Allianz Safety Focus - In Position

By Allianz
May 23 2005

This feature from Allianz looks at what it takes to ensure safety at the Nurburgring, marshals, safety fencing, fire engines, and the like. The use of rapid response teams to get to an accident quickly all contribute to the high levels of safety ecessay at a Grand Prix.


	In Position

	It is not only thanks to brilliant engineers and innovative technology that Formula 1 is able to maintain its high standard of safety. At every race, a large number of professional and volunteer helpers work to ensure the safety of drivers and spectators all around the circuit. Using the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring as an example, we take stock of the measures. Wherever anything happens along the 5,148-kilometre grand prix circuit in Germany’s Eifel region, a marshal is on the spot immediately. No fewer than 250 of these marshals, a term from racing jargon, are employed in 50 positions around the track. Over recent years, approximately 50 million euros have been invested in the safety of drivers and spectators at the Nürburgring. The number of safety personnel deployed there also gives the European Grand Prix a top position and reputation within the sport. “The standard achieved is exemplary for Formula 1,” Dickie Stanford, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team Manager, confirms.


	Graphic courtesy of Allianz Click on image for larger version

	The marshals, who are protected from flying debris by high safety fences, have varying responsibilities; the radio marshals take care of radio communication with the race commission, the flag marshals are responsible for the flag signals to the drivers, the fire marshals, equipped with protective clothing and fire extinguishers, are the first on site to combat any fires. All around the circuit, 70 further fire extinguishers are strategically located so that, in an emergency, any marshal can access and use one. For fighting fires, especially in the vicinity of the pit lane, five fire engines manned by four firemen each are also on standby. Each marshals’ position, depending on its exact location, is also manned by two so-called pushers whose task it is to remove stranded cars from the danger zone as quickly as possible. In cases where this is impossible, one of the 14 salvage tractors takes over. In addition, six tow trucks are positioned around the track. These transport salvaged cars back into the pit lane or the parc fermé. The mobile response teams also include another four s-cars and two r-cars, as well as two extrication teams. The s-cars are equipped with a rescue cutter and dry powder and, if necessary in an emergency, can even tow a damaged car. They are each manned by two experienced helpers who work at a racing circuit almost every weekend. The r-cars are very fast vehicles that provide first aid in the case of an accident. On board is a physician, as well as a rescue cutter and dry powder. The extrication teams are called upon when a driver needs to be removed from the car together with his seat; for example, if spinal injuries are suspected. These vehicles are manned by an emergency physician, four ambulance orderlies and a driver, and can reach any point on the race track within 30 seconds. In the pit lane, the medical car waits for its call. On board is FIA physician Dr. Gary Hartstein, the successor to the legendary Dr. Sid Watkins, as well as a colleague from Germany. “Response times as fast as these cannot be achieved by professional assistants in everyday road traffic,” says Dr. Christoph Lauterwasser of the Allianz Centre for Technology (AZT). “However, immediate on-site first aid can substantially improve the chances of survival and the subsequent medical prognosis of accident victims. The potential offered here is underestimated by many drivers. Therefore, a regular refresher course in first-aid training is highly desirable.” During the European Grand Prix, the race commission follows the action on 36 monitors and is able to view every point on the track with the help of pivoting cameras. Contact with the marshals is established by radio. Should there be a clearly serious accident, the medical car and an r-car automatically head for its location immediately. Their feedback is passed on to the permanent FIA race director, Charlie Whiting, by the local race director, Michael Schwägerl. Charlie Whiting then decides, as the highest authority, whether the safety car is sent out onto the track. The following rule of thumb is applied here: if the circuit is clear, the race will usually continue. After an especially serious accident – for instance, if spectators are involved or there is a fire – the race will be stopped with the red flag being shown. In the case of a serious accident, the circuit’s medical centre is the first choice destination. Equipped with the most modern medical devices and manned at all hours by one of three shifts, each including an orthopaedic surgeon, an anaesthesiologist and six medical orderlies, it takes care of first aid and trauma care for injured drivers. Directly beside the medical centre, a helicopter manned by a physician, two ambulance orderlies and a pilot stands by, as well as two ambulances. A second helicopter is kept ready outside the circuit and four additional ambulances are posted around the race track. In total, 14 hospitals are on alert during the race weekend. A special service at the European Grand Prix, introduced this year for the first time, will be the availability of a dentist. And did you know… …that the safety of the 100,000 spectators at the European Grand Prix is provided by 150 security officials, while the German Red Cross has approximately 130 medics and physicians as well as 10 ambulances present at the event? By way of a comparison, a Champions League game hosting 50,000 spectators in a sold-out stadium has 500 security officials but only 100 Red Cross helpers, including 14 emergency and regular ambulances.