The seatbelt issue....

One of the issues we all faced last year was the hurtful assumption made via a letter in the paper that Arch had not been wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Because the car appeared relatively undamaged from the distant photos someone said he obviously would have survived if he had been belted in. 

( the letters can be seen at the end of this post )

I am posting this article below because it clearly states that he was. It was tested and working, still clipped in place in the car. The vertical and horizontal tumbling and rolling of the car down the steep slope caused his seat to break and lie flat, so he was flung backwards out into the back, then out the shattered rear window. Actually the word used was "torpedoed". Apparently seats breaking this way is quite common. I can say that the damage to the car was severe, particularly on the drivers side.

Assumptions really don't pay...  at the time, the insinuation was hurtful; mainly because he was a careful driver who didn't use his phone, drive with no seatbelt etc. I do understand the point was to advise people who felt they were about to go over the edge not to undo the belt, or try to jump out. Always drive with it on - and I suppose that normally, the injuries you would get with it on are less than those if you are unbelted. 

I highlighted the main bits of this newspaper article from today....

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/8853816/ski-field-road-access-to-be-made-safer/

Mt Hutt management is to install new barriers on 21 corners of the Canterbury ski field's access road following the death of a motorist last year, an inquest heard today.

Arthur Richardson, a 61-year-old electrician from Rolleston, Christchurch, died after his car plunged almost 100 metres off the access road on June 14 , Coroner Richard McElrea was told at the inquest in Ashburton.

A search party mounted after Mr Richardson failed to return home from a day skiing alone, located his body outside his crashed car.

A post mortem examination found he died of severe chest injuries after being thrown from the vehicle. He was wearing a seatbelt but the back of his seat broke.

Road and weather conditions were fine, and there were no brake marks on the road judging by tyre marks in roadside snow on the bend known as Shady Corner, which also indicated Mr Richardson's speed was between 28 and 34kmh, according to a police serious crash unit report.

Mr McElrea said while loss of concentration was a likely cause, Mr Richardson could also have misinterpreted the corner despite being a regular up the mountain.

"This road has been travelled perhaps many thousands of times by many vehicles without this outcome," he said.
"Why did a careful driver allow his vehicle to leave the road? The answer, at least part of it, lies in the delineation of the edge of the road, clearly he has misinterpreted that edge," Mr McElrea said.

It was not known what time the crash occurred. Mr Richardson was skiing alone and he completed his final run at 1.48pm. His partner reported him missing at 10pm.

Mr McElrea said death was inevitable, given Mr Richardson's injuries, no matter where the accident had occurred.
"The post mortem confirmed that death was due to the injuries received. He would have lost consciousness almost immediately and died within minutes," Mr McElrea said.

Mr Richardson's family described him as a safe driver and they dismissed the possibility he could have been using his cellphone at the time. The possibility he deliberately drove off the road was also dismissed by family, and police.

"He was a careful and experienced driver, he knew how to handle ski area access roads in all conditions," Mr McElrea said.

The Department of Labour completed a workplace assessment at Mt Hutt following the deaths of Mr Richardson, two skiers and a snowboarder, in separate incidents last year. They recommended a contractor be brought in to look at improvements which could be made to the road and Mt Hutt management had done that.

Mt Hutt ski area manager Dave Wilson told the coroner 21 new barriers would be installed at corners on the access road.

NZSki.com, which owns Mt Hutt, was waiting for confirmation the new barriers would withstand their heavy snow clearing systems before starting work.

He told the coroner the corner where Mr Richardson crashed had not been the scene of previous accidents, but it would be top priority for installing the new barriers. Four barriers would be completed this season and the remainder by 2015.

"It's a very responsible response from Mt Hutt and it's a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Arthur Richardson," Mr McElrea said.The fatality was the first on the access road since 1994, when two people died after their vehicle left the road. There have been four incidents where cars have left the road in the past 10 years.

Here are the extracts from the letters written at the time of the accident.

Buckle up and live
Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 18, 2010 
My deepest sympathies go out to the Richardson family, regarding the tragic and preventable death on the Mt Hutt access road (June 16). Sadly, it seems Mr Richardson was not wearing his seatbelt, as he was found some distance from his not terribly damaged vehicle. 

It is a timely reminder to every skier who is under the delusion it is permissible to unbuckle when driving on ski access roads: there are no circumstances where a seatbelt is a disadvantage in a crash. I also know there are people who undo their seatbelt when driving next to canals. Such people are, sadly, temporary citizens. So, belt up and live! 

CHRISTOPHER H DAVIES 


Comment hurtful 
Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 21, 2010 
In response to Christopher H Davies' letter "Buckle up and live'' (June 18), we make the point that Arch Richardson was a trusted and careful friend who ran an extremely safety-conscious electrical business. 
To trivialise his death by jumping to unfounded conclusions about seatbelt use is objectionable and unnecessary. 
It is not believable to those of us who knew Arch that he would not wear his seatbelt and it is in any case unlikely that seatbelts had any influence on his untimely death. 
Comments such as Mr Davies' are hurtful to friends and family and to his memory. 
J HEYWOOD, L TAYLOR, K MACDONALD 


Leave it to coroner 
0 Comments | Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 26, 2010 
As the partner of Arch Richardson, the man who died in the tragic but preventable accident on the Mt Hutt Rd, I wish to reply to Christopher H Davies (June 18). 
I know that Arch always wore his seatbelt, as he was an extremely careful driver who stuck to the speed limit and obeyed the road rules. 
Was Mr Davies a witness to the accident? If so, I'm sure the police would like to speak with him. If not, I ask that he and others who have similar opinions keep them to themselves, rather than add insult to injury for the bereaved, and leave the conclusions to the coroner, who will give the final ruling on what happened that day. 
SHARON REID 

I can't access our family response anymore and somehow didn't take a copy at the time - 

An extract is still online: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25351894.html

In reply to Christopher H Davies' letter "Buckle up and live'' (June 18), we wish to clarify that police have confirmed to the family that Arthur (Arch) Richardson was wearing his fastened seatbelt at the time his vehicle left the Mt Hutt ski-field access road on June 14.
The seatbelt was discovered still fastened upon later inspection of the vehicle. Unfounded speculation put forward by Mr Davies and published by The Press that Arch was not wearing his seatbelt was unnecessary and insensitive. It is hoped both will exercise greater care when weighing comment regarding tragedies such as this in the future.

