Thanks to my THSCC family

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:13 pm

Several years ago when Stephen W. asked me to describe my thoughts on our club I said that THSCC is like a family. We may fuss and have our differences, but we come together to share a mutual love for auto sports, and we take care of each other. Yesterday in G'Vegas, a bunch of you guys proved my point once again.

I'm sure I'll miss naming some of you who helped me out yesterday when I got in trouble with the heat, but I'd like to take a stab at thanking everyone. Thanks, Michael W. for helping me with my rear tires since they really didn't want to come off the studs. I'm thinking that changing tires when Chris S. had just mentioned that it was officially 100 degrees wasn't my smartest move, nor was stacking them in the back of the truck. I was trying the help get Bernie on the road early since he was supposed to drop the C5 off at home, load up the C4, and head up to VIR to meet his students for the Corvette Museum HPDE running today and tomorrow.

I will say that heat exhaustion is insidious. I really thought that I was doing a good job of staying hydrated. I was drinking water, drank 2 G2s, and a couple of diet sodas. I kept a towel with ice on my neck the entire time, and sat in the car with the AC on max while in grid. Obviously not enough. I had even passed Stephen a few minutes before I the trouble started and asked him if he was staying on top of the heat. I now know that by the time you say you're overheated and you need to go cool off, it's too late. Thanks so much to Mary Johnson for staying with me and being so calm. You were wonderful. And to Brice for bringing the Mini (so I'm told) over to the hospital so that Bernie would have a way back to the setup to get the truck. Thanks to Steven Carter who also stayed with me and actually made me laugh a few times. Mo, for getting me some Gator Aide, and, I think, finding Bernie. There was another autocrosser there who said he was an EMT, but I don't remember his name. Thanks.

Moving on, thanks to Les, Rob, Chris and everyone else who packed all our stuff up for Bernie so that he could be with me for awhile, and thanks to Judie for driving the Mini back to Raleigh for us. We'll get in touch with you about picking it up. Sorry I didn't get the noise restricter back in the exhaust, I know you couldn't hear the phone or the radio while driving.

I admit that the whole thing was pretty scary. There's probably pretty much that I don't really remember. I do remember two things; that I was having a very difficult time breathing, and that you guys could have poured the entire ice cooler on me. It felt good being iced down, by the way. There was one other thing that I remember thinking about, but I don't think I said anything (I hope) out loud at the time. I remember thinking about an old dog I used to have named Bones. We saved him from heat stroke pretty much the way you saved me yesterday. I remember the vet telling me that Bones might not be as smart after the ordeal. All I could think of was how stupid I already was for autocrossing in 100 degree heat. How much more stupid could I possibly be after this?

I don't remember getting in the ambulance, or the trip to the ER. However, they did find that I have a bladder infection that I wasn't aware of. That may have lowered my body's resistance somewhat. IV fluids and IV antibiotics were the ticket. We got home around 8:30, tired, but on the road to recovery. Bernie swapped cars, repacked the truck somewhat, and was ready to head to VIR at 6:00 AM. I'm taking it easy today, stayed home from work, and have just been reading and DRINKING water. My girlfriend says this is a screaming sign for us to slow down, but I'm not believing that. We'll continue to carry on until we can't. Except, you may not see me at the next event that is forecast to be held in 100 degree heat.

As I said at the start, if I've missed some of you who helped us out, thanks again, from the bottom of my heart to all of you. Calling the ambulance was absolutely the best idea. Thanks for not shying away from that.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:29 pm

Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. I was going inbetween helping you and Stephen with changing tires. I would have stuck around and helped more had I realized you were starting to go south.

After I got home I counted all my empty bottles and I drank 2 gallons of fluid between water and gatorade. I still feel dehydrated today.

Has the club ever discussed having a EMT onsite for the "hot months"? This seems to happen every year. As we all have noticed it isn't hard to get overheated in the summer. Michael Dacko and I were discussing this and it didn't seem like a bad idea as we were roasting at the site yesterday.

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:29 pm

The THSCC folks really are like a family. I've seen it many times before and it makes me proud to be a part of the club. Emmie and I are very glad to hear you're OK!

ChrisSuich · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:46 pm

Glad to hear you are well.

Ditto on the THSCC Family comments. It's amazing despite all the differences
and competitiveness of club members, that all that goes out the window when one of us is in trouble. I was glad to help.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:08 pm

Glad you are doing OK.

:thumbsup:

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:27 pm

Michael Westerfield wrote:

Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. I was going inbetween helping you and Stephen with changing tires. I would have stuck around and helped more had I realized you were starting to go south.

After I got home I counted all my empty bottles and I drank 2 gallons of fluid between water and gatorade. I still feel dehydrated today.

Has the club ever discussed having a EMT onsite for the "hot months"? This seems to happen every year. As we all have noticed it isn't hard to get overheated in the summer. Michael Dacko and I were discussing this and it didn't seem like a bad idea as we were roasting at the site yesterday.

