Vancouver Olympic Volunteers

[Eydawn]

I can't believe how you guys got steamrollered. This is absolutely ridiculous. Kat- who was there at the Whistler Centre then? I was trying to see but the footage wasn't any good... looked like some sort of BLS crew...

To the person seeking a place to stay: I would echo what our Canadian bretheren have said about boycotting your involvement, but if you choose to go, then you need to tell whoever invited you to provide you housing.

Wendy

CO EMT-B

[tniuqs]

Luger dies during Olympic Practice

Kinda glad I decided not to accept the invitation to work at the Whistler Sliding Centre now. This likely would have been my patient.

I have yet to see footage of this tragic event but Kat if you were restricted to BLS in BC. I think no I know you would have been very frustrated trying to work a Trauma Arrest in a BLS capacity, I know I would. Once again applaud your respect shown for BC brothers and sisters, I know this Olympian would have benefited from your expertise, but lets keep pointing the finger of disrespect at VANOC where it is due and negatively affecting BC residents in the long run, keep the focus and don't forget, Comrade Campbell payback is a bitch.

I too am very pleased with this EMT city group of members that now clearly see how the brothers and sisters of EMS were sacrificed as peons for "welcome the world" and newest info is that the BCAS EMS providers are working overtime at 1.25 their regular wage. There was a release that 2 Medics (level unknown) volunteered for the sliding events from Ontario not really pleased about that news, there must be medical care but at what cost ?

The bills have not been tallied up quite yet but financial experts say that this event will cost every child taxpayer and Grandmother over $100.00 each in the entire country .. so I guess eat that Big Mac, enjoy your Olympic sized Cola Cola (with artificial sweeteners) and support the fine health food sponsors, while you enjoy watching the opening ceremonies. It is proving to have some very serious Canadian talent.

This has damn near destroyed the Olympic Spirit for me as a past Down Hiller. I am feeling so very very torn. I am so proud of the all of the athletes yet feel smashed because my Profession has been so so disrespected and caused so much controversy.

So ... Damn it GO USA YOU GO in Hockey !

Edited February 13, 2010 by tniuqs

[rock_shoes]

I'm incredibly dissapointed that Comrade Campbell and his ilk have truly tainted the Olympics for me. Had we been shown even a small glimmer of respect and at the very least been granted a fair process, I would likely be working the Olympic games right now. The events that have occured during the lead up to the games have left me in a position where working the games would violate my professional ethics and as such I have sought other work for the duration of the Olympics. I'm actually working out of Dawson Creek (North West corner of BC) right now in heavy industry. Less than half the work for more than twice the pay. Something about that doesn't sit well with me.

[tniuqs]

Well the U tube video was pulled, quoting copy right from Olympic Committee and respectfully for his family.

I have managed to review it as a friend copied: http://www.buzzfeed.com/akdobbins/nodar-kumaritashvili-luge-crash .I must correct and update my previous comments, in my opinion this could have been be a preventable death. There was no safety barrier in place to prevent direct impact with "I" support beams, this on one of the final turns at blistering speed. There is very little doubt in my mind that after impact very little could have been done to positively effect this athletes survival.

Now:

That said I personally going to try very, very hard to not let the politics interfere with my personal enjoyment today or for the duration of events. I will forget for the moment the politics and the bs proceeding.

Why well because: I AM CANADIAN

please and thank you.

[srtjsrtjr]

What a horrible accident, I feel for all involved.

Edited February 13, 2010 by srtjsrtjr

[Arctickat]

Eydawn, I recognised a couple of individuals there. CTV news ran the footage of the crash and the efforts afterwards. That wasn't the first crash of that type at that corner. Just the most violent. When I worked there last year a couple of skeleton pilots also wiped out there. If you saw the CTV news footage, there is one wearing a red vest near the beginning of the rescue who was facing the camera and grabbing something. His name is Chrs. At the end as they are showing the back of the amulance, there is a man with his head down beside the back door, on the passenger side. He is a sports doc from Toronto, and an African American truned around to walk away from the ambulance. He is Emmanuelle from the U.S. Coast Guard stationed in Galveston Texas.

As far as not being permitted to conduct any ALS there, it is because the union refused to allow BCAS to permit us to do it. They claimed they could not verify the quality of training each medic has, so we were relegated to a BLS and extrication role. BCAS ambulances were on scene and there are several docs also scheduled to work there. I did notice that the patient was intubated though, so I suspect a full ACLS code was conducted using the personnel there. Personally, I didn't mind not being permitted to use my ALS scope while I was there. By the time we had anyone removed from the track we were surrounded by docs anyways...and not just your run of the mill GP, but sports specialists and trauma specialists. Two of them work or have worked for CFL teams.

I can think of one of two things that likely happened to cause his death. Either a C1/C2 fracture and cord transection or an aortic rupture. I just feel for most of the guys working there. The medical staff may be accustomed to dealing with death, but there is full time staff who work there as well who have likely seen nothing more than burns or minor trauma and I know some have never dealt with a situation like this one.

[rock_shoes]

As far as not being permitted to conduct any ALS there, it is because the union refused to allow BCAS to permit us to do it. They claimed they could not verify the quality of training each medic has, so we were relegated to a BLS and extrication role. BCAS ambulances were on scene and there are several docs also scheduled to work there. I did notice that the patient was intubated though, so I suspect a full ACLS code was conducted using the personnel there.

Not exactly. The union has no control over who can or can't hold a license. Anyone who holds a valid BC license and has appropriate medical direction can work to the full BC SOP at their particular license level. Working to said SOP would have required anyone in attendance to go through the reciprocity process prior to arrival which is actually fairly simple (if you're coming from another Canadian province other than Quebec that is). The flight crew responding would definitely have been an ALS crew most likely with full CCT endorsement. If only the general public in BC could get that kind of response.

[tniuqs]

Interesting way to do a Pulse Check ?