The importance of ID while out for a hack
Riders are urged to carry information the emergency services would need
RIDERS have been reminded to think about how rescuers would know who they are if they had an accident out hacking.
Louisa Allen, head girl at Jim Boyle Racing, is urging riders to think about information emergency services would need if they were found unconscious.
Similarly, if a horse was loose, whoever caught it would need to know where it was from.
Louisa told H&H incidents of an injured rider on Epsom Downs, and other cases of loose horses in the area, “made her think”.
“I have a horse, too; if I fell off, what would happen?” she said.
Louisa, who is also on the council for the National Association of Racing Staff, said products are available that can be fitted to hats, and, crucially, can be accessed without removing the helmet, and on bridles or stirrups.
There are also geolocation smartphone apps, and many mobiles allow users to see emergency contact information and call 999 without a password.
The British Horse Society also recommends carrying “in case of emergency” (ICE) cards and tags.
“Don’t forget to include information about your horse, in case a vet is needed,” a BHS spokesman told H&H.
“If you need emergency services to be immediately aware of any medical information, include this on your ICE card and wear it prominently.
“Place tags on your throatlash buckle and D-ring with emergency contacts, including your yard number, in case your horse is separated from you.”
In 2017, the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) attended 40 horse-related incidents.
“At many accidents, the rider is unconscious and so unable to provide medical details,” EAAA’s Dr Drew Welch told H&H.
“It would be really helpful if riders wore armbands providing vital information such as name, date of birth, drug allergies and type of reaction, medications — including over-the-counter or herbal remedies — medical conditions, religious beliefs, plus contact details for their next of kin and GP.”
John Pritchard, lead paramedic at Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, agreed, adding: “Blood type is never a problem, as patients are always given a universal blood product prehospital and then re-checked.”