I cannot believe the way the staff handled Kato right after he crashed... There seemed to be no concern for injuries, the video showed the interest of the staff and it was not Kato. They were more interested in the keeping the race going rather than a proper diagnosis before moving Kato. Who knows how much damage was caused by the way the staff handled Kato. I have some medical experience and even in combat situations we are taught proper technique for movement of the injured. He suffers extreme head/neck/back injuries and the staff just grabbed him by his leathers and set him on the board and ran off the track. What in the world were they thinking??? RED FLAG the race, properly diagnose before movement, and have the proper medical personal conduct the diagnosis!!! I wonder what the other racers think of this? I am a club racer here at home and our staff takes every precaution to insure our safety. I really am dissapointed with the so called "Suzuka", with premier class racing one would thing that there would be professionals running the track.
RE:Kato's Crash
by Anthony Moon on Apr 23, 2003 08:14 AM
I'm 26 and own a 03' RC51 and have been an avid rider since I was 4 yrs old. I also am a paramedic. What I know is - first thing's first, follow your ABC's. Airway, breathing, circulation. Beyond that, a paramedics duty is to treat every patient as if they have a spinal injury. Even if that patient doesn't seem to have any injuries via the spine, stabilize it anyway. If the paramedics on scene failed to stabilize Kato's neck in any matter, it could have led to further trauma - enough that may have led to his death (at the very least permanent paralysis). Beyond those abc's, stabilizing a persons' spinal column is of the utmost importance.
RE:Kato's Crash
by de Schaetzen gauthier on Apr 18, 2003 05:32 PM
You are completely right. I'm no fan of motorracing but when I saw how the handled Kato and how they continued to race as if nothing happened, I tought it was dramatic!