-- The Richardson family....

Yesterday, the coroner has finally spoken ... and we felt he made it quite clear to the media yesterday that this was the case so that it could be reported. Interesting that it was not mentioned in the article I posted this morning.

The seatbelt issue....

One of the issues we all faced last year was the hurtful assumption made via a letter in the paper that Arch had not been wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Because the car appeared relatively undamaged from the distant photos someone said he obviously would have survived if he had been belted in. 

( the letters can be seen at the end of this post )

I am posting this article below because it clearly states that he was. It was tested and working, still clipped in place in the car. The vertical and horizontal tumbling and rolling of the car down the steep slope caused his seat to break and lie flat, so he was flung backwards out into the back, then out the shattered rear window. Actually the word used was "torpedoed". Apparently seats breaking this way is quite common. I can say that the damage to the car was severe, particularly on the drivers side.

Assumptions really don't pay...  at the time, the insinuation was hurtful; mainly because he was a careful driver who didn't use his phone, drive with no seatbelt etc. I do understand the point was to advise people who felt they were about to go over the edge not to undo the belt, or try to jump out. Always drive with it on - and I suppose that normally, the injuries you would get with it on are less than those if you are unbelted. 

I highlighted the main bits of this newspaper article from today....

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/8853816/ski-field-road-access-to-be-made-safer/

Mt Hutt management is to install new barriers on 21 corners of the Canterbury ski field's access road following the death of a motorist last year, an inquest heard today.

Arthur Richardson, a 61-year-old electrician from Rolleston, Christchurch, died after his car plunged almost 100 metres off the access road on June 14 , Coroner Richard McElrea was told at the inquest in Ashburton.

A search party mounted after Mr Richardson failed to return home from a day skiing alone, located his body outside his crashed car.

A post mortem examination found he died of severe chest injuries after being thrown from the vehicle. He was wearing a seatbelt but the back of his seat broke.

Road and weather conditions were fine, and there were no brake marks on the road judging by tyre marks in roadside snow on the bend known as Shady Corner, which also indicated Mr Richardson's speed was between 28 and 34kmh, according to a police serious crash unit report.

Mr McElrea said while loss of concentration was a likely cause, Mr Richardson could also have misinterpreted the corner despite being a regular up the mountain.

"This road has been travelled perhaps many thousands of times by many vehicles without this outcome," he said.
"Why did a careful driver allow his vehicle to leave the road? The answer, at least part of it, lies in the delineation of the edge of the road, clearly he has misinterpreted that edge," Mr McElrea said.

It was not known what time the crash occurred. Mr Richardson was skiing alone and he completed his final run at 1.48pm. His partner reported him missing at 10pm.

Mr McElrea said death was inevitable, given Mr Richardson's injuries, no matter where the accident had occurred.
"The post mortem confirmed that death was due to the injuries received. He would have lost consciousness almost immediately and died within minutes," Mr McElrea said.

Mr Richardson's family described him as a safe driver and they dismissed the possibility he could have been using his cellphone at the time. The possibility he deliberately drove off the road was also dismissed by family, and police.

"He was a careful and experienced driver, he knew how to handle ski area access roads in all conditions," Mr McElrea said.

The Department of Labour completed a workplace assessment at Mt Hutt following the deaths of Mr Richardson, two skiers and a snowboarder, in separate incidents last year. They recommended a contractor be brought in to look at improvements which could be made to the road and Mt Hutt management had done that.

Mt Hutt ski area manager Dave Wilson told the coroner 21 new barriers would be installed at corners on the access road.

NZSki.com, which owns Mt Hutt, was waiting for confirmation the new barriers would withstand their heavy snow clearing systems before starting work.

He told the coroner the corner where Mr Richardson crashed had not been the scene of previous accidents, but it would be top priority for installing the new barriers. Four barriers would be completed this season and the remainder by 2015.

"It's a very responsible response from Mt Hutt and it's a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Arthur Richardson," Mr McElrea said.The fatality was the first on the access road since 1994, when two people died after their vehicle left the road. There have been four incidents where cars have left the road in the past 10 years.

Here are the extracts from the letters written at the time of the accident.

Buckle up and live
Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 18, 2010 
My deepest sympathies go out to the Richardson family, regarding the tragic and preventable death on the Mt Hutt access road (June 16). Sadly, it seems Mr Richardson was not wearing his seatbelt, as he was found some distance from his not terribly damaged vehicle. 

It is a timely reminder to every skier who is under the delusion it is permissible to unbuckle when driving on ski access roads: there are no circumstances where a seatbelt is a disadvantage in a crash. I also know there are people who undo their seatbelt when driving next to canals. Such people are, sadly, temporary citizens. So, belt up and live! 

