Important Info for all ADs

This was my games (Dakota Celtic Festival).  I have been waiting to post the details on the horrific situation until we know more of the medical facts.  At that time I will post an open letter and discuss this in more detail.  Right now, we have to be carefull not to get into more of a legal mess.

This whole situation makes me sick  The two athletes exposed are dear friends of mine and I don't want any harm to come to them.

However Bill is correct, AD's need to take heed hear and have a FULL First AID kit that includes Gloves, Bleach water, CPR mask, and plenty of paper towels (to clean implements off with bleach water WHEN someone tears thier hands). 

South Dakota has a HIV infection rate of 1.4 per 100,000 (population) the second lowest in the nation.  to give this some perspective Conn. has an approx. infection rate of 27 per 100,000.  If this could happen here...it can happen anywhere.

Stay tuned for more details:

I hold the HASA champs in Kirksville, MO.  Our local ambulance district will post an ambulance AT NO CHARGE at the games site, but not dedicated to the site (meaning if they get a call, they leave).  They will dedicate an ambulance at a charge and it is quite reasonable.  I have found it a great assest as they have been needed a couple of times the past 5 years I have done.  During that time, they have not had to leave even once.  Call your local ambulance district and see if they'll do that in your area.  Our local ambulance district also just got a helicopter and they are going to fly it out to our games to raise awareness and solicit donations (in our area we can "join" the ambulance district and if we ever need it, it is free, but if we don't join we just pay as we go). 

ok thats makes sense why he ddin't mention it when injured-like I said monday morning q-backing is tough-but I agree why would he want to put athletes at risk

There should be space on registration forms to ask people about pre-existing medical conditions and communicable diseases so the ad can make a judgement on whether or not that person can safely participate (safe for themselves and others).  

I'm sorry to say, Most states have laws against forcing someone to disclose that type of information.

Eric

I believe that restriction doesnt apply for a private invitational event. You disclose or you dont throw. Nothing illegal about that. I believe cases have been made against HIV+ people who didnt disclose and infected others negligently and were up on some type of manslaugher charges. It makes me think of 3 things: 1. When judging make sure that they know how to lay it down and WILL do this when the judge tells them. 2. Treating anyones blood as tainted. 3. Getting a disclosure so everyone knows that a danger is present.

My best wishes for the thrower and my hopes that those that assisted him fail their upcoming tests.

yes it is very tough to catch the HIV virus from just getting infected blood on the skin(basically it has to pentrate an open wound)but it is still a risk!!.once when an armed carjacker came at me and my partner with a loaded weapon,and he was met with some lead poisoning from our weapons we still were faced with a wounded,injured,still armed,HIV+(we ddin't know this until he told us in the hospital)who had to be handcuffed-well once handcuffed my partner and I noticed we were covered in blood,and it wasn't our own-what did we do(panic,and fear set in)we washed it off with peroxide reported it to the dept surgeon who gave us pamplets on the hiv virus and we had to get tested which waqs followed up every month for a year-no virus transmitted!..had aother partners get pricked with used hypo's during searches and still no positives but still a risk anytime you come in contact-not enough is known yet(not 100%) and thats waht concerns me!

This was a tragic/potentially tragic situation that appears to be a no-win for everyone involved.  As Dan said, it is tough to monday morning quarterback.  The implications and reality to being exposed to HIV are unnerving.  However, the FEAR of being exposed are even more disconcerting.  If we allow the FEAR of HIV to control any aspect of these games, who we allow in or what they should have to share with everyone else, then we feed intolerance and paranoia.  If we require disclosure on registration, would the infected people be truthful- not likely.  If they were truthful, would they not be given a "Scarlet Letter"?  Of course they would.  You can tell yourself that you wouldn't treat this person any differently, but deep down you know that you would be hesitant, just oh so briefly hesitant, to shake his hand or pat him on the back for congratulations. 

Requiring disclosure on registrations forms would hardly be private.  They tend to be scattered about on the table under the athlete's tent.  Someone could secretly tell the AD about it.  That secret would only last until the AD felt compelled to bleach down the weight after being thrown by the infected person.  

If we require someone to disclose that they are HIV+, then let's go ahead and give him the scarlet "H".  If they need to tell people when they are competing in the games for "everyone's" safety, then they need to do it when they play softball, or volleyball, or work for a construction company, or even on their car- because they might get into an accident and any good samaratins should know what they are dealing with.

