1st Aid Fees

[Meandtheboys]

Ok - so this has been on my mind for a while now and I certainly have no objection to paying a 1st aid fee but with the increasing cost at unaffiliated events ( £3 per rider ) how do I know all my money and all other riders monies actually go to the paramedics - please can someone put my mind to rest.
Surely I can not be the only person that has doubts!!

 

[Britestar]

Our Riding Club has been quoted £420 per day for 1st Aid. £3 a ride will not cover it, so either we put the cost per rider up, or the Club has to supplement it, so yes, every penny goes to the people handling 1st aid!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

First aid is surprisingly expensive! I have no qualms about paying first aid at all. Who knows when you will need it and you would rather it was there and not need it than not have it when needed.

 

[Meandtheboys]

Wow never realised the cost and for small clubs that is a tough cost to cover - my query was not about how much but more of an assurance that it all goes to the right place i.e. paramedics etc.
Thanks for the response x

 

[FfionWinnie]

Local venue charges first aid and there is no first aid cover other than their staff will have done a course (possibly). I've also done this course for work and it's a nonsense to think it's enough for me to be able to save someone's life without back up from emergency services on the phone etc, they are no more qualified or experienced than I am just because they've done the training. That really hacks me off. £10 a class then up to another fiver for something that doesn't even exist.

Completely different at events where there is actually a properly qualified and experienced first aider in attendance! My friend is a Dr and she gets paid to go to BE events. I don't mind paying for that at all!

 

[SO1]

I have just had to pay £8 for combined medical/vet fee on top of entries.

It does seem a lot but it does cost a lot to have an ambulance on site and also a vet. My godfather used to be part of St John's ambulance and used to be booked for shows, I remember falling off at a show and him having to come and make sure I was ok.

My local RC does not have any first aid when they run the dressage but it does say on the entry forms that competitors at competing at their own risk and there is no first aid.

 

[Mike007]

I wouldn't mind paying if they know and do there job. I was nearly paralysed by some incompetent ***** who made me get up after a serious fall . their explanation was that it was too much work to get the spinal board out from their fancy land rover.Air ambulance , couldn't be arsed to carry a stretcher to a landing point .And the Hampton sponsored ride actually paid them to attend!There is no way that I can prove that my subsequent disabilities were as a result of their negligence so I am stuck . My heart does however go out to the young kid who was working with these butchers.She knew it was all wrong and was hovering about through the whole time ,keeping an eye on me. A good lass!(best complement I know!)

 

[Shay]

Hiring proper 1st Aid is very expensive and absolutely the first aid fee is fair. Full public first aid training is expensive, the specialist kit is expensive and the insurance cover is very expensive. Often (at smaller events) the actual people attending are there as volunteers - the supervisor may be on a retainer but not the others. Obviously at big events its different. Like others I do have an issue with venues who charge a first aid fee but then have their own staff on a "first aid at work" certificate provide the cover - usually without the correct insurance in place.

Sorry about your accident Mike007 - having broken my back in a fall a number of years ago I know how essential a proper response is. I don't want to teach my grandmother to suck eggs or anything - but if you have not spoken to a specialist in clinical negligence cases it may well be worth doing so.

 

[PaddyMonty]

- my query was not about how much but more of an assurance that it all goes to the right place i.e. paramedics etc.

What you have to remember is that organisers do not know how many riders will attend a comp. On that basis it is likely that some days they will gain on the first aid fee and some days they will lose. The first aid people have to be paid regardless of 300 riders or 3.

 

[Pigeon]

For eventing, 100% I would pay that, and more. I would happily pay £20-ish if there was an emergency medic, vet and farrier to hand. Not even on site necessarily, but on call. Even if it means you have to attend fewer events, it is so so worth it.

Don't think we've ever been to an ODE and not made use of one of those three �� I guess that's why we stick to dressage now.....

 

[Jnhuk]

BRC have certain requirements to be a first aider at a RC event and it is recommended that there is one even for dressage shows. It is becoming a nightmare to get folks through the club willing to train and who can take part in the organised area training. Seems funny that the PC can get away with a day's first aid training whereas BRC needs three day first aid at work initial course with a 2 day refreshers for those who already done the FAW. We have started using a local firm for our first aid for our jumping shows but the rider fees do not usually cover the full cost or even half of it tbh.

 

[ester]

I have never minded paying for dedicated cover at the ringside etc but even before I stopped competing frequently it was the same person doing the entries or pole picking. Friend who does it is also a first responder, he has kit (separate from his first response stuff) and gets quite cross if anyone suggests he goes anywhere near an arena surface and maintains pole pickers should therefore not be the first aider.

 

[popsdosh]

What really bugs me is should it not be part of the cost of running an event and taken into account when setting the entry fees at the moment those riding one horse are subsidising those with multiple runs. Indeed some venues do take the mickey at present !
If you compete BE all the costs are wrapped up in a simple entry fee with no hidden extras.