from a medical perspective...

[rhino222]

http://www.justgloves.co.uk/Latex-Gloves.aspx

[Scrap]

You Dont touch the cut with your Hand thats what the Sterile Gauze is for and swobs. If you put vaseline in the cut the future treatment of Adrenalin wont work during the Fight, vaseline will stop the Adrenalin doing its job.

[Loynesy]

I can see Scrap's old school viewpoint - indeed there is no evidence that any fighter has caught anything from a cutsman - or more likely vice versa.

That said, if the Board decided, out of an abundance of caution to make cornermen where gloves, than they should do it properly and make it every round. FFS - it can't cost much, I'd be happ to pay if I can somehow get my law firms brand monogrammed in...

[Coco]

I bet you are the sort of people who campaigned for pubs to get rid of beermats for hygiene reasons.
After many years of watching Casualty and Holby City I now feel I am in a position to write to the BMA to demand some medical improvements, hopefully they want regard my opinions as bollox(if they respond at all!)
Do you not cross roads for the fear of being hit by buses! I have never known of any boxer being infected by a cornerman ever, if you want to legislate for the most unlikely event, and pay for it, you really do belong in a nanny state.
The wearing of rubber gloves, interchangable every round, is only a hinderace to good cornerwork, it will not benefit any fighter but may make a few champagne socialists, who have nothing to do with the sport, sleep easier at night

[Scrap]

Loynsey, trust me Im not old School DD

[rhino222]

I can see Scrap's old school viewpoint - indeed there is no evidence that any fighter has caught anything from a cutsman - or more likely vice versa.

That said, if the Board decided, out of an abundance of caution to make cornermen where gloves, than they should do it properly and make it every round. FFS - it can't cost much, I'd be happ to pay if I can somehow get my law firms brand monogrammed in...

many fighters have ended up with infected cuts that required re suturing by a plastic surgeon, the infection is almost definately from the lack of cleanliness excercised by the cutsmen. bare hands should not touch the wound or any sterile items.

[demolitiondaley]

Rhino I appreciate what your saying and it makes sense from a hygiene perspective but there is no risk of cross contamination between corners. A cut man will only work in one corner and only touch the blood of one fighter. He will not have the blood of another fighter on his hands to infect his fighter. The risk off blood borne diseases being transmitted in a fight is really only a problem if both fighters are cut and then proceed to stay close and rub heads together. I don't know of any recorded incident where this has actually happened. I've never been cut in 17 pro fights so I'm lucky I guess and it probably won't be something I'll have to worry about.

[rhino222]

Rhino I appreciate what your saying and it makes sense from a hygiene perspective but there is no risk of cross contamination between corners. A cut man will only work in one corner and only touch the blood of one fighter. He will not have the blood of another fighter on his hands to infect his fighter. The risk off blood borne diseases being transmitted in a fight is really only a problem if both fighters are cut and then proceed to stay close and rub heads together. I don't know of any recorded incident where this has actually happened. I've never been cut in 17 pro fights so I'm lucky I guess and it probably won't be something I'll have to worry about.

mate, one fighter contacting hep (any variety, and believe me there are many) is one fighter too many, fighter sget cut, nicks, noses etc, both righters, not uncommon to rub heads together, one fighters blood reaching the open wound of another. IT IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBILITY... and every precaution should be taken to make the sport safe. i tell you this now, if someone caught a blood borne disease in the ring, or even suspected they had and no one could prove they had it before the fight, then the board would get sued..for millions of pounds. all because they did not adhere to what are described as 'universal precautions' which anyone in the medical field will know is a huge infection control nightmare.

the board are very naive not to implement a compulsory gloves policy.

coco..(the clown) .. far from watching casualty or scrubs...i actually take part in it, every day of my working life.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I bet you are the sort of people who campaigned for pubs to get rid of beermats for hygiene reasons.
After many years of watching Casualty and Holby City I now feel I am in a position to write to the BMA to demand some medical improvements, hopefully they want regard my opinions as bollox(if they respond at all!)
Do you not cross roads for the fear of being hit by buses! I have never known of any boxer being infected by a cornerman ever, if you want to legislate for the most unlikely event, and pay for it, you really do belong in a nanny state.
The wearing of rubber gloves, interchangable every round, is only a hinderace to good cornerwork, it will not benefit any fighter but may make a few champagne socialists, who have nothing to do with the sport, sleep easier at night

i run across the road, you know why? Because it's my choice and I can see the bus coming. If I'm fighting and my opponent happens to be HIV positive and I get infected as a result of the cornerman

Why WOULD you know if a fighter had been infected, they don't contact every cornerman in the world when a fighter contracts HIV nor would they know exactly when they did contract HIV. It would benefit EVERY fighter, because it would reduce risk in a sport which is already loaded with risk.

I'm no champagne socialist mate, I'm an old school socialist. Explain how it would hinder a cornerman doing his work?

