While it doesn't happen very often there are times when someone gets injured during a Hash event.  Outside of really special events that involved a great deal of international attendance and tons of people, we don't actually have a rescue plan or medical services that are at our disposal, especially here in Thailand where it is kind of mystery what emergency services actually do or if they even actually exist.

There have been some tumbles on our events and most people just shake it off and carry on.  On one of my first Hash events ever I ended up not seeing a rogue hole in the ground hiding under some brush and stepped in it and quite seriously twisted my ankle.   Because I was one of the younger attendees at that point, I just stood up and walked it off even though by the time I made it back to the start / finish, I was hobbling more so than I was walking, I certainly wasn't running anymore.

Because  I didn't want to make a scene  I didn't make a big deal about it.  I was new, I wanted to fit in, so I didn't make a fuss.  Later once I got to know the guys a bit better they found out that I was hiding and injury and they told me that was the wrong move.  It impacted the entire group and from that point forward they always announce when there are new runners that if you have a problem or if you fall and get injured, to not try to hide it.   

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We have no medical stops on our trails,even the long ones that we do twice a year, but what we do have is dozens of other people that are also on the trail with you that have a lot more experience than you do.  Also, with today's technology being what it is, you are likely not very far away from someone that has a magical GPS machine that also can get in touch with the crew that are back at the start/finish if it really calls for it.  

When the policy changed (in's not really a policy, we don't really have any of those) the others on the course were aware that we are meant to look out for one another and this would end up getting used when one of our members had a bit of a tumble and then struggled to get back up.  Rather than just leave him in the dust, other runners tended to him and assured him that "it is ok to stay down if you need to" and it is a good thing that we had that policy because it turns out he was having a minor heart attack.  

This was the one and only time that we actually called in Thai rescue services and they were very quick to respond also.  Although the situation had calmed down by the time they got there, they did assist on getting him safely out of there and had trained EMT's that were able to do some spot check on him on site.   The charge for all of this was $0 and because of that we donate to the Thai Rescue Service at least once a year with a fundraiser run or two.

At most Hash events around the world they are not going to have any sort of official medical plan, but what they do have is actual leadership and people that do care when you are on the trail with them.   So there is an almost certain chance that despite their silly demeanor that they take any sort of emergency very seriously, regardless of which country you are in.   

At our events we make an announcement but if the Hash that you are at doesn't do that (most don't) just know that the group of jokers that you are joining are a tight knit group of people that will help you out if you need it.  Going back to that initial time that I twisted my ankle on trail, I could have saved myself weeks of in-home recovery if I had just raised my hand and called for a "medic."  Even though those guys didn't know me at the time, they would have helped.

I think a big part of this comes from the fact that most Hashers around the world tend to be at least 45 and above and anyone who is in that age bracket knows that you are far more prone to injury during that time in your life.

So rest easy on Hash runs, we WILL help you if you get hurt.  We may not know what to do ourselves, but we do have the contact information of people that do.  

On On!

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