I don't have all the answers, but it seems to me that the best and fairest course of action would be to have the complete first aid kit on hand and treat all injuries as potentially infectious as stated above. We just need to use good common sense.   Let's not get into any witch-hunting.

I will keep everyone in my thoughts and hope that all involved will be OK.

I was an EMT for 5 years, and you are taught to take precautions in every situation assuming that the person has a communicable disease. With that being said I can think of a dozen or more incidents where I was exposed, it happens. Truth be told most people with HIV would not disclose it on a form for fear of discrimination, but it also might be an opportunity for someone who would like to but does not want to announce it under the tent and/or is not sure to who to tell.

I was thinking of other medical conditions as well. Any responsible AD could handle the registration forms in such a way that they would not be "scattered under the tent" perhaps have a detachable section with medical history so that it's anonymous, just so the AD knows what he's dealing with - his biggest responsibility is to protect the athletes. Nobody is suggesting a witch hunt, just some reasonable precautions including a first aid kit and I would recommend that the judges all carry latex gloves.

As a former EMT and Father of Little league wrestlers, I believe that we should treat all blood contamination in the same way. Wipe it down with a spray bottle of bleach water and then continue. It is always better to overprotect than to risk infection of any blood bourne diseases, HIV, Hepetitus, etc. I always keep latex gloves handy in case of any "good samaritan" action that I might need to take. You can buy them at Wal-Mart for a couple of bucks for 50. I love this sport and would not want paranoia to harm it in any way. Just treat every injury in the same way, safely.

To expand on previous points...

As our sport grows, there are more and more athletes, getting stronger and throwing farther on smaller and smaller fields.  Our local practice site is getting more dangerous as well, since we are now sharing it with several youth sports.  It is incumbant upon us all that we as athletes pay careful attention to what is going on around us.  Everyone has heard stories of people getting hit with flying weights.  And nobody wants to experience that first hand.  And who hasn't seen a caber get away from someone and then see that same athlete ignore the call from the judge to bail out.  As long as we are lax about these rules, we run the risk of someone getting seriously hurt. 

As far as field officials, I think they should ALL carry at least a pair of gloves.  That won't solve all issues, but how difficult is it to carry two gloves?

The issue of disclosure is a tough one.  I think it's been covered well enough, so I'll leave it.

You should still provide an avenue for the person that does know they have a communicable disease to make the AD aware of it. Does not have to be specific just: check any of the following that apply....communicable disease Y/N...heart condition Y/N... diabetes Y/N it's really not that difficult and is part of the precautions that AD's should take. It's not about finding someone to blame or persecuting/excluding anyone.

You are right caretakers should take universal precautions, but what about the other athletes competing? should they all wear latex gloves under their throwing glove in case someone cuts themselves open on the implements? In many other sports someone who is actively bleeding or has an open wound is not allowed to compete unless the bleeding is controlled and the wound is covered. I'm just pointing out that part of a reg form should be a medical disclosure and there should be some standard rules followed about open wounds and bleeding.

Mostly I hope that all involved in this incident come out unharmed.

Edited by JUMBO

Here at school, we are required to take "Bloodborn Pathogens" training yearly to remind us of how to take care of Billy's bloody nose and Jenny's scraped knee from the playground. It boils down mostly to common sense in treating all blood as if its contaminated.  If anyone is looking for an easy way to do some training of officials before a meet, or otherwise review this stuff, either your local Red-Cross chapter or even your local school nurse might be a good resource.

This could have all been avoided if the dudes wife would have said  "dont touch him he has aids"  Then the judge and the judges daughter could have made a decision on how best to treat the athlete. 

 

I was there but was on a different field ,but from what I understand , the dumb ass just stood there and watched the judge and his daughter get elbow deep in this guys blood.

 

If I were the judge I would have stood up after I found out and hit her with a  choke slam.

How fu{kin stupid!

 

Kirk runs a great games...yes its a little scary to see that many people on the field throwing stuff,but the field was big enough that no one was in any extra danger of getting hit with any thing.  Im just sorry this had to happen to the Dakota Games.

 

Valenti

  I know I need to be more open and honest with my feelings.haha