Accident plans?

H

Hollie15

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 August 2010
Messages
111
Visit site
I went riding with my friend the other day when she had a fall. She led completely still for what seemed like FOREVER, not moving or responding, meanwhile I had grabbed the horses so they didn't run off/trample her and was completely useless, not wanting to let go of the horses I couldn't get near her, got my phone out and didn't know who to call. At this point she kind of put her hand up and slowly started to get up. This was probably only over a period of half a minute but seeing her led there motionless seemed like for ever and I really didn't know what to do. She was completely fine btw, but hit her head and felt sick so hadn't wanted to move.

So this made us try to think to have an 'accident plan' if anything bad was to happen again.
We are exchanging emergency contact details for who we would want ringing should anything happen. Going to carry a lead rope to tie horses up with if we need hands free.

Does anyone else have any good suggestions/tips for what to do in an situation like this?!
 
if your ever stuck with no reception this is an email i got sent.This can be verified by going to the following link


http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/112/index_en.htm


JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS: USEFUL BUT ONE HOPES NEVER TO HAVE TO REMEMBER IT!



Subject: READ IT THEN PASS IT ON DON'T JUST DELETE

I know you don’t all live in Dorset or even in the UK but a mobile is a mobile where ever you live. I didn't know about 112 did you?

A bit of useful advice - verified by the Dorset Police.
The number does work from a mobile.

This actually happened to someone's daughter. Lauren was 19 yrs old and in college.
This story takes place over the Christmas/New Year's holiday break.

It was the Saturday before New Year and it was about 1.00pm in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend, when an UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put its lights on. Lauren's parents have 4 children (of various ages) and have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather wait until they get to a service station, etc.
So Lauren remembered her parents' advice, and telephoned 112 from her mobile phone.
This connected her to the police dispatcher she told the dispatcher that there was an unmarked car with a flashing blue light behind her and that she would not pull over right away but wait until she was in a service station or busy area.
The dispatcher checked to see if there was a police car where she was and there wasn't and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back-up already on the way.
Ten minutes later 4 police cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her.
One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind.
They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground........the man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.
I never knew that bit of advice, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you do not have to pull over for an UNMARKED car.
Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a 'safe' place.
You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them I.e., put on your hazard lights) or call 112 like Lauren did.
Too bad the mobile phone companies don't give you this little bit of wonderful information.
So now it's your turn to let your friends know about 112 (112 is an emergency number on your mobile that takes you straight to the police because 999 does not work if you have no signal).
This is good information that I did not know!

Please pass on to all your friends, especially any females.

As far as I am aware, 112 uses a system called triangulation so they can also pinpoint exactly where you are phoning from.



READ IT THEN PASS IT ON DON'T JUST DELETE - IMPORTANT


 
Awesome thanks. I have heard that story before but with the warning of not just pulling over, never knew about the 112 bit before....thanks!
 
The 112 thing in red is not true. It will redirect you to 999.

ETS: What I mean is, it does not have any special powers.. it is just the general EU emergency services number and some research shows that if you dial it in the UK, your call will be treated the same as any other 999 call.
 
Most of the story in red is a email hoax that has been circulating for a very long time

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/fakecop.asp

However, 112 is a valid emergency number in the UK however it will only connect if you have some sort of signal (like 999)

As far as I'm aware mobile phones can be triangulated from surrounding masts but the resolution is not great in rural areas. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_tracking) I think there are ways of tracking locations via gps but you'd have to have the technology on your phone.
 
You can make emergency calls (999/112) when you have no signal on your network, but not if you have no signal on any network (the most common network round here, the "no network") because that means there is nothing to connect to. You can also make emergency calls from someone else's locked mobile (or at least mine) as you don't need to have imput the pin after swtiching on to do this.
 
Yes, always a good idea to have a plan for accidents. Perhaps the BHS do an advisory leaflet?

The first thing you need to do is to check for danger - two of you injured and unconscious is no use to man nor beast. If possible prevent further danger.

The second thing I would do is to give first aid. You need to establish if the person is breathing and has a pulse. As for what to do with the horses while you're doing this, to be honest reins and stirrup leathers can be used in an emergency (although bailing twine in the pocket is also useful) but if you have an unconscious person then the horses can take their chances, especially if you're off road (and most of the time the horses will just graze anyway!). That leaves your hands free to call 999, a vet, the yard, parents, a partner, whoever. Make sure all these numbers are stored in your phone! ICE followed by the person's name or relation to you (e.g. ICE Vet, ICE Mum etc) is useful for others to be able to find, too.

