bsb medical

Who can join the Medical Team?
bsb rules specifiy doctors and paramedics trackside. They also specify a limited number of medical car drivers and medical centre staff. These are the only people who are on the event's official team and the only people who get paid expenses. For more information on motorracing medics, look at the Motorcycle Race Doctors web site which contains information on track personnel, officials and ACU as well as mcrcb regulations on personnel.
Doctors and paramedics who want to join the medical team and some other professions allied to medicine can 'sign on' and, with the Chief Medical Officer's approval, go out on track with a member of the team.

I am a paramedic, can I work at a bsb meeting?
Yes. If you would like to come to a meeting we will double you up with another member of the team so that you can find out what is entailed in providing medical cover for a bike meeting. Once you are happy to work alone you can do so and are then eligible to get expenses.
You must be HPC registered and bring your HPC ID card to the first meeting that you attend. It is advisable to be MSA (Motor Sports Association) registered - it's free.
We encourage people to try to attend a marshals' training day as this covers track safety and procedures.

I am a doctor, can I work at a bsb meeting?
Just the same as paramedics, doctors are doubled up with someone else until they are sure that they can and want to cover a corner alone.
Many of those whose speciality does not include trauma management and/or pre-hospital care have undertaken further training, such as a PHTLS course (PreHospital Trauma Life Support, overseen by the Royal College of Surgeons) We encourage people to try to attend a marshals' training day as this covers track safety and procedures. We would also encourage you to become MSA (Motor Sports Association) registered - it's free.
Please bring a copy of your current GMC and medical indemnity insurance certificates to the first meeting.

I am a nurse / EMT / ODP, can I work at a bsb meeting?
Two nurses cover the Medical Centre on race days. These are often nurses who regularly run the Medical Centre for that circuit, so there are not many opportunities for nurses to work.
EMTs, ODPs and other professions can only go trackside accompanied by another member of the team and with the agreement of the Chief Medical Officer.

Do I need insurance?
Doctors must have medical indemnity insurance. Paramedics are covered by the bsb insurance for practice and race days during the bsb rounds but not for testing events.

Who gets paid?
The paramedics, doctors and medical car drivers who work on the track and Medical Centre get paid expenses, as do the two nurses covering the Medical Centre.
Doctors expenses are £130 per day and paramedics, radiographers and nurses £90.
These expenses must be included on your tax return and may be liable to tax.

Personal Equipment
You will be required to provide your own PPE (personal protective equipment) This must include overalls, warm clothing and waterproofs (including hat, even in summer) and boots (not trainers) Overalls for the Medical Team are red with a white stripe and Proban protected but, when you attend your first meetings, basic overalls are acceptable.
Bring a rucksac or other bag for your personal items such as waterproofs jacket and trousers, gloves, drinks and snacks. You will need a hat for cold days and suntan lotion for anytime the sun might be out.

Will I get a pass?
There has been a crack-down on passes throughout bsb, after it was felt that too many were being issued. We are now using the same guidelines as the marshalls - if you are doing at least three bsb meetings at more than one circuit, you will be issued with a Paddock Pass together with car pass and shiny new lanyard!

Can I work with children and animals?
Do not bring pets - they are not allowed on all the circuits that bsb uses.
If you bring children, please also bring an adult to look after them for the duration. Some medical centres do not encourage your guests to come into the medical compound.

Do I need to bring medical equipment?
No. bsb provides ground post medical bags.
Ground post bags include airway management kit and cervical collars. This is enough to cope with the initial treatment before the medical car arrives on scene. Drugs and further equipment are carried on the cars.

Do you always need medics?
Yes - in general and especially for Fridays.
However, some meetings at popular circuits are oversubscribed. In these cases those with the required experience and expertise, who are reliable are booked first . After that it is first come, first served.

Does it matter if I miss a meeting that I have said I will attend?
Obviously circumstances might cause you to have to withdraw, it happens to all of us. Please let us know as soon as possible by telephone or email.
Some people in the past have repeatedly cancelled at last minute and have proved unreliable. This is practice is not acceptable and will put you to the bottom of the list for popular meetings.

Where do we stay overnight?
The choices include camping or caravanning (in the marshalls' campsite, not the public one) staying in a hotel or with friends.
The camp site is free but hotels are at your own expense. For suggestions, link to Racesafe's web page.
The marshals kindly share their campsite with us and have rules regarding behaviour eg. no excess noise after 11pm.

Daily Routine
Arrive at the circuit and find your way to the Medical Centre. Make sure to be early, about one hour before 'on post' time so that you can sign the 'Sign on Sheet' and check and sign your expenses sheet. Then check the equipment (a ground post bag) and let Paul Burnage know which number bag you have. The only thing then left to do is check where you are based for the day and generally sort yourself out.
Find out which vehicle you will be using to get on post.
Shortly before 'on post' time ambulances and medical cars will leave - make sure you are on the one going past your groundpost (corner) ! Alternatively, you can walk to some groundposts.
Introduce yourself to the marshals, particularly to the Incident Officer (marshal in charge of that part of the track) Let them know your experience and check which signal they will give if they want you to come out onto the track to a casualty. Other than WSB and motoGP, you do not have a personnal radio so, if you want to know what is going on, you will have to stand near the IO to listen in to his/hers.
The inspection lap is 15mins after 'on post' time. Please stand behind the safety barrier, somewhere where you are visible from the track.

Practice or racing starts after the inspection lap.
You should only come over the safety barrier if needed and under the supervision of the incident officer.
Remember, weather conditions can be extreme so be prepared for any eventuality! We have been sunburnt in March and had snow and hail in April.

At lunchtime, check whether any marshals are staying on post before leaving your belongings there. Usually we have lunch back at the Medical Centre. A packed lunch is provided which comprises of a sandwich (with plenty of grated carrot) a chocolate bar or muffin, piece of fruit and a drink. Lunchbreaks can be very short and occasionally, do not happen at all. In the latter case, the people at the Medical Centre will get your lunch out to you.

At the end of the day, make sure you have all your belongings and groundpost bag before you leave the corner. Make sure that you can be seen from the track and wave if necessary, so that passing ambulances know to stop and pick you up! Return the bsb kit to the Medical Centre and let Paul Burnage know if you have used anything so that it can be replaced. Those who are camping tend to hang around then head of to the campsite. This normally leads to a good "social" soiree with the marshals.

Then return the following day to bright and early, repeat the above.