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It's alway sad to see outcomes like this. As I've been following along with this story, apparently there wasn't even a medical helicopter at this event! If I've truly been understanding everything correctly, this extreme athlete may have had the complications he did secondary to lack of safety planning at the event... geesh.
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From: Indianapolis
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Yeah...that is truly a bad injury. Who knows the reason for the lack of air transport...perhaps an advisory...hell I don't know. We have a helicopter on our roof and I'm at a relatively small hospital.
< Message edited by Dr.Wagner -- March 5, 2008 4:14:33 PM >
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Dr. Wagner DO Moderator of Medical Complexity Forum
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At an event like that with the speeds those athletes move and the potential for an unplanned, abrupt stop and roll - there is no excuse in my mind whatsoever for not having a medical helicopter present AND the medical staff to boot. A tragic ending for a nasty injury that might have been preventable. (I've also read somewhere that he also had equipment failure, so I'm not sure if there was a manufacture flaw or not.) At an event of that competitive level, I would be willing to bet that every athlete assumed appropriate steps were being taken to ensure their safety in the event of unforeseen circumstances. (Since I wasn't there, I can only assume that what I have read is true...)
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Wow! Poor guy. No excuse for not having a helicopter present. According to the Canadian press, his lower left leg had to be amputated because of complications.
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Often times if the weather is predicted to be bad, the helicopter goes to the garage at the base station. Perhaps that is why. Heck without being there, it is difficult to guess. See that is why I don't ski.
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Dr. Wagner DO Moderator of Medical Complexity Forum