It is important that all accidents and injuries are reported to MotorSport New Zealand as soon as possible so that they can be registered in order to improve the safety at motor sport events for all.
The injury examination process is designed to determine if competitors are fit to continue competition after a motor sport accident.
Experience has found that as well as on site medics, the chief medical officer, crash rescue and rescue car personal are best placed to identify whether competitors should be assessed by a register medical practitioner after an accident. The event Clerk of the Course can also direct that a competitor be assessed.
Once it has been identified that an accident has the potential for an injury, the competitor and/or injured person will be taken to the event medic for assessment. A medic is classified as a paramedic, advanced paramedic or doctor.
MotorSport New Zealand keeps a record of all accidents and injuries that occur during events and may need to send reports to the FIA and OSH, so the correct procedure needs to be followed by all parties and detailed information is required.
The medic MUST fill out an On Site Medical Assessment Form to determine if:
A) the injured person needs further medical attention
B) if the competitor is fit to resume competition
C) and to record exactly the state of the injured person at the time of the accident
*In cases of extreme emergency, the on site medical assessment form can be completed retrospectively by the relevant medic. Once this is completed and signed, the form must be copied with one copy given to the competitor / injured person and two copies to the clerk of the course/chief steward who must send a copy immediately to MotorSport New Zealand.
A Motor Sport Accident Report Form must be completed and sent directly in to MotorSport New Zealand. This is entered into an accident and injury register kept at MotorSport New Zealand for their records. This form must be completed, even if there are no injuries from the accident. It is the responsibility of the Clerk of the Course or Chief Steward to forward the Motor Sport Accident Report Form, the On Site Medical Assessment Form and the Medical Clearance to Compete Form to MotorSport New Zealand as soon as they are received.
If the competitor / injured person is sent to hospital and/or determined unfit to continue competition, they must take with them their copy of the on site medical assessment form as well as a blank copy of the medical clearance to compete form. This form is to be completed by a registered medical practitioner after the competitor has been examined and deemed fit to resume competition. Once this is completed and signed (and this could be days, weeks or months after the accident occurred) the form must be sent to MotorSport New Zealand as the office holds the competitor’s competition licence, who will then return the licence to the competitor.
Accident forms are available here.