White Flight - High Roller, Wheels of Justice

During game 1 of the Rose City Rollers intra-league Season 5 opening tournament, White Flight sustained an impact on the track and did not return to play. The jam was called off by the officiating staff and RCR's sports medicine doctor and designated first responder immediately went to her aid. The two on-site parametics (second responders) were also called in to assist with the situation. White Flight remained immobile on the playing track while our medical responders evaluated her condition. The medical responders placed White Flight on a backboard for immobilization and transportation off the playing court. White Flight was then transported by ambulance to a local area hospitalwhere she has undergone more thorough evaluation for her injuries.

This was the first time in RCR's 5 year bouting history a player was removed from the playing field on an immobilizing backboard. We feel very lucky and proud that the precautions and safety measures we implement for the well being of our athletes has had such an upstanding history. Tonight we are doubly thankful for the professional oversight and responsiveness of our on-site and involved medical response team. Roller derby is as real, demanding, and brutal as any contact sport and, despite conditioning, safety equipment, and safety oriented rules of play, injuries do happen.

No official word has been released about her condition or injuries and we will be respecting her privacy by not disclosing any private details at this time. But here's what we're happy to report at this time:

• White Flight is very much alive and well and in the care of a medical facility
• At no time did she lose consciousness while our medical responders were evaluating her on the playing floor or in transportation
• She was fully responsive to our medical care providers and able to communicate
• She exhibited full control of her motor functions and sensation in every limb/extremity, her pupils were responsive, no tingling (no paralysis)
• Heart rate and blood pressure were fine

White Flight was on the floor after a major impact with another skater. Initially she attempted to recover from her impact and fall but was not able to do so and went prone on the floor. When our first medical responder arrived she called him by name and explained her neck hurt. In his evaluation our sports medicine doctor found no obvious signs of debilitating or life threatening injury. Because the pain was associated with the neck, medical responders agreed to take precautions to eliminate all possibility of spinal injury. While White Flight seemed capable, after a short time, of recovering and functioning on her own, it was the decision of the medical team that she should remain immobile and undergo further medical inspection.

White Flight has a long history of athletic pursuit (quick trivia: at the time she joined RCR she was also cross training to compete in martial arts) and understands her body and environment well enough to keep her cool when injured. Her sedated state on the track stemmed from her physical disorientation, her own consciousness of the possibility of spinal injury, and the guidance of our medical responders. For our spectators both in the stands and at home there was little explanation of the situation and her condition, but the response and treatment she received coupled with her own ability to control herself made this incident resolve very smoothly and with the utmost attention to detail.

Thank you to all our fans and support staff for supporting White Flight and wishing her a speedy recovery. Special thanks to the Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic who have provided RCR with such a responsive and thorough medical support staff.

As we learn more about Whitey's condition and developments we'll post them here.

Update 1/17/10

Whitey posted a message to the league's internal communication forum this morning. In her own words:

Hey all you wonderful RCRs. After a couple hours at the hospital strapped to an ungodly board I left with a bad stain in my neck. I am moving around slowly today. I never realized how heavy my head actually is until last night...and I thought I had a little head

A big thanks to everyone for the flooding of texts and calls to check in on me. A huge thanks to Payton for keepin me calm and taking care of business.

Once again, thank you for the outpooring of support.

Best Wishes:

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