[Coco]

As Scrap has already said, the reason cornermen don't use gloves is because they are a pain, esp if you change them every round, they don't benefit the fighter as they are a nuisance for his corner when they have far better things to concentrate on.
I have never heard of a corner infecting his fighter.
In fact after Macmillian fought Palancio in a bloody fight, and the Columbian was subsequently tested positive for HIV, Colin wasn't advised to to be tested himself as the risk was negilible. And you would be far less likely to catch it off your own cornerman than the opposing fighter. HIV is actually hard to transmit.
I believe risks of infecting a fighter with any blood transmitted disease is very unlikely, so unlikely that to take these extra precautions, esp when they hinder the corner, is pointless.
Existing regulations are already more than enough

[Coco]

mate, one fighter contacting hep (any variety, and believe me there are many) is one fighter too many, fighter sget cut, nicks, noses etc, both righters, not uncommon to rub heads together, one fighters blood reaching the open wound of another. IT IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBILITY... and every precaution should be taken to make the sport safe. i tell you this now, if someone caught a blood borne disease in the ring, or even suspected they had and no one could prove they had it before the fight, then the board would get sued..for millions of pounds. all because they did not adhere to what are described as 'universal precautions' which anyone in the medical field will know is a huge infection control nightmare.

the board are very naive not to implement a compulsory gloves policy.

coco..(the clown) .. far from watching casualty or scrubs...i actually take part in it, every day of my working life.

Fighters get Hep jabs as part of their medical
Perhaps in your letter to the board you can advise them to make the pro sport more like tha amateurs, in that in fighting is not allowed to ensure heads don't rub together to stop them infecting each other and their cornermen!

[rhino222]

fighters do not get injections for all hep strains as there are not injections for all strains. whilst i agree that the HIV virus is virtually impossible to pass from human to human via the open air then you must also agree that the passage of hep a, b, c, d, e etc is certainly not impossible. and even if the gloves did not help this matter, they would certainly prevent a cutsmans arse scratching, taxi driving, beer drinking, nose picking, eye rubbing, ear picking hands being anywhere near an open wound.

as for gloves hindering a cutsmans work, that is the biggest load of pump i have ever heard in my life, its hardly intricate work pushing an overgrown 'q' tip loaded with adrenaline, holding an 'end swell' mouse or rubbing vasaline on a wound. there is absolutely no excuse why the board do not implement this.

[rhino222]

email has been sent..lets see what the board has to say...

Dear sir

As a practicing medical professional i am becoming increasingly alarmed at the ignorance of the BBBofC in terms of medical standards. although the board should now be commended with the increased support offered at professional boxing shows (anaesthetists/paramedics etc) they should have their wrist slapped for not insisting on a policy that stipulates that cornermen, referees and particularly cutsmen should all have to wear disposable non-sterile medical gloves to protect themselves and also protect boxers from the potential of bloodborne virus cross-contamination and also to minimise the potential for infection due to dirty digits being inserted into open wounds during attempts to stem blood flow with adrenaline soaked 'q-tips' and vasaline. The gloves themselves are very cheap and can be purchased in boxes of 100 for as little as £1.35.. http://www.justgloves.co.uk/Latex-Gloves.aspx

I have started a thread on a much used boxingforum that has attracted much discussion. i know the forum is used by professional boxers/cutsmen/media and promoters/managers alike. Here is a link to the forum so you can judge opinion and feedback for yourself.. http://forum.boxrec.com/viewtopic.php?f ... &sk=t&sd=a my username on the forum is rhino222

I will be keen to receive your feedback as regards this problem and i would like an explanation as to why amateurs in this country adhere to their 'medical gloved' policy. professional boxing shows on the continent also seem to have a 'medical glove' policy. why is this country different?

Whilst i am aware that professional fighters are screened annually for HIV and hepatitis, there is no guarantee that a boxer remains 'clean' for the forthcoming year after he has been passed 'clear' on screening. There are many open cuts and blood spillages during a boxing show, i really think that it is about time the BBBofC minimised the risks to fighters and officials. There are many documented medical papers that will support my advice. It is only a matter of time before the board is sued by a fighter due to an infection/virus acquisition.

Kind regards and i look forward to your reply.

Mr R O'Neill RODP (Registered Operating Department Practitioner)

[ALI]

Mr R O'Neill RODP (Registered Operating Department Practitioner)[/i][/b]

So then your a tool cleaner, right?

I'm not normally one to take swipes mate, but i'm guessing your responsible for cleaning duties, passing the knife etc. Would i be right in saying high school leavers can walk straight into this post, no further education necessary?

What are your medical qualifications?

[Collins2000]

Mr R O'Neill RODP (Registered Operating Department Practitioner)[/i][/b]

So then your a tool cleaner, right?

I'm not normally one to take swipes mate, but i'm guessing your responsible for cleaning duties, passing the knife etc. Would i be right in saying high school leavers can walk straight into this post, no further education necessary?

What are your medical qualifications?

Hippo has stated several times that he is an anaethetist (and ex-best friend to Spudly until Spudly said some unpleasant things to him on another forum).

[rhino222]

ha ha.. i have never stated im an anaesthetist, im an anaesthetic practitioner. the title ODP can be sub divided into those who specialise in surgery or anaesthetics/resus. the latter is my bag.

personally i have a degree in Operating Department Practice, i have qualifications in teaching, and i hold an advanced life support (ALS) provider qualification.....oh..and im an internal verifier (D34) for National Vocational Qualification. Hardly a doctor i know...but equally hardly a numpty.

strangely i did not expect to have to quote aspects from my comprehensive CV to a keyboard warrior, but seems as though you have asked, then i just have.....

for your further education... http://www.codp.org.uk/what_is_an_odp.aspx?parentid=9

and..should you ever be lucky enough to arrive in my anaesthetic room, ill be the 'cleaner' sticking the spike in your arm and injecting you with the 'white stuff' to render you unconscious. hell, i might even squeeze the bag to breathe for you !!!

[ALI]

Hardly a doctor i know.

And thats my point.

I'm sure the BBBofC have fully qualified doctors to refer these matters to. Stop working on this niche, its unlikely to open any doors for you.