Dont know if this has been posted...new meaning to horse ambulance...
- Thread starter happyhack
- Start date
Wimbles
Well-Known Member
What a fantastic idea, suprised it's not been done before!
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Is this for real ? I dont see it being practical....
In particular, what does he do with the horse when he's at the scene and treating the patient ?
Surely a quad bike would be better.
In particular, what does he do with the horse when he's at the scene and treating the patient ?
Surely a quad bike would be better.
Spudlet
Well-Known Member
According to the article they've already tried motorbikes and since now they've moved onto horses, presumably that hasn't worked. If gates are locked etc, a quad bike might not work, maybe this place is like a lot of others in that theyhave made it deliberately hard to get wheeled vehicles in to discourage eejits on trail bikes?
I would guess he carries a leadrope and a loop of bailer twine, and attaches horse to a handy object via the bailer twine looped around it.
I would guess he carries a leadrope and a loop of bailer twine, and attaches horse to a handy object via the bailer twine looped around it.
Baileyhoss
Well-Known Member
PHWAW!. I wouldn't mind him tending me in my hour of need!. I suddenly feel the need for a stroll somewhere near staffordshire!. 
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Hmmm.
Some time in the 1800's they introduced a section of nurses mounted on horseback, called the Field Auxiliary Nursing Yeomanry. The idea is they would gallop onto the battlefield and care for woulded soldiers. They had a very splendid uniform. Unfortunately the idea never worked in practice, and I suspect this new version wont either.
In any form of cavalry or horse artillery, you have one soldier to fight and one to hold the horses.
My practical side says that once they get the emergency call, tack up and kit up the horse, gallop to the scene (shaking all the kit up and damaging the defib), get off and find a way to secure the horse.... a quad bike could have been and gone.
By the way, you know one of the first rules in first aid ? Ans - dont make the situation worse. I dont imagine that a hiped up horse is going to help make a situation safe.
Some time in the 1800's they introduced a section of nurses mounted on horseback, called the Field Auxiliary Nursing Yeomanry. The idea is they would gallop onto the battlefield and care for woulded soldiers. They had a very splendid uniform. Unfortunately the idea never worked in practice, and I suspect this new version wont either.
In any form of cavalry or horse artillery, you have one soldier to fight and one to hold the horses.
My practical side says that once they get the emergency call, tack up and kit up the horse, gallop to the scene (shaking all the kit up and damaging the defib), get off and find a way to secure the horse.... a quad bike could have been and gone.
By the way, you know one of the first rules in first aid ? Ans - dont make the situation worse. I dont imagine that a hiped up horse is going to help make a situation safe.
Spudlet
Well-Known Member
I'm going to disagree again - I suspect a quad bike travelling at speed over rought terrain will shake equipment up just as much as a horse. If it's packed properly, it should arrive ok. And although a first aid situation may be emotionally charged, it is not quite the same as a battle with shells exploding everywhere.
And yes, I do know the rules of first aid, thank you!
And yes, I do know the rules of first aid, thank you!
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I'm sure we'll both be interested to see how it pans out.
Spudlet
Well-Known Member
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Yes indeedy
Although of course, while the horse (or bike) would get to the patient first, any patient who needed to have oxygen, defib etc would eventually need a vehicle to transport them out of the park. So either which way, you'd still need access for an ambulance.
happyhack
Well-Known Member
When I fell off a couple of years ago out hacking, the fast response car couldnt find me, the ambulance couldnt find me and a helicopter was scrambled which *again* struggled to find me! I was in a clearing a little way off a rural lane that we access via bridlepaths which cross a golf course. It was a very inconvenient place to take a tumble!!
I think that in my situation, this would have been a good idea, as I would assume that the rider will know where the bridlepaths and things are to be able to get to someone quickly, and then contact the vehicles to let them know the situation etc.
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I dont doubt that.
As a matter of interest though, after the fall, did you walk out or did you have to be carried out ?
happyhack
Well-Known Member
I was carried out. I dislocated my knee and they were worried I damaged my back so I was on a spinal board too.
Ambulance managed to get onto the clearing as there was an access point off the lane for farm vehicles etc. Had I come off on the bridlepath though, I think I'd have been stuffed!
Ambulance managed to get onto the clearing as there was an access point off the lane for farm vehicles etc. Had I come off on the bridlepath though, I think I'd have been stuffed!
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Sorry for your injuries.
I think your experience supports the point I was making to Spudlet though.
I think your experience supports the point I was making to Spudlet though.
Finns Mum
Well-Known Member
I think the purpose is more to get a medic there as fast as possible who can get the casualty stabilised and then worry about transporting the person out.
