BBC Programme investigates equestrian accidents - Wednesday 10 October

M

Mr_Ed

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 August 2003
Messages
149
Visit site
BBC Programme investigates horse related accidents

Around 2.4 million people ride in the UK every year.

With the Midlands area Air Ambulance attending on average, 3 horse related accidents each week, BBC1’s Inside Out programme investigates why so many accidents are occurring and what might be done to reduce them in the future.

Watch: BBC1 - West Midlands (Sky channel 979)

When: Wednesday 10th October at 7.30pm

The programme will also be available to view for a week after it has been shown on the BBC West Midlands Inside Out website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/westmidlands/index.shtml

Source: http://www.ridingsafely.net/july_2007_news.html#DD
 
3 air ambulance outings per WEEK - didn't think it would be that high - that's amazing !!

wonder if that is related to e.g. XC comps. or to riders out on hacks ?
 
I would be very interested to see the circumstances of these accidents.

Trouble is, we all know that ANYONE can have an accident, from the beginner/novice to the experienced rider. In a way an experienced rider is more likely as they ride the more difficult/high powered horses or schooling a young horse that is unpredictable.

It is a very worrying statistic though.
 
How big an area does the air ambulance cover and is the terrain it covers particularly inaccessible to driven ambulances. I agree its a worrying statistic but there may be particular circumstances that call for the air service. Could it be that road traffic congestion is just so bad that delivery to hospital times can be seriously reduced by going by air?
 
The West Midlands air ambulance covers us here in Shropshire. I think quite often its called out to people who have had falls in places that are inaccessible to land ambulances, i.e. up in the hills. Also hospitals are quite far away in some cases. Air ambulance came out last year to a lad who had a fall at our riding club show and and was complaining of back pain. Bizarre really as the hospital is no more than 3 miles down the road but apparently they didn't want to risk a bumpy drive off the show field (luckily he was fine .)
 
That would make sense then if the terrain is tough and the area is fairly big. Doesnt make the statistics any less worrying but would explain the high useage of the helicopter.
 
oh gosh - Shropshire - that could explain it - I rode there a lot when I was on holiday as a kid - and you could go for miles and not see anything but a ruined cottage

beautiful countryside though
 
Will def be watching a recording of it (in the wrong area), I did the reconstruction bits, chestnut horse with two white socks behind, I'm wearing a blue t-shirt and beige jods. I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
i've just clicked onto website - bl**ding hell it's making my blood boil!!

I can see the authority wanting us to riding in bl**dy bubble wrap everywhere, then only in arena's, not here or here......... and only in day light at this place or that place grrrrrrr.........

I'm all for training and education people and good workable safety features etc BUT NOT at the expense of BIG BROTHER or NANNY STATE! - b*gger off and sort the country out first!!

and before any one jumps down my throat, i pay my taxes and the ideal of NHS is free at source! to ALL

Also do give to our local Air folk - who do fab job but their they do go to other accidents aswell!
 
[ QUOTE ]
That would make sense then if the terrain is tough and the area is fairly big. Doesnt make the statistics any less worrying but would explain the high useage of the helicopter.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you have hit the nail on the head in that most horse riding accidents occur in inaccessible areas anyway, as most people going out for a hack, choose an offroad route where possible.

My area is one of those covered by the air ambulance service that was featured, and it extends over several counties, covering a vast geographical area.

There are some accident figures from 1991 to Dec 2005 in the link below, and it's interesting to note that 'falls' account for more attendances by the air ambulance, than horse riding accidents...

http://www.transportcafe.co.uk/air_ambulance_service_helicopter_shropshire_west_midlands.html
 
I know that the air ambulance often goes to a large college in Glos, not because it has lots of accidents, but because falls from horses are often related to necks/backs and they like to collect them in air ambulance to avoid a bumpy hospital ride.
S
smile.gif
 
The NHS aint free, we pay with our taxes directly and indirectly, it aint a charity, we are entitled to use it, Iv'e paid in for 36 years, if it's a problem for the powers that be that there is a shortage of money to run it, then maybe we shouldn't be the "INTERNATIONAL" health service and stop treating immigrants who just wander in and get it for free, so before anyone moans about any horse riders using the NHS for accidents lets get things in perspective, people are drinking smoking overeating and driving like tw***s into early graves, they get to use the NHS as much as they want, so I dont see a problem with horse riders using the services as much as required, local park gets a cricket pitch, a football pitch, a BMX track, a skateboard track, a caged basketball court, people can use these facilities regardless of being employed or not, I dont see a menage or cross country course provided by the parks department, and yet I reckon most horse riders are in work to be able to afford a horse therefore paying loads of tax, if we need an air ambulance. so bloody what, so does the trail biker, so does the climber, so does the hang glider, the binge drinker and druggies use the NHS and ambulance services, if anyone tries to make me feel guilty about using any services they can go screw themselves.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top