CHRISTOPHER H DAVIES 


Comment hurtful 
Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 21, 2010 
In response to Christopher H Davies' letter "Buckle up and live'' (June 18), we make the point that Arch Richardson was a trusted and careful friend who ran an extremely safety-conscious electrical business. 
To trivialise his death by jumping to unfounded conclusions about seatbelt use is objectionable and unnecessary. 
It is not believable to those of us who knew Arch that he would not wear his seatbelt and it is in any case unlikely that seatbelts had any influence on his untimely death. 
Comments such as Mr Davies' are hurtful to friends and family and to his memory. 
J HEYWOOD, L TAYLOR, K MACDONALD 


Leave it to coroner 
0 Comments | Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 26, 2010 
As the partner of Arch Richardson, the man who died in the tragic but preventable accident on the Mt Hutt Rd, I wish to reply to Christopher H Davies (June 18). 
I know that Arch always wore his seatbelt, as he was an extremely careful driver who stuck to the speed limit and obeyed the road rules. 
Was Mr Davies a witness to the accident? If so, I'm sure the police would like to speak with him. If not, I ask that he and others who have similar opinions keep them to themselves, rather than add insult to injury for the bereaved, and leave the conclusions to the coroner, who will give the final ruling on what happened that day. 
SHARON REID 

I can't access our family response anymore and somehow didn't take a copy at the time - 

An extract is still online: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25351894.html

In reply to Christopher H Davies' letter "Buckle up and live'' (June 18), we wish to clarify that police have confirmed to the family that Arthur (Arch) Richardson was wearing his fastened seatbelt at the time his vehicle left the Mt Hutt ski-field access road on June 14.
The seatbelt was discovered still fastened upon later inspection of the vehicle. Unfounded speculation put forward by Mr Davies and published by The Press that Arch was not wearing his seatbelt was unnecessary and insensitive. It is hoped both will exercise greater care when weighing comment regarding tragedies such as this in the future.

-- The Richardson family....

Yesterday, the coroner has finally spoken ... and we felt he made it quite clear to the media yesterday that this was the case so that it could be reported. Interesting that it was not mentioned in the article I posted this morning.

Coroner praises Mt Hutt move to make road safer | Stuff.co.nz

Mt Hutt ski area's efforts to improve safety on the access road after a fatal accident has won praise from a coroner.
Arthur Richardson, 61, of Rolleston, was killed when his car went off the road while travelling down the mountain on the afternoon of June 14 last year.
A serious crash unit investigation concluded that he had veered into a slow-traffic layby then off the side of the road without applying the brakes.
Richardson's body was found beside his car, at the bottom of a gully, early the next morning.
Regional coroner Richard McElrea said ski area management had responded positively to a Department of Labour report which recommended it consult an engineer experienced in alpine roads about safety improvements.
"It is a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Mr Richardson," the coroner said.
There were 21 potential sites on the access road to install barriers, four of which Mt Hutt planned to have in place before the start of the 2011 ski season.
The coroner said the site at which Richardson drove off the road was one of those four.
Mt Hutt ski area manager David Wilson said there was a target date of March 2015 to install the other 17 barriers, if the design chosen for the first four performed well.
"We're investigating if it will withstand the pressure that will be put on it by heavy duty snow-clearing equipment."
The design was already in use on the access road to the Remarkables ski area near Queenstown, but it was not under as much stress by snow-clearing vehicles there as it would be at Mt Hutt.
The serious crash unit report into Richardson's death concluded that the crash was caused by a "loss of concentration for some unknown reason when the vehicle he was driving approached the right-hand turn."
The coroner said it was also "quite possible he [Richardson] misinterpreted the edge of the road whilst fully concentrating."

via stuff.co.nz

One small positive step to prevent this happening to others. Eventually 21 of them. As the coroner said - "It is a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Mr Richardson".
It was a long day, answered a few questions and raised a few others that will never be answered, but it was a major crash resulting in major life-ending injuries that he could not have survived; it would have been quick.
The coroner and the police were thorough. We don't feel anything was missed in all the investigations. They were kind and pleasant which helped us get through the ordeal. They showed us everything.
It was a relief to all be there together, on a beautiful sunny day in Ashburton, amidst family and friends who miss him; who remember him as "Arch", or "Dad" rather than Arthur, the name he loathed so much.
Totally exhausted today and still reliving too much of the events, as I am sure we all are. Grief takes time.
Not sure i will be very productive at work today but will go in and do my best to get organised for the new class starting tomorrow. Navel contemplating at home doesn't appeal much either.

Posted via email from Four Paws and Whiskers

Coroner praises Mt Hutt move to make road safer | Stuff.co.nz

Mt Hutt ski area's efforts to improve safety on the access road after a fatal accident has won praise from a coroner.
Arthur Richardson, 61, of Rolleston, was killed when his car went off the road while travelling down the mountain on the afternoon of June 14 last year.
A serious crash unit investigation concluded that he had veered into a slow-traffic layby then off the side of the road without applying the brakes.
Richardson's body was found beside his car, at the bottom of a gully, early the next morning.
Regional coroner Richard McElrea said ski area management had responded positively to a Department of Labour report which recommended it consult an engineer experienced in alpine roads about safety improvements.
"It is a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Mr Richardson," the coroner said.
There were 21 potential sites on the access road to install barriers, four of which Mt Hutt planned to have in place before the start of the 2011 ski season.
The coroner said the site at which Richardson drove off the road was one of those four.
Mt Hutt ski area manager David Wilson said there was a target date of March 2015 to install the other 17 barriers, if the design chosen for the first four performed well.
"We're investigating if it will withstand the pressure that will be put on it by heavy duty snow-clearing equipment."
The design was already in use on the access road to the Remarkables ski area near Queenstown, but it was not under as much stress by snow-clearing vehicles there as it would be at Mt Hutt.
The serious crash unit report into Richardson's death concluded that the crash was caused by a "loss of concentration for some unknown reason when the vehicle he was driving approached the right-hand turn."
The coroner said it was also "quite possible he [Richardson] misinterpreted the edge of the road whilst fully concentrating."