If you need assistance RIGHT NOW (e.g. somebody to dial 999 while you give CPR, somebody to give first aid while you hold a horse etc) then shout so, loudly, repeatedly. Something like HELP HELP PLEASE CALL AN AMBULANCE should do the trick.

Consider carrying a mini first aid kit in your pocket, and dog tag your horse's bridle and saddle so that if anybody finds them loose they can make arrangements to return them! Don't be tempted to put essentials in a saddle bag attached to the horse, its no use at all if your horse bogs off without you! Oh, and label yourself too, so that if you are found unconscious somewhere (having been found easily because you are wearing high viz ;) ) your ICE numbers will be easily found.

Hopefully that will formulate the basis of your plan. Certainly makes you think.
 
Last edited:
Thanks naturally. Really good ideas. I have a second phone for riding which I have currently lost, I do not put my htc in my pocket as scared it will get damaged, so really need to find my old battered riding phone.
The bale twine is a great idea as is really easy to carry!

Yea, know I look back and think I should have just bloody let go of the nags but at the time, I dunno what was going through my head. Adrenaline makes you fight flight or freeze, I deffo did the 3rd one! Plus cos it was someone else's horse I felt I had to hold on to him. Stupid I know.

Thanks everyone so far!
 
Leviathan said:
JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS: USEFUL BUT ONE HOPES NEVER TO HAVE TO REMEMBER IT!
Click to expand...

Is that nonsense still doing the rounds?

I think all riders should attend some basic first aid training, some really simple things can be lifesavers!

Make sure you and your horses have ID in case you are seperated - I use brightly coloured dog tags as they are cheap and easy to spot! Make sure you have contact numbers in your phone - vet, yard etc. and your next of kin's number saved under ICE (In case of emergency) so it is easy to find if needed :)

PS lots of hi viz on you and horse will also help people spot you if you have an accident in an isolated area :)
 
Last edited:
Glad she was okay! It's a good idea to have an 'action plan', i know I'm hopeless in a crisis.
Something you could both invest in is a "Locata" tag (you can buy them from here: http://www.unicornleather.co.uk/'NEW'-Horse-Identity-System.php )
I have one for each horse & it's definitely put my mind at ease. They're little pouches that attach to the saddle & contain all information on the horse, so that if you or your friend was to fall and the horse was to bolt off into the distance, the person who catches it knows who to contact. They're clearly labelled with "horse identity enclosed" on the outside so that it's obvious what's in there.
Inside are forms which you fill in, giving details about the owner, the horse, the vet (in case it's injured), yard owner, emergency contact numbers etc etc. We once lost a horse on the moorland and luckily found him (he'd galloped over the top and headed for home) but I remember how scary it was to not know where he'd gone and I wish these had been around then! They do them in loads of different colours (including hi-viz) and are really easily seen - they even include several copies of the form in little plastic pockets so that there are spares. They're also really good because they include advice at the top of the page on how to handle the horse, which is really good if a non-horsey type finds your horse in their back garden and doesn't know what to do!
They now do one for riders too which contains all rider details incase they're found unconscious, so they could be good too if you sometimes hack out alone?
Really good idea!
 
Last edited:
I horrified a newly made horse friend when we met to go xc the 1st time ;)

I cheerfully said "My husbands name is **** and his is the 1st number in my phone book. Call him if you need to call me an ambulance & if I cannot stop you from phoning. My vet is listed under vet-horse in my phone book, if I am unable to call them then please do. They have a trusted friends phone number they can contact for permissions if I am unable to help"

She looked very worried!

However, I grinned & said 'thats the safety procedures done, shall we now go xc? :D

I also have 2 postcard sized cards which have emergency phone numbers on them, my personal info (medical & DoB) and also horse details on too, with vet contact info.
Both are laminated - 1 is kept with big Fuzzy's passport so we both are covered in all respects.
Really handy to hand to horse transporter/ put in car or horsebox or keep in jacket pocket.

Yep, prob taking things too far, but have been unlucky to pick up a couple of riders over the years who did not have ANY ID on them, nobody to contact after calling them an ambulance - and it was NOT nice to try to also sort out the horse from one accident.

Worth remembering to do one if you take your horse away from home - even if your horse does have tags on bridle etc - as they might well be for the yard you keep them at & not where you are staying :)
 
Wow the are great!!! Will deffo be getting them...just need to choose a colour!! And I think better than what used to be ride alert, I don't like having to pay a fee each year.

Such a great idea, they really have thought of everything!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top