A-Dale FUPS thoughts

[amfchassis]

dons twelve just got bigger!

Between matt albe runnin my mouth,Steady sleaz and misinformed Frassion you guys really have it figured out. So i think the three of you should get together and get these huge sponsers for all the racetracks that are there just for the asking. You all know how to fix all the problems but i dont see any one of you standing up to say i will help, its just easier to bash the tracks or anybody thats ever ran a series, if you three are that smart you guys need to help all the strugging tracks in the USA cause we all no they need help. But we no you guys will just be here flapping your gums wasting real racers time,why dont just one of you do something good for racing for once in your life instead of trashing everyone that does. I think its time for you guys to putup or shutup cause none of you have done any good for the sport! so lets see who comes up with the biggest sponsorship to help all of the struggling racetracks out there. PS- read the post from danielles doctor it could have been worse if anything had been done different. PUTUP OR SHUTUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[exnyer]

time to stop

I find it sickening that this conversation has gone on this long, I have seen people make statements that fire rescue should be there anytime the cars are on the track, I am sure tracks will accommodate that request if you want the ticket price to go up (instead of 15.00 say 100.00 to offset the price of the manpower and equipment). Maybe every racetrack should be required to have a infield care center?

In other states the response time could be quicker, back in New York you have paid fire departments, volunteer departments and ambulance only departments, down here they are very widespread and the response time is longer.

What I find the most troubling is Danilelle's family is highly appreciative of the actions of the racetrack and the responding personnel but everyone on this message board has a problem with the way things were handled?

You guys sound like a bunch of ambulance chasing lawyers looking to assign blame where nothing is wrong.

The downfall of Florida racing is complainers who sit on message boards and DO NOT RACE!

[UREZ2PASS]

Matt Nichols - thank you for the fine job you and your co-workers do on a daily basis and at the racetrack.

It really don't matter what some drunks in the grandstands have to say.

As a car owner and driver, Thanks again for your professionalism and effort to explain. You guys are underpaid for the job you do. Unappreciated by only a few phucksticks. We all know them, the entitlement seeking Obama clan.

[scottgarrity07]

I too raced in an area of the country where it was the LAW that an ambulance was required to be present when ever cars were on the track "at speed". Let me tell you that it gave me great peace of mind. On the contrary, when I pulled into the pits in FL the first time and saw no ambulance it kinda freaked me out. Now this does not pertain to Danielle's accident it made no difference at all since Matt Nichols was on the scene and did ALL of the right things and an ambulance on scene earlier would have made no difference at all except for the time she had to wait to be moved from the car to the ambulance. I have to say great job Matt! (and a big THANK YOU to all the EMTs that we never see that are working behind the scenes at the racetracks that provide them). However, if this or any other incident resulted in a traumatic brain or any other traumatic injury then time is truly of the essence in regard to increasing the likelihood of survival. In the medical world they have the concept of "The Golden Hour". It pertains to the first 60 minutes after an incident that results in cases of severe trauma, especially internal bleeding, that require surgical intervention. Complications such as shock may occur if the patient is not managed appropriately and expeditiously. It therefore becomes a priority to transport patients suffering from severe trauma as fast as possible to specialists, most often found at a hospital trauma center, for definitive treatment. Because some injuries can cause a trauma patient to deteriorate extremely rapidly, the lag time between injury and treatment should ideally be kept to a bare minimum; this has come to be specified as no more than 60 minutes, after which time the survival rate for traumatic patients is alleged to fall off dramatically. In these rare and extreme cases a 20-30 minute wait for an ambulance can mean the difference between life and death. I know that having an ambulance on site is an expensive proposition, but what price can you put on a human life? I for one would gladly pay $5-$10 more for a pit pass every week if it meant that an ambulance with Paramedics were on site every race. Will I quit racing if this doesn't happen? Probably not, but it would make me feel a hell of a lot better for me and everyone else that races if we had an ambulance on site at every race.

[Frasson118]

I never once criticized the job the EMT's did. I'm sure they did a fine job, as evidenced by the appreciation of the Stratton family. The entire Rescue Squad industry is highly under-appreciated, and I mean NO disrespect towards them.

