Kevin
I'll add my $.02 also. I was hit by a car while cycling about 20 months ago. I was KO'd for just over an hour and unknowingly took a little ambulance ride to one of Portland's trauma units. After regaining consciousness and finishing a couple of passes through a CAT scan and MRI one of the ER staff asked if they could make any calls for me. I hadn't thought about it before then. (a little foggy yet I guess) At any rate, just over 90 minutes after the car ran into me my family was notified. I would think that any hospital would be happy to make that call for you even if they didn't allow cell phone use in the building or if you couldn't get a signal in the building. In my case, my cell phone, ID, CLOTHES! didn't make the trip with me. :-O
I now have a photocopy of my driver's license in my underseat bag and Road ID in my shoelaces. Not that you speedy folks have any of that on the race course, but it might be something to think about when on you are on training rides. At least somebody would know who to call if you weren't able to communicate.
Kevin
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What is happening in Kevin's corner of the bike world?
http://the-whir-of-spokes-in-air.blogspot.com
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--- On Tue, 5/27/08, michelechirgwin@comcast.net <michelechirgwin@comcast.net> wrote:
From: michelechirgwin@comcast.net <michelechirgwin@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Cat 3 Crash
To: mike.murray@obra.org, obra@list.obra.org
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 3:09 PM
I just have to add my $.02 cents worth.
Unless one is unconscience, why in the world wouldn't that person make a phone call to his/her family? Either in the car, in the ambulance or at the hospital. Phone access is not that difficult. Even if you busted your cell phone in the crash or forgot it in your car, I am sure someone would allow you to use theirs. Even if you were "one of those" who doesn't believe in cell phones, I am sure someone would let you call your loved ones on a borrowed phone. (Heaven forbid, you use modern technology).
And wouldn't that be one of the first things you would do under any traumatic circumstance? Call home? I don't think we have too many homeless people out racing. Not that I don't have compassion.
Sitting in the emergency room is no fun for anyone. But the few times I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit, I have always been able to call my family (or friends) & have someone show up to help me drag my sore, sorry body back home.
And I usually call immediately, not after I have been checked out & then find myself wandering around in the waiting room...finally realizing I may need help getting home.....
Sorry to be cynical...but it all seems too logical to me.
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Michele Chirgwin