Latest news with #RCR
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
‘Pumped' to enter champs
Already the top road crash rescue (RCR) team in New Zealand, the East Otago team are preparing to take on the world. The world rescue organisation will host the RCR world championships in Croatia this September, where teams from across the globe will be challenged to rescue passengers or "patients" from damaged vehicles in simulated road crash incidents. The East Otago team is a group of six volunteer firefighters and medics from six brigades, combining both career and volunteer emergency services personnel. The group have been competing together since 2022 and won the Otago Southland Road Crash Rescue challenge two years in a row, before their big win last year at the United Fire Brigades Association New Zealand national RCR challenge. That qualified the men to represent New Zealand at the world championships. Each team consists of six members, including a designated team leader and a medic, who have to race against the clock to extricate and treat patients in simulated road crashes while being scored on their techniques. East Otago team leader Hamish Hesselin, of the Palmerston Fire Brigade, said the men were excited to compete internationally. "We're pumped for the experience, we're getting in plenty of practice to do it — it's going to be awesome." The East Otago Road Crash Rescue team takes part in a simulated crash in Palmerston. Team members (front from left) medics Jody Williams (Waitati Fire Brigade) and Will Hall (Port Chalmers Fire Brigade) work on the dummy "patient" pulled from the wreckage, while (back from left) Dunedin Fire Brigade volunteer Justin Reid uses the "jaws of life" to cut through a car's A-pillar with assistance from Waikouaiti Fire Brigade volunteer Ryan Griffiths and direction from team leader Hamish Hesselin (Palmerston Fire Brigade). Absent: Simon Greenall (Mosgiel Fire Brigade). Photo: Jules Chin Critical decision making and team work would be part of their preparation for the world championships, which included up to four to five hours' training a week, he said. Waikouaiti Fire Brigade member Ryan Griffiths said it was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to travel to the event. Waitati Fire Brigade volunteer firefighter Jody Williams and Port Chalmers volunteer firefighter Will Hall will also represent New Zealand for the first time as medics in the World Trauma Challenge at the championships. Mr Williams said he had personally been to three motor vehicle accidents in the last two weeks and the team were "currently the best in New Zealand at hauling you out of a car if you have a major accident". The team had set up a Givealittle page to help raise the $60,000-$70,000 they "desperately" needed to get to Croatia for the competition and were grateful for donations they had already received, he said. Fulltime jobs and families, plus working as volunteers with Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Hato Hone St John had meant most of the team had never travelled that far afield or had the funds to do so. The uniforms and electronic equipment they required for the global competition were "extremely expensive", and they were relying on community support, Mr Williams said. To donate:
NBC Sports
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
What drivers said at Mexico City after Cup race won by Shane van Gisbergen
Shane van Gisbergen — winner: 'What a week. I've really enjoyed myself. I felt pretty rubbish today. Leaking out both holes, that wasn't fun. Our car was amazing. I think the 54 was close. That list stint, man, what a pleasure just ripping lap after lap. Watching them get smaller in the mirror. Unreal.' Christopher Bell — second: 'He was really good. Ultimately it was just a third-lpace day. I thought Ty was really good, the yellow flag bit him, and we walked away with second. More than anything, it was just me. I need to do a little bit more homework to figure out where I can be better to keep up with these guys. The Joe Gibbs Racing team brought an amazing Camry, and I can't really say it was my car that was lacking. It was on me this weekend.' Kyle Busch — 37th: ""Just in the rain, and I went down into 11 and got on the brakes pretty hard. Everything was fine, everything was comfortable, stopped really good. And I'm like, 'OK, I can be a little more aggressive getting into 1,' and I figured it was going to be fine, and as soon as I went to the brakes, it was like being on ice, and I was just sliding. About a second and a half or so, I was trying to figure out which direction to go, and I was like, 'I've got to turn this thing around backward, because I'm going to nail some people.' Hate it for all those involved in my mishap. Hate it for RCR, ECR. The car in qualifying was really good, and I felt we were going to be really sporty in the dry. I hate that the rain came, and now it's nice and dry. Just have to go fight for more points in another week.' WILL BE UPDATED
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man died after medics missed artery tear
A lack of radiologists on duty was a key factor in the death of a man who went into hospital suffering chest pains, a coroner concluded. Aston Villa fan Mark Villers died three days after he sought help while suffering from an unidentified tear in his aorta – the artery carrying blood from his heart – at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, on 21 May 2024. Coroner Louise Hunt said his condition went undiagnosed as abnormalities that showed up on a CT scan were not recognised, but should have prompted tests that would have discovered the tear. A spokesman for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS said the trust was committed to continually reviewing its staffing levels to maximise safety. Since Mr Villers died, a fundraising page set up for his family has raised more than £33,000. Organiser Stephen Plant said Mr Villers had been a selfless, kind, caring and strong person who had been "striving to make a difference in this world". He said the loyal Villa fan had been a "passionate lover of life". The coroner's report described how Mr Villers went to the hospital on 18 May 2024 with a severe chest pain, initially assessed by medics as a digestive condition. His CT scan was reported as showing no abnormalities but a review later revealed it had shown problems that, if spotted, would have led to further tests and his life could have been saved. On 20 May, Mr Villers returned to the hospital and it was thought he had infected gallstones. He stayed overnight and no concerns were noted but he was found collapsed the next morning and could not be resuscitated. A post-mortem examination confirmed the tear in the aorta caused his death. Ms Hunt said the trust investigated and found there were "insufficient radiologists to report the large number of CT scans undertaken over the weekend period" at the time Mr Villers went to hospital. She said it was "one of the root causes of the very subtle abnormality indicating aortic dissection being missed". Her report said while the situation had improved at the hospital, the number of radiologists on duty was still not in accordance with Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) guidelines. The president of the RCR , Dr Katharine Halliday, said: "The 29% shortfall of radiologists across the UK, equivalent to almost 2,000 fewer radiologists than we need, is a critical concern for patient safety." She said the college continued to call for the workforce to grow. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Coroner raises radiology issues after boxer death Doctors paid up to £200,000 overtime to tackle NHS backlog Delays for cancer treatment becoming routine Mark Villers: Prevention of Future Deaths Report