But some of you morons act like its an UNREASONABLE thought that an ambulance should be on hand for an AUTO RACE.... argueably one of THE most dangerous sports known to man.

I'm sure you probably also don't think a fire truck on hand should be mandatory either. After all, they've already GOT 4 guys with fire extinguishers wearing T-shirts and jeans. If we need more help, we'll call 911.

2 years ago, 2 Modifieds burned TO THE GROUND, at North Florida Speedway, thankfully not having either driver trapped in them. They relied on the local fire department to handle any fires that may occur. That easily could have been 2 deaths, and possibly other injured people who were desperate to help in any way they could.

Yep.... I'll gladly admit to being a whiner, complainer, and a non-contributor (which is not true), but I won't look the other way when something dangerous could & should have been done differently.

Also.... if Danielle was NOT trapped in the car, whatever happened to the earlier explaination of "having to unbolt the steering shaft" to remove her? When something has to be dismantled to remove a person, isn't that by defination "trapped"...?

Ya'll can support A-Dale, Rex Guy, and the FUPS all you want.... I'm DONE.

THE ONLY ONES I support in this, are the EMT's that obviously did a fine job. As for my critics on this.... I hope you never have to witness tragedy at a racetrack like I have. I've witnessed death, and its not a feeling I would wish on anybody. It never leaves you.

Hell, even Football games have an ambulance on property. But I guess that's too much to ask in a sport where drivers & fans alike, DIE EVERY YEAR.

Maybe I should just shut up and look away, since the cost of providing this service would drive my ticket price up 'from $10, to $100'.

WEAK arguement on that point....

[UREZ2PASS]

I don't want no ambulance if I'm hurt real bad. I want a helicopter to take me to a (level 1) trauma center. I don't think a (level 1) trauma center is near any track except Daytona.

Once again, mouths on keyboards with no EMS experience. I played a doctor in an elementary school play and have more experience than most of y'all.

[Matt Nichols]

Fire Truck

We do have a fully Function fire truck on premises with 200 Gallon water mixed with Fireade 2 water extinguishers mixed with fireade and various sizes of ABC extinguishers along with all tools and equipment to cut a driver out if entrapped.

All my people wear Fire Suits,gloves and are ready at a moments notice to respond to any and all incidents.

Medically we can handle anything from a cut finger to a code using an AED.

In response to removing a bolt that was only to get her out so her leg wouldn't hit it. We had her all ready for transport the Ambulance crew didn't have to do anything except assist her out of he car onto the stretcher.

Frasson118 have you been to Auburndale Speedway ?
If so did you not see the fire truck and the Crew?

Ambulances at Football games here in Polk are required to go but are only on stand by if a call comes in they leave

So in short Once you know the facts then you can respond appropriately

[scottgarrity07]

EZ....22 Trauma Centers exist in the state of Florida. Every racetrack except for Citrus has one fairly close to it. My Google trumps your doctor role in elementary school...and I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

[UREZ2PASS]

EZ....22 Trauma Centers exist in the state of Florida. Every racetrack except for Citrus has one fairly close to it. My Google trumps your doctor role in elementary school...and I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

Check on the number of Level 1 trauma centers, their locations, and the different levels of trauma centers in the state of Florida and report back to me.

My knowledge trumps your google search for wrong information.

[UREZ2PASS]

For those that don't want to study trauma centers. The basic difference is a Level 1 trauma center has 24 hour capabilities with full staff on duty 24 hours a day and can treat a very large number of patients simultaneously. A level 2 does not have a full staff 24 hours a day and has limited capabilities.

Last time I asked there was 8 level 1 trauma centers in the state. My wife work for the only one in central Florida which is ORMC.

[luke81]

For reference, here in Pinellas County a dedicated on-site ambulance costs $115.78 per hour, 3 hour minimum. A non-dedicated standby is $57.82 per hour.