We're all glad you're better Gwen! If you can laugh at my jokes in your situation that tells me very quickly that (a) you're alert and oriented (b) you can breathe (c) vital signs are not too far out of whack (d) you don't have distracting symptoms and (e) you'll probably be OK, even if your taste in humor is suspect. Heatstroke is best dealt with in an ED setting, so while it was inconvenient I'm glad that's where you went.

Michael,
I think that's a wise suggestion...I was turning over in my head how this might've played out at Sanford or Danville---with personal hospital experience in D'ville I know that wouldn't have been as good as Pitt Mem(trauma center, teaching hospital etc). Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford is about 4-5 miles away from our site there but I've not been to that hospital to know much.

Here are the questions that come to mind:

(1) cost?
(2) EMT or ambulance crew? (see #1, as I bet onsite ambulance would be more $$$) BTW, I think it's worth the cost either way, especially on days like yesterday, so please don't view me as crass or apathetic)
(3) Liability to the EMT/crew if done off-hours
(4) Like Cline suggested, a "Cool Tent" idea might work..maybe folks with CoolShirt setups could volunteer them in case of emergency, we could have misters/fans etc. That brings up the problem of power generation...which brings us back to the bus...which....uh oh.....

Other ideas?

JenniferBedell · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:44 pm

Glad to hear you're doing better, Gwen! We were all relieved when we got Mary's text that you were OK.

I'm still drinking a crazy amount of water today. It was brutal out there.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:47 pm

Michael Westerfield wrote:

Has the club ever discussed having a EMT onsite for the "hot months"?

walter's a doctor...does that count?

seriously though, if it isn't too costly why not have an EMT there. alternatively (or in addition to), the club could

1. stock each worker station with a cooler full of water and ice and an umbrella
2. encourage everyone with an ez up and fan to bring them.
3. encourage everyone to drink a gallon of water THE NIGHT BEFORE the event - i've heard it many times that if you start drinking the morning of you are too late, and that good hydration happens starts the night before

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:01 pm

Chris Brown wrote:

Michael Westerfield wrote:

Has the club ever discussed having a EMT onsite for the "hot months"?

walter's a doctor...does that count?

seriously though, if it isn't too costly why not have an EMT there. alternatively (or in addition to), the club could

1. stock each worker station with a cooler full of water and ice and an umbrella
2. encourage everyone with an ez up and fan to bring them.
3. encourage everyone to drink a gallon of water THE NIGHT BEFORE the event - i've heard it many times that if you start drinking the morning of you are too late, and that good hydration happens starts the night before

I'm still just kicked back reading and typing so I'll chime in here.

Chris,
Steven's a Doc as well, and it was great having him there to help, and Mary's (as she says) a *half Doc* not quite finished with that degree, but a serious discussion about on site help-not depending on kind hearted volunteers-might be appropriate.
We had ice and water on site: I just remembered Michael Miller bringing me a water, Thanks, Mike.
We had ez ups and fans too, and I was in front of the Port a Cool when I went down. Again, once you feel like you're in trouble, it's probably too late. Most people were taking advantage of the shade we have there.
Believe it or not, Bernie and I both really focus on staying hydrated since we are out in the heat so much at home.

Bottom Line: Sometimes you can do the right things and it's still not going to be enough. That might bring us back to the afore mentioned EMT discussion for extreme heat event days. As Michael W. said earlier, it seems to grab hold on someone every year.

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:01 pm

Gwen, so glad you are ok!!!!!!!!!!!! As you know, I play a lot of golf, walk 90% of the time so I am used to the heat more than others so I have learned a few tricks. I keep a towel in a cooler of ice water and keep applying it to my neck, (sort of a mini cool shirt). one thing i have to mention DONT DRINK DIET DRINKS, THEY ARE A DIURETIC!!!!

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:11 pm

clinehall wrote:

Gwen, so glad you are ok!!!!!!!!!!!! As you know, I play a lot of golf, walk 90% of the time so I am used to the heat more than others so I have learned a few tricks. I keep a towel in a cooler of ice water and keep applying it to my neck, (sort of a mini cool shirt). one thing i have to mention DONT DRINK DIET DRINKS, THEY ARE A DIURETIC!!!!

Thanks, Cline,
Yes, you're right. I keep a towel with ice in it around my neck when it's hot. I even put it on top of my head part of the time. I always think how *not too feminine* that must look, but it doesn't stop me.

You are also correct, as I sort of knew, but was reminded of many times yesterday, soda=bad, water=good when it's hot. Mary says two bottles of water to make up for the damage done by one soda. Plus, caffeine in soda is also a diuretic.

ChristineAllen · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:20 pm

Gwen glad you are ok!

Judi Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:37 pm

So glad you are okay Gwen!!! It was such a relief when Mary sent the text message to Mo that you were making jokes.

The exhaust thing made me smile. I was wondering how weren't deaf from riding around with that noise! Bet you couldn't drive it in Cline's or Greystone's neighborhood

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 6:26 pm

if you decide to slow down Gwen i will be very disappointed. glad you are alright.

WalterHouston · **Posted:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 7:53 pm

Regarding things you don't remember - While you were out, Bernie coned his last run. :shock:

THSCC Forums

Thanks to my THSCC family

Who is online