Business Wire
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Samsara Brings Tech Innovation to the Race Track with NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series Sponsorship in Mexico
BUSINESS WIRE)-- Samsara Inc. ("Samsara") (NYSE: IOT), the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, today announced its sponsorship of the first-ever NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series race in Mexico, taking place from June 13–15. The company, which contributes to the digital transformation of physical operations worldwide, is bringing this technological innovation to the race track, especially considering that NASCAR teams travel up to 120,000 kilometers a year transporting cars, engines, tools, and key parts. "In a high-stakes race like NASCAR, everything needs to arrive in optimal condition. There's a strong alignment between the goals of all participants in this race and the companies that use Samsara's solutions. For our customers, every trip must leverage the power of artificial intelligence and data to achieve safer, more efficient, and more sustainable operations. Just as with the organizations we serve, real-time monitoring, smart cameras, predictive maintenance, and advanced data analytics allow a team like Richard Childress Racing (RCR) to focus on race strategy while technology handles every kilometer of their vehicles' transport," said Brendali Lopez, Marketing Director for Samsara in Mexico. In addition to being an official sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series in Mexico, Samsara has sponsored the RCR team and its driver Jesse Love in the United States since 2023, redefining the role of logistics in professional motorsports. This time, the driver will compete again to achieve a high score that will allow him to move to the forefront of the championship on Saturday, June 14, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Samsara's alliance with NASCAR represents a real-time demonstration of the power of operational intelligence to optimize high-performance fleets, reduce risks, and generate efficiencies that also positively impact the environment through more efficient routes and lower fuel consumption. With this sponsorship, Samsara demonstrates that innovation does not limit to the speed on the race track, but also in every technological advancement that drives the teams. "Our presence at NASCAR in Mexico isn't just a bet on motorsports; it's a declaration of what it means to have total visibility, predictive safety, and intelligent operations in motion," Brendali Lopez concluded. About Samsara Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations ® Platform, which enables organizations that depend on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. With tens of thousands of customers across North America and Europe, Samsara is a proud technology partner to the people who keep our global economy running, including the world's leading organizations across construction, transportation and warehousing, field services, manufacturing, retail, logistics, and the public sector. The company's mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy. Samsara is a registered trademark of Samsara Inc. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Medscape
06-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Radiology Workforce Shortages Impacting Cancer Care
A chronic shortage of radiologists and oncologists is putting patients in the UK at risk, a new report found. The annual workforce census by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) warned that the safe delivery of NHS cancer care is becoming 'increasingly impossible' due to an escalating shortfall of doctors coupled with rising demand for care. In 2024, the UK had a 29% shortfall of clinical radiologists, with regional gaps ranging from 25% in Scotland to 32% in Wales. The workforce grew by 4.7% that year — less than in 2023, when it increased by 6.3%. The college forecasts the radiologist shortfall will reach 39% by 2029. Oncology Under Strain Clinical oncologists are also in short supply, with a current 15% gap expected to rise to 19% by 2029. This is despite a 5.4% increase in the workforce in 2024—the strongest growth since 2018. The RCR reported that 23% of cancer centres were experiencing recruitment freezes, making it harder to meet growing demand. Demand Continues to Outpace Capacity The shortages threaten the government's plans to cut waiting times and improve cancer outcomes. In 2024, demand for computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) grew by 8%, but workforce growth did not keep pace. Every radiology leader surveyed last year reported delays to diagnostic scans caused by staff shortages. Nine in 10 radiology team leaders reported that patients were waiting longer to start treatment, while seven in 10 expressed concern that staff shortages were putting patient safety at risk – down slightly from 85% in 2023. Chronic problems such as workforce shortages, reporting backlogs, and staff vacancies remain too high, according to Dr Robin Proctor, the RCR's m edical director responsible for professional practice and clinical radiology. Consultants Leaving Earlier Staff retention is worsening, with experienced consultants leaving the NHS at younger ages. In 2024, the median age of consultant clinical radiologists leaving the NHS workforce was 50 – down from 56 in 2020. Four in five (79%) of leavers were under 60, and two in five (42%) were under 45. Clinical oncologists followed a similar trend. Their median exit age dropped to 54, from 57 in 2023 and 59 in 2022. Nearly 76% of leavers were under 60, and 26% were under 45. One consultant clinical oncologist told the college that delays in scans and treatment were resulting in missed or late cancer diagnoses. Some patients' conditions were deteriorating or reaching a stage where treatment was no longer possible. Changing Work Practices 'Working conditions and ways of working need to change if we are to address this problem and meet the growing demand for our expertise,' Proctor said. The RCR has called on the government to invest in training and recruitment. In 2024, the NHS spent an estimated £325 million on temporary radiology staff. The cost of outsourcing had doubled since before the COVID-19 pandemic and had surged by almost a quarter in the past year. The RCR estimated that increasing radiology trainee numbers by 50% could eliminate three-quarters of the current shortfall and save the NHS £460 million over the next 10 years. 'Patients are being failed by a chronic lack of radiologists and oncologists,' said RCR president Dr Katharine Halliday. 'The longer we delay action, the worse it gets,' she added.
