Trauma Counselling

Most of us will be aware that during recent years, there have been some serious accidents at Motor Sport Venue's where competitors, marshals or members of the public were seriously injured or killed.

As Organiser's, the BARC wishes to learn as much as possible from these incidents, not only to minimise the risk of such things happening in the future, but also to have in place a set of procedures to effectively deal with the consequences.

However, the social climate today is much more developed, and physicians now have a far greater understanding of emotional trauma, the risks and consequences of exposure to serious accidents, and are now able to offer counsel and support to any affected person. They understand that although people are often reluctant to reveal their true feelings, there exists a very great need for a distressed person to unburden themselves to a sympathetic listener.

It is now recognised that the very act of releasing ones emotions to a trained and sympathetic listener aids the healing process enormously.

It can often be the very person who portrays a "macho" image in public that is most affected by exposure to a bad accident. Professionally, a trauma doctor will often see patients who are badly injured, some of who may subsequently die from their injuries, but this normally takes place in a hospital environment, in an area where much support and equipment is available. On the other hand, the GP may not often experience a trauma environment, being much more used to dealing with patients who die peacefully at home, and consequently, exposure to sudden and dramatic accidents at a Motor Sport venue can have a considerable effect upon them.

In acknowledging that dealing with a sudden and dramatic loss of life can be devastating for all those involved, including the marshals who are operating at the periphery of the incident (flag crews etc), it is important to recognise that all those exposed may well need emotional support. The doctors and paramedics who attend serious accidents have a vocational safety valve available to them; they can discuss the incident and its progress with their peers, and in this way dilute and balance the emotional stress they have experienced.

Marshals on the other hand, have no such safety net, and are often left with feelings of guilt and helplessness which may linger for a considerable time, sometimes for many months. This can happen to anyone of us, is difficult to explain clinically, and should not be categorised as a sign of weakness in the affected person. Unfortunately, not every GP is sympathetic in such circumstances, and may adopt the inappropriate attitude of "Pull yourself together, and get on with your life".

The BARC fully recognise's the problems and dangers implicit in the exposure of its officials and marshals to serious accidents, and has engaged the services of a professional counselling company, who are full members of the British Association of Counselling, and the Association of Counselling at Work.

The Company has wide experience of trauma counselling, having been involved in the Hatfield Train Disaster, Kings Cross Underground Fire, the Marchioness Disaster and the Manchester Bombing. They also supply a counselling service to members of the British Medical Association (the Doctors "Trade Union"). They have a fully operational 24-hour seven-day reception centre, and employ some twenty-eight full-time telephone counsellers.

The objective of their service to the BARC is:

"To provide professional clinical support to any marshal or official experiencing distress, anxiety or trauma following a serious accident at any BARC organised event in the UK, and to ensure a focused referral to any other medical or clinical resources which are considered appropriate to the individual."

Everyone associated with the BARC earnestly hopes and prays that none of our marshals or officials will have the need to call upon this service, either this year, or indeed at any time in the future, but as we all know, motor sport can be dangerous, and nobody can guarantee safety.

All chief marshals at the various venues operated by the BARC have been advised individually how to access this service if necessary.

You may also contact Dale Wells or Rebecca Harvey at BARC HQ in strict confidence, who will ensure that any marshal or official requesting assistance is speedily contacted by the Company. Contact details for Dale and Rebecca are set out in our Corporate page.