Medic thoughts/questions

[phoenix]

Hey all- so after the Sports Safety training Latrans and I were discussing ways to signify who's a Medic on the field. I know that normally the Medics wouldn't be fighting at the time they're on duty. But for practices the Medic is usually on the field. Wouldn't it be a good idea to have something on a tabard or a belt that would signify who to get in case of emergency? This would also be helpful to other medics so they know who can help. The best idea we came up with was a yellow and red braided belt sash thingy. If we wanted to get really creative and detailed we could knit or sew one that is yellow but has red crosses on it.

Next item that came up- do we want to or should we set up a Medic ranking? As in- one person who's in charge of making sure we have all the supplies, that people have appropriate training, etc.?

Call me a safety freak, but I want to make sure that all fighters are given the best care as quickly as possible so that they can get back on the field as safely and quickly as possible.

[avion]

That would be a good idea. I think it might make sense to maybe make a tabard like that of medic or mimic the Swiss flag and drape it over them.

Also I agree with you on safety. Even though its pretty safe on the battlefield, accidents do happen and its best to be prepared in case of something serious.

[phoenix]

While a tabard would be a good idea while a Medic is a non-combattant. I'm more thinking of if they're fighting on the field. I think a yellow belt sash with a red cross on it would work really well. It's visible and yet allows the person to still fight. If they had a full tabard everyone would run from them (which does have it's possibilities...)

[avion]

Ah okay, well as the medics being combatants go I think that something like you suggested would work really well.

[Kayle]

The most common way to identify things like this on the field is through the use of belt flags. If you look at Chicken's belt you'll see a little flag with the symbol of Chamonix on it, this is a belt flag. I think a white belt flag with the red cross would be cool.

[Porthos]

Actually, what about a yellow heralds tabard with a white mantle (essentially a much smaller tabard over the heralds tabard, like a mantle, but doesn't wrap around completely) with red trim and a red cross. I'd actually had the same sort of idea. The beltflag idea is a good one, but some folks have a lot of beltflags, or people may think that the cross is symbolic of something else. Just a thought- I'm also thinking that this could be a trendsetting thing on a national event field. I know at Wolfpack that yellow heralds tabards are essentially "don't hit me" indicaters that we give to photographers from Illinois State or whatever.

[Kayle]

That's a cool idea Porthos.

[Sir Peregrine]

I have completed my CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training no I hope to take a first aid course as well I had one in college but for me that like a life time ago (that was a joke about My age for those slower of wit).
does Belegarthor any realms or unite even have an AED ?

[Big Friggin Jimmy]

probably not.

[Ju'Dekei]

porthos said:

Actually, what about a yellow heralds tabard with a white mantle (essentially a much smaller tabard over the heralds tabard, like a mantle, but doesn't wrap around completely) with red trim and a red cross. I'd actually had the same sort of idea. The beltflag idea is a good one, but some folks have a lot of beltflags, or people may think that the cross is symbolic of something else. Just a thought- I'm also thinking that this could be a trendsetting thing on a national event field. I know at Wolfpack that yellow heralds tabards are essentially "don't hit me" indicaters that we give to photographers from Illinois State or whatever.

I understand how this will work for events, but practices?

Playing devil's advocate here do we want people fighting in practices to have a yellow tabard to signify anything beside "don't hit me"?

I am a medic. When I'm at an event and on medic duty, I make sure the harald knows that I'm the medic and I sit on the sidelines watching the action. If an incident occurs I take the iniciate to step in...it's my responsibility as the medic to identify myself. When I'm at practice (yeah okay - laugh it up guys) everyone knows that I'm a medic. In fact at DurDe practice when Smudge dislocated her knee the harald called "HOLD!! ... Jules!!"

I'm just saying - Is an identifying mark really necessary when all authority on the field is aware of who your medics are? Shouldn't the responsibiltiy of identifying themselves in a situation rest on the shoulders of the medic?

[Porthos]

judekei said:

porthos said:

Actually, what about a yellow heralds tabard with a white mantle (essentially a much smaller tabard over the heralds tabard, like a mantle, but doesn't wrap around completely) with red trim and a red cross. I'd actually had the same sort of idea. The beltflag idea is a good one, but some folks have a lot of beltflags, or people may think that the cross is symbolic of something else. Just a thought- I'm also thinking that this could be a trendsetting thing on a national event field. I know at Wolfpack that yellow heralds tabards are essentially "don't hit me" indicaters that we give to photographers from Illinois State or whatever.

I understand how this will work for events, but practices?

Playing devil's advocate here do we want people fighting in practices to have a yellow tabard to signify anything beside "don't hit me"?

