Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Safety on the mountains
A 50km night run has many dangers. The recent Humbling Hundred recci hi-lighted the need for seconding training. Due to no fault of the organiser (legend trail runner David Langhan) the seconding team failed dismally. Now, criticising volunteers is a difficult task. One recognises the sacrifices made to spend a night hanging around in dubious mountain areas waiting for runners, but the time has come for standards to be set. Mr Langhan went out of his way to organise a skilled seconding team. The NSRI, a psychologist in trainining and a medical lab technician were arranged and Mr. Langhan is to be complimented. One of the runners, who required personalised treatment arranged his own seconding and one can only wonder what promises of a KinKi nature were whispered in this runners ears to keep him from falling asleep.
One of the star runners requested on the first recci run for proper medical assistance to be at the seconding stations. He clearly stated `I need a top-class nurse.' Due to his Kommetjie accent it appears that he was not understood. He was noticably bitterly dissapointed when arriving at Silvermine Dam no nurses were present of a top-class or lesser nature.
On the second run, the top athlete was severely injured. Limping home to Constantia Nek the nurse was not only late in arriving, but her manner of dress (hot pants) served only to cause stress and swelling of other bodily parts and no offer was made to relieve this condition.
Mr Langhan had requested that the seconding table at Suikerbossie be prepared for cuts and scrapes by having some surgical spirits on hand. It appears that the communication to the seconds needed to be clearer. The reference to surgical did not refer to how your head felt on Sunday morning, the `on hand' did not refer to whose hand, and as to whether red wine would have been much help cleaning deep gashes is another matter.
Noting the seriousness of the above, Seconding Training will take place on December 31st at the Kommetjie scout hall. No equipment, special clothing or manuals are required. It is however suggested that participants dress in top class nurses outfits and bring their sleeping bags and a spare tooth brush.
A 50km night run has many dangers. The recent Humbling Hundred recci hi-lighted the need for seconding training. Due to no fault of the organiser (legend trail runner David Langhan) the seconding team failed dismally. Now, criticising volunteers is a difficult task. One recognises the sacrifices made to spend a night hanging around in dubious mountain areas waiting for runners, but the time has come for standards to be set. Mr Langhan went out of his way to organise a skilled seconding team. The NSRI, a psychologist in trainining and a medical lab technician were arranged and Mr. Langhan is to be complimented. One of the runners, who required personalised treatment arranged his own seconding and one can only wonder what promises of a KinKi nature were whispered in this runners ears to keep him from falling asleep.
One of the star runners requested on the first recci run for proper medical assistance to be at the seconding stations. He clearly stated `I need a top-class nurse.' Due to his Kommetjie accent it appears that he was not understood. He was noticably bitterly dissapointed when arriving at Silvermine Dam no nurses were present of a top-class or lesser nature.
On the second run, the top athlete was severely injured. Limping home to Constantia Nek the nurse was not only late in arriving, but her manner of dress (hot pants) served only to cause stress and swelling of other bodily parts and no offer was made to relieve this condition.
Mr Langhan had requested that the seconding table at Suikerbossie be prepared for cuts and scrapes by having some surgical spirits on hand. It appears that the communication to the seconds needed to be clearer. The reference to surgical did not refer to how your head felt on Sunday morning, the `on hand' did not refer to whose hand, and as to whether red wine would have been much help cleaning deep gashes is another matter.
Noting the seriousness of the above, Seconding Training will take place on December 31st at the Kommetjie scout hall. No equipment, special clothing or manuals are required. It is however suggested that participants dress in top class nurses outfits and bring their sleeping bags and a spare tooth brush.