Will be very interesting to see if its a success
Will be very interesting to see if its a success
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I think the purpose is more to get a medic there as fast as possible who can get the casualty stabilised and then worry about transporting the person out.
Will be very interesting to see if its a success
The press item referred to in the OP made much of the difficulty of getting vehicles on scene at this particlar site. My point is that a vehicle will, in the end, be required to transport the patient.
Spudlet
Well-Known Member
The point of this person is to get there quickly and offer support until the paramedics arrive - that is what first responders are meant to do, no matter what mode of transport they use
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The point of this person is to get there quickly and offer support until the paramedics arrive - that is what first responders are meant to do, no matter what mode of transport they use
I dont disagree, but I'm looking at a wider context.
You've said " If gates are locked etc, a quad bike might not work, maybe this place is like a lot of others in that theyhave made it deliberately hard to get wheeled vehicles in to discourage eejits on trail bikes?".
My point is that those access issues will still have to be overcome to get patient transport on site, even with a first responder on a horse (or a motor bike, or a quad bike, or even a jet pack).
Spudlet
Well-Known Member
This is true, but with a first responder present that time that it takes to get the vehicle there is less crucial (in some cases).
For example, to take HappyHacks fall (sorry HH!). On a cold, wet day, she could have been at risk of developing hypothermia. A first responder would have been able to lessen this risk by keeping HH warm and dry - therefore, the fact that it took the ambulance longer to get there would have been less crucial.
To take a hypothetical case - a person suffering with DIB could have oxygen or other appropriate assistance from the first responder, giving the patient a better chance of survival while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Whatever the first responder travels on or in, they are not going to be the ones that transport the patient, and in a country park there is only so much that can be done to allow ambulance access.
They are two different issues because paramedics and first responders are not the same thing. So calling this person a 'horse ambulance' is misleading, it is not his job to be an ambulance but to get to the scene as quickly as possible and offer assistance and support until either the situation is resolved or until the ambulance arrives. In this case a horse has clearly been judged the most efficient way to facilitate this. Not having visited the area and seen the terrain, I can't say whether or not this is true but I cannot imagine that this person or the local ambulance service will have made this decision on a whim.
For example, to take HappyHacks fall (sorry HH!). On a cold, wet day, she could have been at risk of developing hypothermia. A first responder would have been able to lessen this risk by keeping HH warm and dry - therefore, the fact that it took the ambulance longer to get there would have been less crucial.
To take a hypothetical case - a person suffering with DIB could have oxygen or other appropriate assistance from the first responder, giving the patient a better chance of survival while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Whatever the first responder travels on or in, they are not going to be the ones that transport the patient, and in a country park there is only so much that can be done to allow ambulance access.
They are two different issues because paramedics and first responders are not the same thing. So calling this person a 'horse ambulance' is misleading, it is not his job to be an ambulance but to get to the scene as quickly as possible and offer assistance and support until either the situation is resolved or until the ambulance arrives. In this case a horse has clearly been judged the most efficient way to facilitate this. Not having visited the area and seen the terrain, I can't say whether or not this is true but I cannot imagine that this person or the local ambulance service will have made this decision on a whim.
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I dont disagree with anything you've said there.
mil1212
Well-Known Member
Well, I ride out on Cannock Chase quite frequently, I might make it more frequent on viewing Mr Bennett I have definately covered terrain that no quad bike could fit through. It is very popular with mountain bikers and walkers too. And they recently made a point that there are lots of 'holes' opening up on the land (old mine type things)
So I, for one think its a great idea, to be the first response in an incident, why wouldn't it be a good idea? Even if he has to leap off and throw his reins over the nearest tree branch.. although his horse could be trained as well as the ones you see in films which just stand there when the reins are dropped...
I have definately covered terrain that no quad bike could fit through. It is very popular with mountain bikers and walkers too. And they recently made a point that there are lots of 'holes' opening up on the land (old mine type things)So I, for one think its a great idea, to be the first response in an incident, why wouldn't it be a good idea? Even if he has to leap off and throw his reins over the nearest tree branch.. although his horse could be trained as well as the ones you see in films which just stand there when the reins are dropped...
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Well, I ride out on Cannock Chase quite frequently, I might make it more frequent on viewing Mr Bennett
So I, for one think its a great idea, to be the first response in an incident, why wouldn't it be a good idea? Even if he has to leap off and throw his reins over the nearest tree branch.. although his horse could be trained as well as the ones you see in films which just stand there when the reins are dropped...
Like I said earlier, it'll be interesting to see how this works in practice.
Spudlet
Well-Known Member
Well, I ride out on Cannock Chase quite frequently, I might make it more frequent on viewing Mr Bennett
Flinging yourself from your horse on purpose is frowned upon