Dr Issermann speaking with the extrication team
Bahrain to open centre to train motorsoport medics
Manama, April 2, 2014
A regional training centre for medics working within the motorsport industry could be opened in Bahrain.
Professionals from across the Mena region could benefit from the project, if it gets off the ground, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
It comes after a Bahraini F1 safety team, which will provide emergency cover for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, won accreditation from motorsport's worldwide governing body.
The Bahrain Extrication Team took part in a motorsport medicine seminar at the Crowne Plaza Hotel's Bahrain Convention Centre where they were tested by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Institute for Motorsport Safety and Sustainability on their ability to successfully remove injured drivers from crashed cars.
Organised by the Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF), which acts as Bahrain's national sporting authority as delegated by the FIA, the two-day seminar included a variety of mock drills and live exercises that resulted in the extrication team being officially certified by the FIA.
BMF Medical and Safety Commission member Dr Amjad Obeid said Bahrain was the first country in the Middle East to receive such accreditation, which will hopefully pave the way for the team to open a regional medical training centre.
"The extraction team has been officially certified by the FIA so they can cover all types of international events," he said.
"Honorary vice-president and special delegate of the FIA Medical Commission Dr Jean Jacques Issermann was very happy with the performance of the team.
"We got a very good score. The team members removed a driver from a Porsche GT car within 11 seconds and they took an injured driver from an F1 chassis in two minutes and 40 seconds, which is an impressive time with the thick rubber extrication gloves on.
"They made me very proud and the whole of Bahrain very proud as well."
Alongside Dr Issermann, German Grand Prix chief medical officer and FIA Medical Commission member Dr Michael Scholz was also on hand during the testing and was equally impressed with the team's performance, according to Dr Obeid.
"We have reached the stage where we want to train others now, neighbouring countries. We want to open a medical training centre for the Mena region," he said.
"We would like to assure the world that the medical teams and extrication team in Bahrain are up to international standards." - TradeArabia News Service