via stuff.co.nz

One small positive step to prevent this happening to others. Eventually 21 of them. As the coroner said - "It is a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Mr Richardson".
It was a long day, answered a few questions and raised a few others that will never be answered, but it was a major crash resulting in major life-ending injuries that he could not have survived; it would have been quick.
The coroner and the police were thorough. We don't feel anything was missed in all the investigations. They were kind and pleasant which helped us get through the ordeal. They showed us everything.
It was a relief to all be there together, on a beautiful sunny day in Ashburton, amidst family and friends who miss him; who remember him as "Arch", or "Dad" rather than Arthur, the name he loathed so much.
Totally exhausted today and still reliving too much of the events, as I am sure we all are. Grief takes time.
Not sure i will be very productive at work today but will go in and do my best to get organised for the new class starting tomorrow. Navel contemplating at home doesn't appeal much either.

Posted via email from Four Paws and Whiskers

Arch 12.9.49 - 14.6.10

Today would have been Arch's birthday.  A day when usually the children would have gone to see him and celebrated it. A day filled with many memories for us all.

The car is still on the mountain; the inquest delayed until it is all sorted. Paper work arrives and nice people call us and lawyers and accountants sort things out... it is a long, slow process.

We are no clearer to knowing what happened than we were at the time; perhaps we never will be, but we would like to particularly thank the Ashburton police, Dave Wilson and the staff from Mt Hutt and the team from Search and Rescue for all they did during the night when it was realised he was missing. Also the great kindness of all those from St Peter's church and Academy Funeral Services.

After a particularly upsetting letter in the paper implying that Arch had not been wearing a seatbelt, we have been reassured by the police and the coroner that he definitely was. It is still done up, in the car, down in the gully. He was thrown clear by the fact that the seat broke and lay flat, allowing him to be later thrown out of the back as the car somersaulted. As we have often found the reaction to the accident started with the presumption it was his fault, we would really like to set the record straight on this.

I have been trying to sort through his papers this week; the earthquake kept me at home and it gave me something to do. So many photos, memories, smiles, tears.... I know that Sharon is missing him terribly and I know today will be hard for her too.

I put a few of my favourite pictures on a slideshow to capture some memories - his past, hobbies and legacies.
You can click on it to see them on Picasa too.

RIP Arch. 61 years young today.

Arch 12.9.49 - 14.6.10

Today would have been Arch's birthday.  A day when usually the children would have gone to see him and celebrated it. A day filled with many memories for us all.

The car is still on the mountain; the inquest delayed until it is all sorted. Paper work arrives and nice people call us and lawyers and accountants sort things out... it is a long, slow process.

We are no clearer to knowing what happened than we were at the time; perhaps we never will be, but we would like to particularly thank the Ashburton police, Dave Wilson and the staff from Mt Hutt and the team from Search and Rescue for all they did during the night when it was realised he was missing. Also the great kindness of all those from St Peter's church and Academy Funeral Services.

After a particularly upsetting letter in the paper implying that Arch had not been wearing a seatbelt, we have been reassured by the police and the coroner that he definitely was. It is still done up, in the car, down in the gully. He was thrown clear by the fact that the seat broke and lay flat, allowing him to be later thrown out of the back as the car somersaulted. As we have often found the reaction to the accident started with the presumption it was his fault, we would really like to set the record straight on this.

I have been trying to sort through his papers this week; the earthquake kept me at home and it gave me something to do. So many photos, memories, smiles, tears.... I know that Sharon is missing him terribly and I know today will be hard for her too.

I put a few of my favourite pictures on a slideshow to capture some memories - his past, hobbies and legacies.
You can click on it to see them on Picasa too.

RIP Arch. 61 years young today.

Je reviens

Sorry. The urge to write has not been strong lately. It is now 6 weeks since the accident... things still seem overwhelming, particularly the paperwork and red tape, and there are still times when I find it difficult to focus on what I am doing, or even to care if i do it.. There are so many questions still unanswered, and perhaps that is how they will remain. We just don't know. I think the nightmares have been the worst part...but these too will pass.... and the weird feeling of being in a dream.

We have had school holidays here recently - mid winter and dreary weather.  However, we had already been booked to visit Auckland and see the family and then attend a conference, so we had a sunny week in the big smoke with the girls .

It was warm and sunny and we had six days of lovely weather - and wait for it - NO RAIN - which is pretty rare in Auckland.
We did lots of beaches....

and shopping and ice cream....

 We did the volcano at Devonport

All in all - a welcome break and a lovely time..
Thanks to everyone for all your lovely messages... the flowers were wonderful too...

xx

Je reviens

Sorry. The urge to write has not been strong lately. It is now 6 weeks since the accident... things still seem overwhelming, particularly the paperwork and red tape, and there are still times when I find it difficult to focus on what I am doing, or even to care if i do it.. There are so many questions still unanswered, and perhaps that is how they will remain. We just don't know. I think the nightmares have been the worst part...but these too will pass.... and the weird feeling of being in a dream.

We have had school holidays here recently - mid winter and dreary weather.  However, we had already been booked to visit Auckland and see the family and then attend a conference, so we had a sunny week in the big smoke with the girls .