[exnyer]

?

just asking: suppose a driver was hurt serious enough where they needed immediate emergency care, an ambulance would not do too much good, most times they will be bayflighted out anyways due to time. I am in no way opposed to safety but are we going to have the entire Polk County Fire Rescue standing by on the off chance that something might happen.
There are highly trained and capable EMT's at the track that are able to provide basic medical diagnosis and treatment, along with firefighting, if it is anything more severe as a primary responder they make the decision on how fast the patient needs to be transported.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I do recall some time ago at Orlando Speedworld there was a man that was having a heart attack, there was an AED on the property and I believe that the track personnel were able to effectively revive the man, there was no fire truck or ambulance there at that time if I recall?

We all know what the risks are when we set foot on the property from the stands, to the pits to the track. From what I saw there was qualified trained personnel at the track attending to Danielle, she was transported to the hospital and she is doing fine, that is all that we should be concerned about in this thread.

If there are people here that do not agree with the way things were handled then address it with the track personnel, that is where something will change for the better, not by complaining on here!

By the way, I have read through 3 pages of this stuff but I don't see too much written on how she was driven into the turn 4 wall coming to the green flag? To me that would be the bigger question?

[scottgarrity07]

You're right EZ, there are 8 Stage 1 and the other 14 are Stage 2 trauma centers (Halifax in Daytona being a stage 2). Your knowledge, I mean your wife's knowledge, is superior to Google! Either way, I would imagine that when the sh*t hits the fan you need to get to either one A.S.A.P. based on whatever is closest and has staff on hand (Halifax seems to be good enough for NASCAR and Daytona Int'l Speedway). My point is not to get into a one upsmanship game with a screen name on Karnac but to drive home the fact that no matter what injuries you sustain in a racing accident it is better to have transportation and a Paramedic on hand to minimize the time until you can get the medical attention you need to receive to save your life or minimize the permanent effect of your injuries. It goes without saying that racing is a very dangerous sport and I don't see what's wrong with being a little better prepared. Like Jerry, I have been at a Speedway when drivers have been killed (3 times unfortunately). The last time was when the Blewitt brothers were running each other hard for the lead in a Mod Tour race and a "racing accident" between the two killed John and Jimmy walked away. I have never experienced anything so sad in my entire life and walked out of the track not really wanting to have do anything with racing for a while. This sport can be so fun and exhilirating but that was a truly sobering moment as to what can happen. I don't think having an ambulance on hand is an unreasonable request.

[UREZ2PASS]

Scott I don't disagree with having an ambulance on property. It would make good reason for rural tracks to have an ambulance at the track since it takes longer to get one there.

By the way, never get in a battle of wits with a screen name, especially this one. Haha, only joking. You're one of the few on here that provides quality post.

[Frasson118]

Matt Nichols.... I will reply:

Go back and read my first paragraph.... nothing but praise for the work that you and your crew do.

Secondly, in re-reading my post, I can see where it way have been interpreted differently than I meant. It was an observation of the way some tracks I've been to handle their 'fire rescue' situation. It was NOT meant to sound as if thats the way Auburndale did it.

Yes, I've been to Auburndale. Been going off and on for 33 years now. I did see EMT's, and a LOT of others doing all they could to help. That was never part of my complaint. It's ALL about the lack of an ambulance that is my complaint.

As a professional in your field, wouldn't you agree that having one on site would be better than NOT having one? If the Football fields get them, even in an 'on-call' situation, there should be some effort towards doing the same with the racetrack. Even part-time presence beats the hell out of no presence at all....

One other thing (not directed at Matt), is that those figures used for hiring an ambulance for the entire night looks to be under $1000. Surely there is a way to come up with that, even if its an extra $1.00 per person on the property. You could even pass the helmet at the drivers meeting for everyone to kick in $2-3.00.

It's not an outrageous cost, its a completely reasonable expectation that an ambulance is there.... god forbid anyone should need it, and as a racer at that track, it should be DEMANDED.

For the record, I've never paid particular attention to which tracks have them, and which ones don't. You never notice until they need one..... until that moment comes, and nothing happens. THEN you notice.....