Gents

Some things to think about for your local field:

where is the closest hospital
how long would it take to get an ambulance to you.
does everyone, including guests, know how to provide directions to your field
would you be prepared to use a defibulator
do you have one at your local field

Lastly, how many of you are prepared to perform CPR, without reading the instructions posted on the club information board?

Ron and I had to assist in the performance of CPR and comforting the wife and child of a fellow modeler today at the field. pretty massive cardiac arrest, he was 41 years old. 3 or more of us called 911. it took them aprox 15 min to get to field. we're located off a main highway on a well known state park and probably less than 10 miles to nearest large hospital.

we did the best we could by removing his 2 year old son from the immediate area and calming his moderately hysterical wife. unfortunately, we were told by a couple of other modelers who escorted the family and ambulance, in addition to the local sheriff doing a follow up report that the fella didn't make it.

so.....what would you do?

be careful out there boys.

Thats nuts man..... Makes you think about how hard it would be to get an ambulance out to the Willow or the Pen...[:@]

AWWWW Buck that sucks, 41 years old, in front of the wife and kid,,, that's ugly,,, sorry Bro

Dave

We had the same thing occur with a few club members here in Fresno. As a result, the Fresno field is equipped with a defribulator. The defibrillator manufacturer, Phillips, also came out to teach a class on operating the unit. Prayers go out to the family. Thanks for the reminder Buck.

Gents

next time when you get to the field, take a few minutes to just chit chat with the guy next to you after you put the jet together. I was so hell bent in burning up that blue sky that i didn't try very hard to make idle conversation, and i'm not real proud right now. know what i mean.

if you find yourself in similar circumstances, no matter what, keep talking to them, reassure the next of kin, friends etc. that help is on the way, they're gonna make it and don't stop doing CPR until the ambulance arrives.

lastly, talk it over with your buddies, organize a CPR class for your club but most importantly (like DF mentioned) step back for a moment and think about where you are and ponder your chances of success. the CPR, hell even basic First Aid you perform may make a difference.


the only upside ( and moderately comical ) was at the end of the day a dude took off his .60 sized P51 mustang (hadn't flown in a while btw) and flew over two dudes in the pit marshall area, hooked a hard left no right then back to the left, missed the club frequency board (where i had managed to duck behind) missed the low rise safety fence and flew into the pits. after hitting a 55 gallon trash can, disintegrated the airplane, shed the nose section with motor (still running full speed btw) bounced off a parked car and launched itself 50' into the parking area. you had to be there. you'd think the keystone cops were flying.

moral of the second story? well beside being somewhat funny....what are your emergency procedures for the airplane? dump it? kill motor? or keep flying like chuck yeager? we've all been there. i honestly think the old boy, jerked it off the runway after letting the torque of the motor get the best of him, nearly stalled it, then recovered it and if the pits hadn't been in the way......might have made a great save.

best part was watching a guy in the pits trying to figure out which way to go...(ever see a squirrel on the road trying to figure out which way to run?)

sorry for the soap box fellas. it was a helluva day.

sorry amigo but thanks for the info. Ron has already thinking about a short article for the JPO newsletter.

Very sad to hear. Best approach for those that are inexperienced is chest compressions.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/n...gets-thumbs-up

Rick

beeing a Proffesional teacher Diver years ago and being a First Aid instructor, i managed to see my own hart attack coming at the age of 36..
drove myself to the hospital , telling them the sympthoms..
really weird experiance..
so i agree everyone in a club should have at least one guy knowing the basics of CPR..
i can imagine the stress you feel giving 15 minutes of CPR to someone until the Ambulance comes.
it is a marathon to just give CPR and you guys deviding it by 2 of you is very smart.

My thoughts are with the family, however you have mentioned a very good point.

Here in the U.K. at the the J.M.A meets, and 'Classic Jets' a risk assessment is made for the event, at the pilots briefing a first aider appointed for the event. The location of some of the events, and the time of year may require fire cover also.

For 'Classic Jets' Dick has a map showing the location of the nearest hospital too.

Sandor, you are 100% right CPR for 10 mins is really hard work particularly for one person

As this incident shows we must not become complacent, there is always something ready to bite us in the *****

Wow! That is a tough day at the field.
Our club membership is getting older, we have eight guys trained in CPR, but out at the field its the luck of the draw if they are there or not. We also have a club member that is a fire department medic, that person is a great sorce of help.
Buck brings up a great point though, our sites are typicaly on the outer edge, and help takes awhile, even loger if they don't know where there going, Invite them out, let the careflight helo come on a PR flight.
We've also had guys put hands in props only to find out at that momment they are freebleeders or on blood thinners, not near at traumatic as Bucks day but still a eye opener for me.
Kevin

Sorry to hear this Buck,what an awefull day out there, you guys did the best you could for him. Hang in there...
V..

Excellent point. This has never been brought before, and is one of
the most important points in any club. Every club should have at
least one or two members with a CPR certificate, and if possible
a Defibrillator. Very easy and handy to use. The same people that
sells them give the training. At least in my club we are 4-5 M.D.'s
including me, trained in cardio support.