It was warm and sunny and we had six days of lovely weather - and wait for it - NO RAIN - which is pretty rare in Auckland.
We did lots of beaches....

and shopping and ice cream....

 We did the volcano at Devonport

All in all - a welcome break and a lovely time..
Thanks to everyone for all your lovely messages... the flowers were wonderful too...

xx

Mourners farewell devoted family man | Stuff.co.nz

via stuff.co.nz

Posted via web from Four Paws and Whiskers

A Christchurch skier who died when his car plunged off the Mt Hutt access road was dedicated to his family and a healthy lifestyle, mourners were told.

Friends and family yesterday said a tearful goodbye to Arthur "Arch" Richardson, 60, whose body was found in a gully early last Tuesday after his family reported him missing after a day's skiing.

About 150 people packed St Peter's Church in Riccarton for the funeral of the former Yorkshire man.

Richardson's children, James, Alex, Kirsty and Liam, former wife Fiona and partner Sharon Reid all spoke of the life they had shared with the electrician.

Richardson arrived in New Zealand in 1972 and spent time in Queenstown, where he learnt how to ski and do tai chi, before moving to Christchurch.

In Queenstown, he also discovered he was gluten- intolerant, which led to a move towards a life focused on exercise and healthy eating.

Police could not be contacted about the crash investigation.

Mourners farewell devoted family man | Stuff.co.nz

via stuff.co.nz

Posted via web from Four Paws and Whiskers

A Christchurch skier who died when his car plunged off the Mt Hutt access road was dedicated to his family and a healthy lifestyle, mourners were told.

Friends and family yesterday said a tearful goodbye to Arthur "Arch" Richardson, 60, whose body was found in a gully early last Tuesday after his family reported him missing after a day's skiing.

About 150 people packed St Peter's Church in Riccarton for the funeral of the former Yorkshire man.

Richardson's children, James, Alex, Kirsty and Liam, former wife Fiona and partner Sharon Reid all spoke of the life they had shared with the electrician.

Richardson arrived in New Zealand in 1972 and spent time in Queenstown, where he learnt how to ski and do tai chi, before moving to Christchurch.

In Queenstown, he also discovered he was gluten- intolerant, which led to a move towards a life focused on exercise and healthy eating.

Police could not be contacted about the crash investigation.

New Research on Veterinary Suicide Rate

I had a chat yesterday with a vet nurse that I used to work with many years ago in a distant New Zealand city. We both now work in Christchurch, but we spent some time reminiscing on the alcoholism and erratic behaviour of a past boss, and some of the other cases we have heard of concerning drugs and depression... all seemed quite normal, if sad. Today I read my copy of the latest NZ Veterinary Council Newsbrief... and found this information, which struck a particular chord after yesterday's chat!

A new paper in a recent issue of Veterinary Record by D J Bartram and D S Baldwin, finds that veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom are four times as likely as the general public, and around twice as likely as other healthcare professionals, to die by suicide as opposed to other causes.

The paper ‘Veterinary surgeons and suicide: a structured review of possible influences on increased risk’ appears in the Veterinary Record, March 27 2010 pp 388-397.

The paper suggests that a complex interaction of possible mechanisms may occur across the course of a veterinary career to increase the risk of suicide. Possible factors include the characteristics of individuals entering the profession, negative effects during undergraduate training, work-related stressors, ready access to and knowledge of means, stigma associated with mental illness, professional and social isolation, and alcohol or drug misuse (mainly prescription drugs to which the profession has ready access). Contextual effects such as attitudes to death and euthanasia, formed through the profession’s routine involvement with euthanasia of companion animals and slaughter of farm animals, and suicide ‘contagion’ due to
direct or indirect exposure to suicide of peers within this small profession are other possible influences.

No similar research has been done here, but the Council’s Health Committee considers that the same risk factors exist in New Zealand.

Veterinary science by its very nature can expose its practitioners to a greater number of stressors and hazards than those encountered by the rest of the community. Stresses include the physical demands of the work, long hours, fatigue and sleep deprivation, debt, the demands of clients and external bodies and fear of litigation and complaints. Being able to manage the complex act of euthanasia of animals and accompanying grief management presents additional demands.

Veterinarians are also vulnerable to the same physical and psychological disorders as the rest of the community. These disorders occur in veterinarians just as often as in the general population and some such as suicide, alcohol and drug abuse and accidents occur more frequently.

It is therefore not surprising that some veterinarians are working under some degree of impairment. If professional help is not sought, it is often just a matter of time before serious problems occur.

There is help in New Zealand on identifying and managing stress.


www.vetcouncil.org.nz/vetsHealth.php
and some brochures:

http://www.vetcouncil.org.nz/documentation/06_Health_Brochure.pdf
Vets in Stress brochure - an excellent read, whatever your stress is caused by!

and in the UK - check out http://www.vetlife.org.uk/about/

I wrote about the impact of burnout and animal euthanasia last year too - http://fourpawsandwhiskers.blogspot.com/2009/07/animal-euthanasia-and-human-emotional.html

It is an issue we are very aware of when training veterinary nurses here and one of our techniques is to role play scenarios for dealing with animal euthanasia, angry clients, and level of involvement, to name a few topics. I am pleased to see that veterinary training is also using this technique to help graduates manage these issues...