I am a medic. When I'm at an event and on medic duty, I make sure the harald knows that I'm the medic and I sit on the sidelines watching the action. If an incident occurs I take the iniciate to step in...it's my responsibility as the medic to identify myself. When I'm at practice (yeah okay - laugh it up guys) everyone knows that I'm a medic. In fact at DurDe practice when Smudge dislocated her knee the harald called "HOLD!! ... Jules!!"

I'm just saying - Is an identifying mark really necessary when all authority on the field is aware of who your medics are? Shouldn't the responsibiltiy of identifying themselves in a situation rest on the shoulders of the medic?

I must have misread/didn't comprehend the part about the medics fighting. I apologize for any confusion. I kept thinking that medics would be in the stereotypical traditional role of non-combatants. I also thought that for some reason the medics could herald as well. (It was late and I'd just wrote a very long paper for my political science class...sleep deprivation is never a good thing ).

I agree that the white mantle would be better at a national event than practices. However, I still think that it would be a good thing to have at practices.

While yes, it is the responsibility of the medic to identify his/herself in case of a problem, it also wouldn't hurt to signify that you are indeed a medic in case of a situation that wouldn't require a hold to be called. It's similar to the concept of the police being able to be called in non-emergency situation- they still come in squad cars. If a fighter should happen to get injured in a way that doesn't require a hold, having the tabard on would indicate to that fighter (and I'm thinking mostly in terms of new fighters who don't know who is who) who to go to. If I should feel a bit faint, I'm not really going to call a hold- I'll probably talk to someone in a more one-on-one setting (i.e: talking to them between battles or talking to them if they're dead).

Also, I figured that with it being of a mantle-esque design, it could be worn by anyone who would have medic training, sort of a "club tabard" if you will.

Also, I know that there was a concept being tossed around at one time online about there being "healers" in the game. A person comes up to you when your dead and chants something and bam, you're swinging once more. I know it's far-fetched, but you never know if it'll become a more real concept at some point in time.

Not to insult anyone, but it is quite possible any schmuck (and this is in terms of a person that is A) not very well known in your realm, like a visiting person, B) Someone new who went through a high school health class and is suddenly Dr. House when a hold gets called, C) Someone who may have had medic training, but you wouldn't trust this guy to hand you a Tylenol, let alone do anything that a medic would.) can put on the tabard. A specific realm would know who is legitimate and such a tabard would only reinforce that.

Also, it's a sociological thing that people respond better to symbols. While a veteran telling a herd of us newbs to clear out when a hold's been called (and this happens a lot when the hold is called and it's right near you) has some of the desired effect, a person who is wearing the tabard, is known to be legitimate, bearing a symbol that is known internationally (not just in Belegarth), has a lot more force behind it than a Scary Veteran Bob telling people to clear out. I suggest it being a tabard instead of a beltflag because, as I said, in terms of Belegarth, any symbol could be construed as anything. I thought the Chaos star was something known only in Warhammer. Woe to me if I ever considered putting it on something and fighting a Hellhammer fighter without actually having a Chaos affiliation. Who knows, a red cross could be a small relatively unknown unit looking to recreate the Templars or the Hospitallers.

Or, perhaps all heralds should be qualified medics as well. This is a more in-depth idea, but I'm just throwing it out there. Perhaps to qualify as a herald you have to pass a heralds exam AND be able to administer basic first aid. But, like I said, just tossing it out there.

I'm mainly thinking of new people to easily understand what's going on.

Also, a white halftabard/mantle with red trim and a red cross would be pretty cool looking, but that's just me.

Anyway, that's my justification for it. (Ooooh...I love it when people play Devils Advocate).

[Big Friggin Jimmy]

If it aint broke, don't fix it.

Never seen a time when a medic was needed but not readily available.

Also never seen someone who tried to be a medic and shouldn't have. They'd get killed. And buried.

[Sweet Pea]

Yeah... its good that people wanna help, but if someone isn't qualified to help they really shouldn't. I wasn't aware that we even had medics... nice... well if anyone needs anything in a pinch... I'm a nurse and I study herbalism and nature survival... so in a REALLY tight pinch... well... it shouldn't come to that *shrugs and walks away* interesting ideas... *mumbles "i didn't even know we had medics.. hmm... *

[Sir Beauregaurd]

yep medics are awesoem. we are licky we have 10 or so nurses in the sport. a few massage therapists, and other such qualified people.

[Sweet Pea]

Sweet... I like Porthos' idea on the heralds being certified as medics... in first aid if nothing else. I think that it would be the least confusing, that way it doesn't matter if a medic or a herald were calling hold... since they would be wearing the same outfits people would listen anyway... just something to ponder about.

Hope everything gets worked out before the next big national event.
~Sweet Pea~