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• 2018 Mandate from FEI Bureau included:

• Concussion; recognition and management• Helmets; review of rules and standards• Improved reporting of injuries (all disciplines)

Eventing Risk Management Seminar

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Background (concussion)

• Consensus statement on concussion in sport—the 5th international consensus conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016• FEI sponsorship and representation on Scientific Committee

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https://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/medical-safety:

• Officials• Organisers• Coaches• Medical staff• Athletes• NF staff• …

It’s on the FEI’s website and it’s for everyone

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• Concussion Recognition and Management at FEI events• Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5)• Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5)• Child SCAT5• FEI Concussion Return To Play Form

Concussion Recognition and management

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“See something, say something”

•Type of Fall and Landing

•Confused•Slow to respond•Holding head

ConcussionRecognition and management

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• Oxford Study 1996,

• Major trauma unit showed 46% decrease in annual admissions due to horse-related injuries over 20 years. Study in 1971 repeated in 1991• Mostly due to “fivefold decrease in admissions with serious head injuries”• attributed to increased helmet use

Helmets

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• All existing FEI rules on protective headgear were reviewed

• Recommendations were provided to discipline committees

• Position of Medical Committee: Helmets should be worn whenever mounted or driving whatever the age or experience of the athlete. Handlers should always assess likely risk and are encouraged to wear a helmet if there is any concern

Helmets

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• While riding on the showgrounds the use of a properly fastened Protective Headgear will be mandatory. Appendix A:• Protective Headgear: Appropriate helmet or Headgear that is in compliance with the applicable international testing standards….refer to list ……..on FEI website

General Regulations

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• Current British standard PAS 015 (1998 or 2011) provided they are BSI Kitemarked• European standard VG01.040 2014-12, with BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC mark• Current Australian standard AS/NZ 3838 (2006 onwards) provided they are SAI global marked• New Australian standard ARB HS 2012 provided they are SAI global marked• American ASTM F1163: 2004a onwards, with SEI mark or Snell E2001 or 2016

To be reviewed February 2019 with expert advice, and annually at MC l ti

Recommended list

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•COMMENTS?

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• Role• Expectations• Testing

Body Protectors

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• “an essential part of safety equipment…….help prevent injury……..an invaluable piece of riding wear……….want to keep your child safe when they’re on horseback.”• “will protect your back, ribs and internal organs from harm if you were to experience a fall”

Ride-Away Equestrian

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• “essential for the active cross-country rider”• “avoid injuries on course”• “Vests to protect the spine are a must-have for the active eventer”

Horze

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• Body protectors are designed to offer protection to a rider when falling off, being kicked or trodden on by a horse. No body protector can prevent serious injury in every situation, but they can increase the chances of staying alive and reduce the severity of injuries.

British Horse Society

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• A body protector is designed to absorb the impact created when falling off, being kicked or stood on by a horse. • A lot of riders feel more confident when wearing one• No body protector can protect against serious injury but they can help to reduce the severity of an injury

Naylors

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It is important to understand what we are protecting

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• “There were multiple fractures on each side of the ribcage….laceration of the lung” following a rotational fall and crush injuries

• FEI rule criticised “Body protectors are compulsory for this test” with no reference to standards.

• HOWEVER the coroner felt that a BETA level 3 protector would most probably not have protected rider

UK Inquest 2014

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• Materials • suitability: do not permanently distort, not affected by UV light, not affected by sweat, water, dirt or vibration. Non-irritant to skin• Testing• Impact stress tests, penetration, deformation, padding separation and closure tests

Value of standards

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• EN 13158:2018• Tests impact and protective coverage with consideration of comfort and fit• Three levels of testing, with level 3 for eventing

• BETA testing based on EN 13158 with additional annual testing by a BETA approved laboratory

• ASTM F 1937-04 (2017) again tests impact area covered etc.

Standards

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• Level 3 – is considered appropriate for general riding, competitions including eventing• Level 3 body protectors should prevent minor bruising that would have produced stiffness and pain, reduce soft tissue injuries and prevent a limited number of rib fractures

• “Shoulder protection reduces the risk of breaking your collarbone by up to 80%”

BETA

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