22 replies to this topic

[willga]

Just a quick question to all the medics out there...

Why do some drivers insist on having their blood group embroidered on their overalls/ painted on the side of their car?

Would any of you ever consider giving blood other than O neg, based on what some idiot had stitched to his underpants?

Sincerely yours...

[mmmcurry]

I've gotten it written on the inside of my mountaain bike skid lid on a sticker that came with it.

Put it there incase of a bad crash that might require new blood.

Steve.

[GrzegorzChyla]

Having blood group painted on the side of the car used to be required by the regulations.
I would have to check whether it is still obligatory (I think not) and if not - when such regulation vanished from the rules. Perhaps some even older regulations required blood group on the overalls? And now it only is done by tradition?

I do not know the medical side - perhaps it is faster to check if the blood group matches what is written on the overalls than checking what group it is with no knowledge?

[Foxbat]

Originally posted by willga

Would any of you ever consider giving blood other than O neg, based on what some idiot had stitched to his underpants?

If said idiot has gone to the trouble of doing that, it's safe to assume he has had the correct type put on there/

[Deeq]

Originally posted by Foxbat


If said idiot has gone to the trouble of doing that, it's safe to assume he has had the correct type put on there/

Not to mention the risk - all - is to the takers...unless they drain you like a (suspected) Honda

[Cojayar]

No doctor will do you a transfusion without testing the blood group regardless of what you have printed, attached, sewed or tatooed. But people like this kind of false safety.

[Dragonfly]

On rally cars they still have the blood group of driver and co-driver painted at the respective sides IIRC. On track events it may be useless but if you crash in the field or forest on a rally road which cannot be under constant surveilance, then it might help at least until the injured is brought to a hospital or emergency center.

[Clatter]

Originally posted by mmmcurry
I've gotten it written on the inside of my mountaain bike skid lid on a sticker that came with it.

Put it there incase of a bad crash that might require new blood.

Steve.

Sorry, but thats pointless.

In the case of an accident the medics would never rely on a blood group written on any article of clothing, they would always test first. For all they know it may not be your helmet, but rather one you have borrowed.

[Majarvis]

Hm, I've never noticed/known that before.

Can someone post a pic so I can see what you mean?

[Vitesse2]

The embroidering of blood groups on overalls was one of the innovations introduced at the time the Grand Prix Medical Unit was created.

In the 60s and before, medical services at GPs were at best "hit and miss". Facilities were usually poor (or non-existent) - even worse at testing sessions. The GPMU provided a fully-equipped mobile operating theatre and clinic, both of which were badly needed. They held medical records for the drivers and it was therefore sensible - in the days of poor communication - for the drivers to have basic info on their overalls. If you crashed somewhere out in the wilds of Le Mans, Spa, Reims or the Nurburgring it might take hours to get you to safety, possibly in the hands of rank amateurs.

Two of the seminal moments were Jackie Stewart's crash at Spa in 1966 and the tragic death of Bob Anderson in testing at Silverstone in 1967. Jackie survived - despite some over-prudent nuns who tried to re-dress him in petrol-soaked overalls. Bob sadly did not: there were no medical (or even rescue) teams - not even an ambulance.

[black magic]

would be surprised if moost trauma units didn't follow policy as alluded to here.

blood taken immediately for typing and issuing of typed specific blood. takes 40 mins in emergency.

in the interim using unniversal donor blood - O neg

[BorderReiver]

There are still certain series where it is mandatory, either in the form of identity bracelets, on the overalls, or the helmet. I always carry it on my overalls regardless (A rh+) though with modern analysis and transfusion techniques it's pretty much useless. An interesting little hangover . . .

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Majarvis
Hm, I've never noticed/known that before.

Can someone post a pic so I can see what you mean?

James Hunt, same blood type as me, vastly better looking and more talented though.

Bastard . . .

[The First MH]

Originally posted by Cojayar
No doctor will do you a transfusion without testing the blood group regardless of what you have printed, attached, sewed or tatooed. But people like this kind of false safety.

People who put this stuff on their road/mountain bikes do it more than just for a clear conscience; they often have contact details for next of kin. You don't exactly ride with that kind of info. I know I don't. And it can help - it isn't just useless. That the blood type is put on is just one extra (safe) measure. It couldn't hurt.

Anyway, I just thought it was still mandatory for F1 drivers etc. to have this info on their overalls. Nevertheless, I figure that the medical staff at the track probably already have detailed info long in advance.

