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PLAN – To quickly get out of your RACE CAR

Started by Sue Wilson, February 01, 2024, 05:20:09 PM

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Sue Wilson

 PLAN – To quickly get out of your RACE CAR
Fire and/or roll over – ARE YOU PREPARED!?
Suggested elements to consider

?   Have you practiced a quick exit from your race car with full personal safety equipment on and including communications, fluid replacement tubes and cool suit equipment?
?   Can you reach your shut offs, kill-switches and fire extinguisher(s) release pulls when upside down and/or tightly strapped in?
?   Have you mentally practiced getting out of your race car when upside, or fire or after a bad crash? Imagining is a great way to prepare for your test and actual escape if need be.
?   Time yourself? Can you improve on your egress time?

MAYBE IT IS TIME TO PLAN, IMAGINE your rapid exit and then complete a REAL PRACTICE!

When an incident happens:
1.   Do you know where you are? (Right side up? Against another object? A guard rail, another car, tire wall or TECPRO.)
2.   Has the race car stopped moving? Make sure the car has come to a complete stationary position.
3.   Are you seriously hurt?
4.   Try to breath normally! Adrenaline rush, panic or even claustrophobic symptoms are not uncommon.
5.   Again, consider where you are?
6.   If upside down: if comfortable and safe: then wait for the rescue response team to arrive.
7.   If okay – signal to rescue crew or marshal stations – Know your tracks' particular protocol if an incident occurs. Hand signals or dropping window net, etc.
8.   Have you shut off all Power? Kill switch has been switched to off?
9.   Is there smoke or fire? Did you activate the fire bottle switch?
10.   Helmet visor up or down?  Get it down!
11.   Can you release your window net? Should be very easy!
12.   Right side up - Release your central harness latch or rotating dial? Are you able do this without removing your gloves?
13.   If the car is upside down or on its side – where will you end up if you release your belts. (Imagine this scenario.)  Once the harness latch is released gravity will determine your next position.  Protect your head, neck and shoulder. If you're a large person your arms may not support you.  Think this through.
14.   Either open the door or slide out through window. Have you considered the window as an escape area?
15.   Are you out of the car easily and quickly?  Practice time?
16.   Or has your various cords or tubes restricted your egress?
17.   Did your helmet and body easily go out the window or between the kidney bars and roof of the door frame?
18.   Fire - As soon as you can, close your hands into a fist – as you exit or as soon as you can.
19.   Bring your hands to your chest. If there is or are flames or excessive heat – a fisted hand against the chest will minimize burns to the palms of your hands.
20.   Move away from the scene into a safe location.
21.   Do as instructed by the safety response team or corner workers.
22.   Remove your helmet and gloves when you're in a safe location.
23.   Follow instructions from corner workers, response or rescue or medical teams.

ALL COMPETITION DRIVERS SHOULD PRACTICE OR CONSIDER THE ABOVEMENTIONED ELEMENTS! A few times during the year.

FIRE!
The professional and amateur racing community have a come a long way over the decades in reducing injuries and fatalities during competition events. The 1950s through to the 1990s many safety-related changes to vehicles and personal safety equipment.  However, fires and the potential for fires are always a concern. The potential of fires and heat should always be respected. 

Fires are scary.  A burning object, liquid or gas can easily cause burns to tissue, melt material, ignite driving suits, ignite other materials in a vehicle, ignite solid elements such as magnesium, create toxic gases, or even consume oxygen.  Example: a 2-layer SFI type suit only provides a few seconds of protection from flames and heat. Second degree burns happen in a short period of time. The more layers of Nomex type material provides additional seconds of protection.

This document contains only guidelines and there may be many other suggestions, recommendations or activities that may assist you. You may disagree and/or have your own superior ideals, philosophy on how to deal with a crash, roll over or fire.

This paper is food for thought and to encourage you, the competitor, to look deeper into your participation in the sport of driving a vehicle at speed.
Sue Wilson
Administrator
Director - Licensing
Western Canada Motorsport Association