Practice Imperfect


Using interactive theatre in veterinary education to promote mental health awareness
http://www.rvc.ac.uk/practiceimperfect/
 
 
According to Justin Schamotta, Uk Vet students are being warned of the risks:

Predisposition to Suicide Unclear

The predisposing factors are not clearly understood and it is probable that the selection process for veterinary school results in students with a high-risk profile. The course itself doesn't help either. In a presentation to the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, Dr. Jerry Lucke suggests that the demanding teaching programme, exclusion of social skills and self-awareness and the transition from security of the vet school to the business of practice all play a part. "The concern is real about suicide," he says. "The profession and the undergraduate students must understand the risks."

US equine journalist Candy Lawrence, author of Shock Central: Veterinarian Suicides agrees: "Veterinarians are minimally trained, if at all, in psychological issues to cope with the emotional states of their human clients. During vet school, little is addressed in terms of juggling financial aspects of running a practice or anything outside of the technical core complexities of clinical veterinary medicine."

Read more at Suite101: UK Veterinary Students Warned of Suicide Risk: Undergraduate Vets Embark on Potentially Fatal Career http://universities.suite101.com/article.cfm/veterinary_students_warned_of_suicide_risk#ixzz0mL6qIplY


From http://www.samaritans.org/media_centre/emotional_health_news/vets-likely-suicide-051.aspx

In a blog for the Telegraph, professional veterinarian Pete Wedderburn writes: "Thirteen suicides every year may not sound like a high number on a national scale, but when they happen in a small group like the veterinary profession, it's very significant."

According to the study, one of the main factors which may explain why suicide rates among this group are relatively high is the fact that many vets will know, or know of, a fellow vet who has died by suicide.

The report states: "Knowledge of individual suicides can travel readily through the social networks of a small profession.

"Direct or indirect exposure to the suicidal behaviour of others can influence attitudes and increase vulnerability to suicide."

Another key point identified by the researchers is that vets are routinely obliged to put down animals. This, they claim, not only gives them increased access to items such as lethal drugs and firearms (for the euthanasia of larger animals), but could also result in veterinarians becoming hardened to death.

In the Veterinary Record, they state: "Familiarity with death and dying may affect attitudes in regard to the expendability of life."

They add that this familiarity may make it easier for vets to detach themselves from the emotional impact of death, and thus begin to view suicide as a valid "solution to their own problems."

The researchers also found that many people entering the veterinary profession possess the personality traits of high academic achievers, which can include neuroticism and perfectionism – both of which are risk factors for suicide.

From the article http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4310596.stm

another factor is that the means to help is always at hand... whether it is sharp tools, euthanasia solutions, or "helpers" in the form of valium, pethidine, morphine or ketamine....

"There doesn't seem to be an awareness that there is help out there for them."

She also said that there was a "stigma" attached to mental health issues.

To cope with the stresses, Dr Richmond said vets mainly turned to alcohol and drugs - including injecting horse tranquiliser ketamine, which they have ready access to.

"That's part of the problem - they are not having to go out and find it in any devious or dishonest way.

"It's sitting there on the shelves looking at them."

Which brings me back to the vet I used to work for... using alcohol to blot out the pain we never identified.
We can all help the professions, whether doctors, dentists, lawyers, vets or nurses... and the people we work with, by looking into why they are drinking or seem angry, erratic or upset.

But spare a thought for the staff who are putting your precious animal to sleep or losing it despite their best efforts, or you can no longer pay for them to do what they want to in order to save the pet.
Or just because you no longer want it.......

New Research on Veterinary Suicide Rate

I had a chat yesterday with a vet nurse that I used to work with many years ago in a distant New Zealand city. We both now work in Christchurch, but we spent some time reminiscing on the alcoholism and erratic behaviour of a past boss, and some of the other cases we have heard of concerning drugs and depression... all seemed quite normal, if sad. Today I read my copy of the latest NZ Veterinary Council Newsbrief... and found this information, which struck a particular chord after yesterday's chat!

A new paper in a recent issue of Veterinary Record by D J Bartram and D S Baldwin, finds that veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom are four times as likely as the general public, and around twice as likely as other healthcare professionals, to die by suicide as opposed to other causes.

The paper ‘Veterinary surgeons and suicide: a structured review of possible influences on increased risk’ appears in the Veterinary Record, March 27 2010 pp 388-397.

The paper suggests that a complex interaction of possible mechanisms may occur across the course of a veterinary career to increase the risk of suicide. Possible factors include the characteristics of individuals entering the profession, negative effects during undergraduate training, work-related stressors, ready access to and knowledge of means, stigma associated with mental illness, professional and social isolation, and alcohol or drug misuse (mainly prescription drugs to which the profession has ready access). Contextual effects such as attitudes to death and euthanasia, formed through the profession’s routine involvement with euthanasia of companion animals and slaughter of farm animals, and suicide ‘contagion’ due to
direct or indirect exposure to suicide of peers within this small profession are other possible influences.

No similar research has been done here, but the Council’s Health Committee considers that the same risk factors exist in New Zealand.

Veterinary science by its very nature can expose its practitioners to a greater number of stressors and hazards than those encountered by the rest of the community. Stresses include the physical demands of the work, long hours, fatigue and sleep deprivation, debt, the demands of clients and external bodies and fear of litigation and complaints. Being able to manage the complex act of euthanasia of animals and accompanying grief management presents additional demands.

Veterinarians are also vulnerable to the same physical and psychological disorders as the rest of the community. These disorders occur in veterinarians just as often as in the general population and some such as suicide, alcohol and drug abuse and accidents occur more frequently.

It is therefore not surprising that some veterinarians are working under some degree of impairment. If professional help is not sought, it is often just a matter of time before serious problems occur.