[bl-f1]

I had the the opportunity and the pleasure to look after some of Sid Watkins' patients some time after he left The Royal London Hospital chair of neurosurgery to dedicate himself full time to the Formula 1 as Chief Medical Officer. Provided the stabilize and transfer system is in place, and it is in all circuits since Sid took the CMO role, I can not see any situation, even with profuse bleeding, that can not be corrected with plasma expanders and ventilation during the 30 to 60 minutes you need to stabilize and transfer to a proper medical facility, perhaps with the exception of an on-site thoracotomy for an open cardiac injury. It has been shown time and time again that it is critical to achieve ventilatory and haemodynamic stabilization and transfer to a trauma unit during the first hour in order to prevent and/or minimize secondary brain injury -a pungent example was Mike Watson's acute subdural haematoma during his fight with Chris Eubank, where it took nearly three hours for him to make it to The London after stopping at an unsuitable hospital for stabilization before finally making it to a neurosurgical operating theatre-. This stabilization can be achieved without blood transfusion in virtually any situation. Written information is useless to the blood bank as the actual blood needs to be cross-matched and it only takes 30 to 60 minutes to do this. So the answer is that the blood group information written on the overalls is not useful in modern Formula 1.

[The First MH]

Thanks for the insight bl-f1

[Crazy Canuck]

Originally posted by bl-f1
I had the the opportunity and the pleasure to look after some of Sid Watkins' patients some time after he left The Royal London Hospital chair of neurosurgery to dedicate himself full time to the Formula 1 as Chief Medical Officer. Provided the stabilize and transfer system is in place, and it is in all circuits since Sid took the CMO role, I can not see any situation, even with profuse bleeding, that can not be corrected with plasma expanders and ventilation during the 30 to 60 minutes you need to stabilize and transfer to a proper medical facility, perhaps with the exception of an on-site thoracotomy for an open cardiac injury. It has been shown time and time again that it is critical to achieve ventilatory and haemodynamic stabilization and transfer to a trauma unit during the first hour in order to prevent and/or minimize secondary brain injury -a pungent example was Mike Watson's acute subdural haematoma during his fight with Chris Eubank, where it took nearly three hours for him to make it to The London after stopping at an unsuitable hospital for stabilization before finally making it to a neurosurgical operating theatre-. This stabilization can be achieved without blood transfusion in virtually any situation. Written information is useless to the blood bank as the actual blood needs to be cross-matched and it only takes 30 to 60 minutes to do this. So the answer is that the blood group information written on the overalls is not useful in modern Formula 1.

I never thought I would see the word 'thoracotomy' on this site...

CC

[Majarvis]

Do modern F1 drivers have it on their racing suits or cars?

[Calorus]

Originally posted by Majarvis
Do modern F1 drivers have it on their racing suits or cars?

I recollect several with it on their overalls, not on cars, though -

To be honest, if you're putting your name on your overalls, it makes sense to put your Blood type on there, since you never know what you'll end up driving or, with the amount of promotional bullshit you might end up doing, or what god-awful back of beyond location you might end up doing it.

At the end of the day, if you have Jarno Trulli's face, and Jarno Trulli's helmet, and Jarno Trulli's car, race number, overalls and nomex underwear, you're probably Jarno Trulli - or at least have his blood.

[Beej]

A lot of marshals also have there blood group on there overalls and I questioned it when I started marshaling. It is more historical than functional as matching methods have got so much fastre now. But as I was told what happens when a car has a last minute driver swap if painted on car or if for some reason overalls get borrowed which does happen in both marshaling and racing. So in reality the blood grouping is ignored.

[Paul Parker]

Years ago I seem to recall that it was compulsory and the overalls I bought in '98 or '99 had to be so embroidered.

On a similar note it is noticeable that British GP surgeries and the NHS carry no blood type records for their patients unless it has been ascertained for specific medical reasons. The average punter has no idea whether they O, A, B or in my case A rh neg.

[united]

Honda still uses it - the sticker is near the cockpit http://www.autosport...hp/id/57888/s/1

I don't recall other teams placing such info.

By the way, what about this medical necklace idea http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/54169

Is it worthy for a modern F1 from a medical point of view? Or just useless like blood type info?

[bl-f1]

Originally posted by united
Honda still uses it - the sticker is near the cockpit http://www.autosport...hp/id/57888/s/1

I don't recall other teams placing such info.

By the way, what about this medical necklace idea http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/54169

Is it worthy for a modern F1 from a medical point of view? Or just useless like blood type info?

This does sound very good.