Hector

Some posts really make you think. This is one of them.

Maybe something esle to consider is to post a map of how to get to the closest hospital on the club notice board?

We had an incident where a electric plane went beserk and the owner grabbed it and tried to unplug the battery. In the process this .25 size electric managed to cut through both major veins in his arm. The guys had the presence of mind to load him into a car and take him off to hospital. Because I do not live in the area of the club, I have no idea of where this hospital is. We always try and have medical back-up at national events and model airshows but are not always successful.

Food for thought?

Just a quick thought chaps make sure that on your club frequency board is noted the Map reference for your field in Logitude and Latitude you will be supprised how many emergency services have satnav that can use this. In the UK our Air Ambulance uses this to good effect.

Mike

All good points.
One more thought. Try to get regular health care and learn the warning signs. Cardiac problems are easier to fix before you have a major attack. I have seen to many people ignore the warning signs and suffer the consequences.

Doug

I set thru one every year, for several reasons. I have even held the class at my house,and I paid for those who I wanted to go but couldn't afford it. because, I thought it was that important. Get Certified Today , Do it a a club event. The life you save may be your Child's or Daughter, or Mother in Law... American Heart Association will give the class at your Meeting Place...
Still statistics show that only about 6% survive. But If you are in that Group of only 6%, You will thank your Lucky Stars Someone TOOK THE CLASS...

Thank you for the "Heads Up", as our clubs Safety officer & with a board meeting tonight I plan on initiating some sort of Emergency response procedure that could be posted at the field in case something happens there.

Semper Fi
Joe

Thanks for sharing this Buck!

Also remember when you call 911 from your cell phone they wont know where you are. Confirm ahead of time who services your field. In Austin, though in a city park, we were told that the county serviced our field, precious time can go by while they sort out who to send.

These are all good points. I think it's a good idea to make sure an emergency response plan is established, and more importantly exercised, every once in a while at RC clubs. Next to the "rules" by the pits, there should be an emergency response guide for that club with all the local considerations.

Thanks for bringing this up, sorry for your experience.

Jesus - I'm 41 years old!!! That is truly scary. I have a heart condition so I have to meet with my Cardiologist twice a year.

Thoughts and prayers man.

Sm

I actually think that anyone with kids should know CPR and at least emergency first aid. There's nothing worse than standing there helpless while your own child is in distress. Both my wife and I have standard first aid which includes CPR (2 day course).

I know CPR, but I would make the wife sign a disclaimer first no questions asked. A lot of people try to help in good faith and are bitten in the ***** with a suit later. She can sign it on my shirt or the wing of my airplane FWIW.

When things go wrong you never know how people are going to react. You guys did the right thing though, it's hard to just let someone go without help.

David

Sorry about your day Buck. Thats tough on everyone involved... Hang in there amigo !!!. Where do you buy and how much do the Defibrillator's cost.? They are a priceless asset in my opinion. I know our club has spent enough money on sidewalks, heli-pads, R.V. hook-ups, additional buildings etc... Whats a life worth?? Is this something that could br presented to the AMA for club assistance?? I'm sure the AMA could buy and sell them to our clubs alot cheaper that us going out individually and buying them.. I wished I was finacially able to just go buy one and donate it to the club.. But I do know there are club members who could buy one and not bat an eye.. all our clubs have people in that position.

My $.02 worth...

Regards,

Dan M.
Austin

Ditto what Dan said about your day Buck, thankfully you and Ron knew what to do, which doesn't make you feel better, will make the widow get over a small hump later, knowing that everything that could be done, was.
Most areas have CPR and basic first aid classes through The Red Cross, and there are many individuals who give courses as well. Check with your local dentis, dental society, physician or medical society...we get mailings routinely.
The last time I looked, a portable AED was over $1000, and needs to be mounted to an electrical supply, so for many of us, it is out of consideration for our field.
CPR is something that everyone should know, and I think that all 50 states recognize its applicability with Good Sammaritan laws.
Thanks for the post and a general heads-up, though it does suck being in your shoes. Hang in there!
Greg

Fortunately, here in the UK there's no case law (that I'm aware of anyway) showing that anybody performing a first aid act in the spirit of being a good samaritan has been prosecuted either in Civil or Criminal law...and long may that be the case!

Time is of the essence in performing CPR if the chances of recovery are to be maximised...as Drdoom said, the stats show about a 6% success rate - this is significantly reduced if CPR is delayed. Automatic External Defibrillators may not be cheap but they are easy to use (even by those with minimal training) and can increase the chance of survival quite significantly.

The Chairman of the club I belong to (Swindon Model Aero Club) got me to do an hour's session on basic CPR and control of bleeds at a Club Night last year. Seemed to go down quite well and I think (hope) the intention is to repeat it again this year. Fortunately, no-one's had to do CPR for real at the field (hope we never do). The Club has a 'procedure in the event of emergency' check-list placed in the site first aid kit too...and we're not allowed to fly when alone.

Cheers,

Dick
England