Healthy and Safety

1. BEAT THE HEAT!

  • Prevention of Heat-related Injuries
    It can get hot in the summer, and summer in Tennessee can be brutal. It is not uncommon for the Ranch to experience temperatures in the range of 90-100 degrees during race week. High temperatures combined with high relative humidity can be dangerous for some people who are either unprepared or unused to such conditions. You can protect yourself and your family by educating and preparing yourself for extreme heat conditions.
  • DAY BEFORE RACE:
    • HYDRATE - Drink twice as much fluids today as you would normally drink. Water is best, sports drinks diluted 50% are also good. Drink at least 16 oz per hour, more is better. Replace Electrolytes (minerals) with sports drinks and fruit. Bananas are best, tomatoes and other citrus fruit are also good for this purpose. Continue drinking throughout the night. You should have to urinate at least twice between 9 pm and 6 am. If you do not - drink more!
    • AVOID Alcohol and Caffeinated Beverages (coffee, tea, cola's, and energy drinks)
    • DAY OF RACE:
      • HYDRATE - Begin drinking as soon as you wake up, 24-32 oz per hour if possible. Combine water and diluted sports drinks.
      • STAY COOL - Air conditioning is best between practices and races. Cooling Methods after practice and races include tubs, small pools, and iced towels. The ranch river is also great for this. The core is the most important to cool, as well as the head and neck.
      • WARNING SIGNS - If you begin to get dizzy and/or nauseated during practice or the race, pull into the Mechanics Area or Impound Zone to get cooled prior to continuing, or proceed to the nearest flag station. They will have water available.
      • MECHANICS - Be prepared with water and wet cool towels in the Mechanics Area for you and your rider if needed.

        If you have any heat-related questions or symptoms, please go to the Medic Station for information and/or treatment.

2. SLEEP SAFE!

Motocross racing is a family activity, and one of the most exciting features is the opportunity to camp out and have fun with your family and friends. However, if you are staying overnight in an RV or vehicle, or using a generator, you need to be aware of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning. CO is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that can be released when burning gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane or wood.

Mind your vehicle and generator exhaust while in close proximity to your family and neighbors. Do not place your generator directly under a slide-out or under your vehicle, where the fumes can seep into the camper. Make sure all exhaust fumes are properly and fully vented, so that they do not become trapped or seep into your sleeping quarters. When sleeping in a van, car or truck, make sure the exhaust is unobstructed if you run the engine for heat. Even when sleeping outdoors under the stars, make sure you are not too close to an exhaust. Devastating consequences can result without proper ventilation.

When making plans for Loretta's, make sure your camper's CO detector is properly functioning and batteries charged. When in doubt, pick up a new one at your local home supply center. Better safe than sorry, and the cost is nominal.

  • Symptoms of CO Poisoning:
    • At low concentrations, fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations, impaired vision and coordination; headaches; dizziness; confusion; nausea. Can cause flu-like symptoms that clear up after going outdoors. Fatal at very high concentrations. Acute effects are due to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, which inhibits oxygen intake. At moderate concentrations, angina, impaired vision, and reduced brain function may result. At higher concentrations, CO exposure can be fatal.
  • What to do if you suspect someone has been poisoned:
    • When you suspect CO poisoning, promptly taking the following actions can save lives:
      • Move the victim immediately to fresh air in an open area
      • Call 911 and notify track officials immediately. Numbers to call are (412) 298.8854 (Big John) or (304) 826.0553 (Tim Cotter).
      • Administer CPR if the victim has stopped breathing. (Be careful not to expose yourself to fatal levels of CO poisoning when administering CPR).

Know the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. For more information, please visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency page on Carbon Monoxide.http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html

3. CREEK PEEK!

Hurricane Creek meanders through the campground at Loretta Lynn Ranch and provides the perfect opportunity to relax and lounge in the cool water. For some, the creek is their favorite spot at the ranch; For others, it is a reminder of a bad injury. If you are not familiar with creeks and their potential dangers, please pay attention.

The creek can be shallow in spots. You can cause yourself serious harm by jumping or diving into the creek. DO NOT jump or dive into the creek from any location, especially from the rocks on the other side of the creek. You could break one if not both ankles.

The area on the other side of the creek is private property that is not owned by the Ranch.No trespassing on the opposite side of the creek.

Wear water footwear, shoes or sandals while in the creek. The creek bed can have glass or other sharp objects that you cannot see. If you cut your foot, you could develop a bad infection form the water.

Often families picnic or enjoy cold beverages in the creek. That is perfectly fine, so long as you properly dispose of your trash.No glass bottles in or near the creek please!

Swim at your own risk in the creek, and do not leave children unattended.

4. CHIGGERS

Bet you don't even know what these are! Chiggers are nasty little bugs that are native to the area. They live in tall weeds and grass and thrive in hot, humid areas, especially near water, and are very tiny and hard to see.

Chiggers attach to your skin and bite you, leaving bumps that look like welts, blisters, pimples, or hives. Most chigger bites occur around the ankles, waist, armpits, crotch, or behind the knees. Chigger bites can cause intense itching and a desire to scratch. A good hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion can relieve the itch. If your belly looks like this after a few days at the Ranch, you've got chiggers!

5. PLAY NICE!

One of the cool things about Race Week at the Ranch is you get to hang out with your friends, night and day for an entire week! But there are a lot of other people there too trying to have the same fun as you. Please mind your manners and be courteous to your neighbors and the race staff.

If you find yourself in a heated situation with another guest, DO NOT engage in self-help. We have security onsite 24/7 to diffuse these situations. The Command Center is located above the MX Sports Track Office next to Trackside - where you get your lap times. Do not allow things to escalate to the point where you are threatening one another or worse. Physical violence will not be tolerated and you will be removed from the facility and potentially charged with criminal conduct.

For our racers, Good Sportsmanship is expected. You are a premiere athlete at the most important amateur race in your career. Act like it - both on and off the track.

6. PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY!

Unfortunately, every once in a while we tend to get an element at the Ranch that feels a sense of entitlement to other people's property. This is especially troublesome when it comes to someone else's motorcycle. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to your personal property. Lock up your bikes at night. Secure your coolers and tools. Don't leave your race gear outside unattended.

Our experience is Thursday night is the worst night for theft. Maybe because Friday is the last moto for many riders, and unless they made the Top 10 they will be leaving that day, or maybe after five days of being good they just can't help themselves. Whatever the reason, make sure your property is secured before you go to sleep. And don't be a thief!