http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521
Ayrton Senna’s Death Throws Light on Head Trauma Ayrton Senna’s fatal accident at a Formula 1 race twenty years ago is still fresh in the minds of many. But with advanced diagnostics and MRI, head blows need not always turn out to be fatal. The death of one of Brazil’s most famous athletes, triple Formula One (F1) World Champion Ayrton Senna, on May 1, 1994 in a high speed crash at the San Marino Grand Prix F1 race in Imola, Italy due to a head injury had sent shockwaves throughout the sports world and in his home country. Even now, 20 years on from his death, the ripples continue to be generated.
The Man Senna was, and still is, considered one of the greatest racing drivers ever and was known for his intense aggression behind the wheel of some of the world’s fastest machines. Whenever he competed, he competed to win and nothing less. http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521
http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521
But it wasn’t only his natural racing talent that endeared him even to people around the world who did not follow the sport. It was his charisma and, some say, the Latin charm that set him apart from the other F1 and auto racing drivers of the time. His philanthropical activities back in his native Brazil, his overall warm and friendly character, and his love for the Bible gave him an almost saint-like allure though his rivals on the track, primarily Frenchman and quadruple F1 World Champion Alain Prost, were on the receiving end of some nasty, dangerous and condemnable moves in his quest to win at all costs.
Mechanical Debris Delivered the Fatal Blow The accident that killed Senna need not have been fatal had the pieces of his Williams FW16 Renault’s right front suspension, which disintegrated on a high speed impact with the barriers, missed his helmet by a few inches. The safety features of the cockpit had prevented any injuries or broken bones affecting his body. But since, in Formula 1 racing cars as in American IndyCars, the driver’s head is exposed and protected only by the crash helmet, it was up to this protective gear to protect his head and brain from the impact of flying debris.
Crash Helmet Could Not Protect http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521
http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521
The helmet failed this time, and a suspension part is suspected to have penetrated the crash helmet. Another piece of the suspension evidently hit him through the visor in the region immediately above the right eye. It cracked the visor and mangled that frontal area of the helmet where the visor overlaps the structure. One of these impacts was fatal and caused a significant amount of blood loss. It is also sometimes suggested that on impact with the barriers the right front tire had shot up into the air, moved back and hit his helmet, pushing Senna’s head firmly into the car’s cockpit headrest at the back which could have caused possibly fatal skull fractures. In any case, Ayrton Senna died of head trauma.
Senna Could Not be Saved Though doctors and paramedics tried their best to resuscitate him on the track and at the hospital, to which he was airlifted, he was pronounced dead. In fact he was nearly dead at the scene of the accident, but his heart eventually stopped beating at the hospital. Brain scans at the hospital revealed massive brain damage, conforming what paramedics had realized while attending to him at the scene. http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521
http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521
While helmet technology has advanced since and exotic materials such as carbon fiber have made helmets much stronger but lighter, it just goes to show that the helmet cannot always prevent death though it could prevent serious injury in some circumstances and most surely in minor accidents.
Accidents Involving Head Blows Not Always Deadly While Senna was beyond the point of recovery, another Brazilian F1 racer Felipe Massa wasn’t, when a mechanical part of the car ahead penetrated his helmet damaging his eye and causing serious injuries to his brain during the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session in 2009. Prompt diagnoses through procedures including MRI scans had ensured that the damage to the brain and the eye were accurately diagnosed and treatment provided. In less than five months Massa was back in the cockpit of the Ferrari.
How Advanced MRI Scan Helps The MRI scan is quite a lifesaver in that it could help identify the level of damage to the brain and guide the http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521
http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521
doctors on the appropriate treatment. Advanced MRI scanners can examine the brain’s anatomy and its ability to perform important functions. Their superior image quality ensures detection of issues with the brain including: • • • • • • • • • • • •
Fluid within the brain or surrounding it Bleeding Blood clots Tumors Seizures Stroke Blurred vision Aneurysms Lesions Alzheimer’s disease Meningitis Issues with the nerves connecting the brain to the eyes and ears
An advanced multi-specialty healthcare center is equipped with superior MRI & diagnostics services. With reliable equipment such as open MRI, people with head injuries can be provided with prompt and accurate treatment. It does help save lives. Posted by HealthQuest http://www.hqbk.com/
http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521