New Rule about Medical Card Armband

B.E. has now made it mandatory to wear your armband on your arm – not on your boot, or in your number bib:

Rule 3.41 vi:
“The medical card must contain the rider’s details where indicated on the card and must be worn by the rider on the arm so as to be clearly visible at all times during all phases of the Cross Country.”  (2010 Rulebook p 35)

There has been some lively debate about this and some moaning from those with enviably skinny arms, who have problems getting the armband to stay up. B.E. has excellent reasons for insisting on this rule. This came from a friend whose family are medics:

“You only have two arms so they have a 50/50 chance of getting the right one immediately, and a break in your leg, especially an open fracture if moved, can cause uncontrollable bleeding: the risk of bleeding out if the femoral artery is damaged by an unstable pelvis – no such risk with your arm. Your torso has to be stabilised to avoid possible paralysis and your arms can be moved to get at the information, but not your legs, so if they need to read the card on your leg you are potentially putting your life at risk.

“It’s important that they know your blood group, so that if you have a rare blood group they can radio ahead to the hospital you are going to, to make sure they have sufficient stock (as your correct blood group is the most beneficial) – if you don’t know yours, it is worth finding out. GP details are also vitally important – if you are unconscious then your GP can be contacted from the hospital out of hours, and your notes accessed, to see if there are any conditions you suffer from that may affect your treatment.”

No longer allowed – worn on the leg

Obviously there is a lot more chance of a leg being trapped under a fallen horse than an arm… also, grim as it is, if the paramedics can’t get to your head/torso/arms then you’re probably past help.

If you don’t know your blood group, the easiest way to find out is to become a blood donor, if you are eligible. Or, there are home test kits costing about £6 which you can use to determine your group.

Back to armbands: if you wore yours on your boot previously, because it was too annoying on your arm, perhaps right now is the time to fish it out and modify it until it is exactly the right fit. I have been told that the Pony Club one fits a smaller arm well – they can be bought for £3.50.

You would need to put the B.E. Medical Card (available free from Head Office) in it, because it contains different information to the PC one, but it is a smaller holder with a tighter  band for narrow arms.

Or, use Velcro, or elastic, or a needle and thread, and a bit of ingenuity, to get it to exactly the right fit for your arm, so that you can put it on and then forget about it until you get off after your round. A clear plastic holder could easily be sewn to your shoulder-pad, then there’s no danger of forgetting your medical card. Alternatively, certain makes of body protector shoulder pads have clear plastic holders on them ready for your medical card – this is ideal, no need to worry at all about the band slipping down or about forgetting the card completely and turning up at XC Start without it (easily done.)

Correctly worn on the shoulder pad

When I used an armband which wasn’t fixed to my shoulder pad, I kept it in my xc crash hat with my xc gloves, so there was no chance of forgetting it (well, not more than once, anyway.)

One last word, having volunteered as a XC Collecting ring steward, I hope I’m allowed to say:
PLEASE don’t try to borrow a friend’s Medical Card because you left yours back at the lorry (yes, really).
and
PLEASE make sure your Medical Card is correctly filled out and up to date… and if it has been waterlogged in the past and is somewhat indecipherable, it’s a good idea to get a new one for the new season (free from B.E.)

Murphy’s Law being as it is, if it’s properly filled out and in the correct place, you’ll probably never need it. Here’s hoping.

2010. Words Kerry Weisselberg – Photos Trevor Holt, Sue Polley & Fiona Scott-Maxwell