There is help in New Zealand on identifying and managing stress.


www.vetcouncil.org.nz/vetsHealth.php
and some brochures:

http://www.vetcouncil.org.nz/documentation/06_Health_Brochure.pdf
Vets in Stress brochure - an excellent read, whatever your stress is caused by!

and in the UK - check out http://www.vetlife.org.uk/about/

I wrote about the impact of burnout and animal euthanasia last year too - http://fourpawsandwhiskers.blogspot.com/2009/07/animal-euthanasia-and-human-emotional.html

It is an issue we are very aware of when training veterinary nurses here and one of our techniques is to role play scenarios for dealing with animal euthanasia, angry clients, and level of involvement, to name a few topics. I am pleased to see that veterinary training is also using this technique to help graduates manage these issues...

Practice Imperfect


Using interactive theatre in veterinary education to promote mental health awareness
http://www.rvc.ac.uk/practiceimperfect/
 
 
According to Justin Schamotta, Uk Vet students are being warned of the risks:

Predisposition to Suicide Unclear

The predisposing factors are not clearly understood and it is probable that the selection process for veterinary school results in students with a high-risk profile. The course itself doesn't help either. In a presentation to the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, Dr. Jerry Lucke suggests that the demanding teaching programme, exclusion of social skills and self-awareness and the transition from security of the vet school to the business of practice all play a part. "The concern is real about suicide," he says. "The profession and the undergraduate students must understand the risks."

US equine journalist Candy Lawrence, author of Shock Central: Veterinarian Suicides agrees: "Veterinarians are minimally trained, if at all, in psychological issues to cope with the emotional states of their human clients. During vet school, little is addressed in terms of juggling financial aspects of running a practice or anything outside of the technical core complexities of clinical veterinary medicine."

Read more at Suite101: UK Veterinary Students Warned of Suicide Risk: Undergraduate Vets Embark on Potentially Fatal Career http://universities.suite101.com/article.cfm/veterinary_students_warned_of_suicide_risk#ixzz0mL6qIplY


From http://www.samaritans.org/media_centre/emotional_health_news/vets-likely-suicide-051.aspx

In a blog for the Telegraph, professional veterinarian Pete Wedderburn writes: "Thirteen suicides every year may not sound like a high number on a national scale, but when they happen in a small group like the veterinary profession, it's very significant."

According to the study, one of the main factors which may explain why suicide rates among this group are relatively high is the fact that many vets will know, or know of, a fellow vet who has died by suicide.

The report states: "Knowledge of individual suicides can travel readily through the social networks of a small profession.

"Direct or indirect exposure to the suicidal behaviour of others can influence attitudes and increase vulnerability to suicide."

Another key point identified by the researchers is that vets are routinely obliged to put down animals. This, they claim, not only gives them increased access to items such as lethal drugs and firearms (for the euthanasia of larger animals), but could also result in veterinarians becoming hardened to death.

In the Veterinary Record, they state: "Familiarity with death and dying may affect attitudes in regard to the expendability of life."

They add that this familiarity may make it easier for vets to detach themselves from the emotional impact of death, and thus begin to view suicide as a valid "solution to their own problems."

The researchers also found that many people entering the veterinary profession possess the personality traits of high academic achievers, which can include neuroticism and perfectionism – both of which are risk factors for suicide.

From the article http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4310596.stm

another factor is that the means to help is always at hand... whether it is sharp tools, euthanasia solutions, or "helpers" in the form of valium, pethidine, morphine or ketamine....

"There doesn't seem to be an awareness that there is help out there for them."

She also said that there was a "stigma" attached to mental health issues.

To cope with the stresses, Dr Richmond said vets mainly turned to alcohol and drugs - including injecting horse tranquiliser ketamine, which they have ready access to.

"That's part of the problem - they are not having to go out and find it in any devious or dishonest way.

"It's sitting there on the shelves looking at them."

Which brings me back to the vet I used to work for... using alcohol to blot out the pain we never identified.
We can all help the professions, whether doctors, dentists, lawyers, vets or nurses... and the people we work with, by looking into why they are drinking or seem angry, erratic or upset.

But spare a thought for the staff who are putting your precious animal to sleep or losing it despite their best efforts, or you can no longer pay for them to do what they want to in order to save the pet.
Or just because you no longer want it.......

Bangladesh family..

The mother of a friend of mine died yesterday. A tragic loss; another casualty. A fresh reminder of the fleeting nature of life. One thing that lingered in my mind all day was from a message she sent...

Please remember to tell your family and friends you love them everyday because you never know when someone dear to you will be taken.

Yes - we know it, but I just wanted to remind you of it. It really hit home to me last night when I got a message from Bangladesh........

I grew up listening to The Beatles... and was very familiar with the happenings in Bangladesh in the 70's, courtesy of George Harrison.



Knowing about a country, and taking a slightly keener interest in it when your children live there, are two different things.

Last night we heard there was a city wide curfew in Dhaka. We only heard about it because James and Jess immediately wrote to us to say they were ok, but as the city curfew had started at 3pm, they had been trapped and unable to get home. The buses were full.... so they took refuge at a friends house. As the news had only broken on the BBC by then, and it was late at night, we were blissfully unaware of any issue until they were already safe. I thought of the message from my friend... I didn't sleep too well, even knowing they were safe.

This morning, as there was nothing in the New Zealand news about it, which is not actually surprising, I did a wee google search for "Bangladesh unrest". It took me a while to filter out all the graphic images of fights and soldiers and fires from the past four years... and I had to redo it as "Bangladesh unrest 2009" to find yesterdays news.

