It was my first camera jump and I still had the camera running... It ran for about 25 minutes part of the time laying on the ground beside me.... Then getting banged around by a nice person who took my gear to the car.... Then in the car its still running.... the last part is the worst... I tell everyone I am just fine and Hell, I can drive myself to the hospital -no worries. Then I tried to hop to my car but my good leg was shaking so badly from the whole event. (1st canopy collapse) It gave way and I fell right to the ground in the dirt in front of manifest. Scraped up my good knee and both hands. This as evidence that I was just perfect and needed no help. I was in shock, denial and had the all over shakes so bad my eyebrows were dancing.
Heh, .... I still drove my happy ass to the hospital with the other leg.
Later, after reviewing the film I could see clearly why everyone thought I was on drugs.
Its funny but I have learned that there are 3 views to everything. Mine, Theirs and the Video. A person hardly ever perceives themselves correctly.
I think that since I was able to fly with the boyz, I had the mentality going that I shouldnt show any weakness - so I could continue to try and keep up. I think now that ignoring 5 fractures was a little over board. Maybe.
AirAnn's Video Vault

[freeflir29 0]

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Later, after reviewing the film I could see clearly why everyone thought I was on drugs.

Don't worry Ann...I think thats normal for people to think that about you...
"Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[skydiverbrian 0]

I'll be the first to admit that there are alot of idiot EMTs and Medics out there. But not all of us are morons. I've never cut off anyone's rig or jumpsuit. And I have no intentions of doing so unless you require resucitation - in which case you really shouldn't be concerned about your gear anyway! Your best care comes from yourself! So long as you are conscious, you should be a part of your treatment. Don't just lay there like a lump and wait for someone else to make you all better. There was an accident and you will have pain - it's a fact - deal with it. You're the one who got yourself hurt (because ultimately, you're the one who decided to jump), so say where and what hurts and help us to help you.
As for level of training of responding crews.... a femur fracture is supposed to be treated the same whether you're an EMT or a Medic. Some Medics will go straight for the drugs, but EMTs know that traction comes first. BLS before ALS -- always!
Work sucks. Let's skydive!

[billo 0]

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was the EMS crew on the scene EMT-Basic's or EMT-Paramedics.....

hey marc, you know i'm not entirely sure they could have very easily been volunteer EMT-B's, our dz isn't exactly in a large town. i have not had a chance to go to the ambulance service and pick up my run ticket yet. i got my ticket from the ER though...pretty funny..."9:35 - patient requests morphine, administered. 9:37 - patient requests more morphine" something like that i will let you know if we find out anything scandalous.
ok too much beer already, no more posting for me this evening!
b

[skymedic 0]

in my previous post I did not mean to down play EMT's ..brian is right..in that EMT does come before my paramedic..and I am one of the most conservative paramedics out there....What I meant to say was your level of care will be different...and trust me...there are ALOT of bad EMT's and Paramedics out there....and once again...no offense against any EMT's or MFR's out there...
3..2..1..C-YA
marc