Mutinous Border Guards in Bangladesh

Bangladesh rebels mutiny, agree to surrender

Bangladeshi guards revolt over pay in the capital

Bangladesh Unrest

It appears to have been a minor skirmish, but a rickshaw driver died and 15 were injured. I think it is the idea of having to follow a curfew at 3pm, for the whole city, to let the army get through the streets that I find hard to follow.... trying to imagine imposing it here in Christchurch!

Still, every country has unrest, fights, shootings.... I am not singling out Bangladesh. It was just that I was aware that stupid stuff like this can happen to anyone at any time... as Phoebe's mum said recently, "Hit by Bus" scenarios.

So, just wanted to take the opportunity to say "I love you" to my children, my wonderful parents, my lovely partner (who hears it all the time but won't object to a repeat :), to Phoebe's family and the many other friends who matter in my life.

I hope you will all do the same.

Bangladesh family..

The mother of a friend of mine died yesterday. A tragic loss; another casualty. A fresh reminder of the fleeting nature of life. One thing that lingered in my mind all day was from a message she sent...

Please remember to tell your family and friends you love them everyday because you never know when someone dear to you will be taken.

Yes - we know it, but I just wanted to remind you of it. It really hit home to me last night when I got a message from Bangladesh........

I grew up listening to The Beatles... and was very familiar with the happenings in Bangladesh in the 70's, courtesy of George Harrison.



Knowing about a country, and taking a slightly keener interest in it when your children live there, are two different things.

Last night we heard there was a city wide curfew in Dhaka. We only heard about it because James and Jess immediately wrote to us to say they were ok, but as the city curfew had started at 3pm, they had been trapped and unable to get home. The buses were full.... so they took refuge at a friends house. As the news had only broken on the BBC by then, and it was late at night, we were blissfully unaware of any issue until they were already safe. I thought of the message from my friend... I didn't sleep too well, even knowing they were safe.

This morning, as there was nothing in the New Zealand news about it, which is not actually surprising, I did a wee google search for "Bangladesh unrest". It took me a while to filter out all the graphic images of fights and soldiers and fires from the past four years... and I had to redo it as "Bangladesh unrest 2009" to find yesterdays news.

Mutinous Border Guards in Bangladesh

Bangladesh rebels mutiny, agree to surrender

Bangladeshi guards revolt over pay in the capital

Bangladesh Unrest

It appears to have been a minor skirmish, but a rickshaw driver died and 15 were injured. I think it is the idea of having to follow a curfew at 3pm, for the whole city, to let the army get through the streets that I find hard to follow.... trying to imagine imposing it here in Christchurch!

Still, every country has unrest, fights, shootings.... I am not singling out Bangladesh. It was just that I was aware that stupid stuff like this can happen to anyone at any time... as Phoebe's mum said recently, "Hit by Bus" scenarios.

So, just wanted to take the opportunity to say "I love you" to my children, my wonderful parents, my lovely partner (who hears it all the time but won't object to a repeat :), to Phoebe's family and the many other friends who matter in my life.

I hope you will all do the same.

Real Housewives of Orange County: Gretchen's Tragedy, Glass Houses

Real Housewives, Orange County version:
Nice Guy Jeff Beitzel Passes Away
Who's Throwing Stones?



It's season four of Housewives with two new additions: 30-yr-old Gretchen Rossi and Lynne Curtain. Curtain replaced Lauri Waring Peterson after Peterson opted to drop out of the show when her son was arrested for drug possession.

The storyline surrounding Gretchen has her dealing with her boyfriend Jeff's bout with leukemia. Jeff Beitzel, who was fifty-four, passed away in September.

Beitzel served as Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Quantuam Fuel System Technologies. A mechanical enigineer, Beitzel worked for Ford Motor Co. until 1983. After leaving Ford, Beitzel founded several automotive companies prior to working for Quantuam.

Jeff Beitzel's three children from a former marriage were on the most recent episode. The kids, all in their teens, had flown in to be with their father while he was in the hospital. All three of Jeff's children wanted to be there with their father. They also spoke highly of Gretchen and how she had been by their father's side during the eight months since he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Last week Gretchen took some time off and spent a couple of days with her family at Bear Lake for the Fourth.

So far new Housewife Lynne has been in a shopping mode on the show with her two teenage daughters. The latest trip on episode 5 had Lynne plunking down $1800 for eight articles of clothing and looking to buy a BMW for her oldest daughter when she turned 18.

Lynne met Gretchen for lunch where Gretchen tried to get Lynne to tell how old she was. Lynne, who keeps in great shape with activities such as surfing and kick boxing, wouldn't tell Gretchen her age. On the first show featuring Lynne she admitted she was "obsessed" with "staying young" even though raising her two daughters, ages 16 and 18, have probably put a few gray hairs on her head.

On tonight's show, Lynne's oldest daughter, Raquel, turned 18. Lynne and her husband of 18 years, Frank, held a luncheon for Raquel where they presented her with a cute little silver BMW. Earlier, before the party, Raquel demanded her younger sister Alexa take off the white dress she had chosen to wear. Raquel wanted to wear the white one and for Alexa to wear a blue dress that Raquel was supposed to wear. Such is the drama of having teens, as Raquel pouted her way into getting the white dress while Alexa wore the blue one.

Alexa was in tears at the party after she met her boyfriend in the parking lot of the restaurant and her boyfriend told her the dress made her look like a "stripper". Lynne was shocked at his comment as it was her dress. And yes, the dress did look as though it belonged more on a stripper than a 16-yr-old girl.

What side is Tamra Barney showing this season?

Continue reading: Real Housewives of Orange County: Gretchen's Tragedy and Glass Houses

by LBG
Source: Real Housewives of Orange County: Gretchen's Tragedy and Glass Houses