Anyone do medical coverage for sports events?

[reaper]

Anyone here do med coverage for sports events? I have to do one for an adventure race and would like a few tips that might make it run smoothly.

[Timmy]

Do standbys every weekend. What’s an adventure race? Give us some more info

[reaper]

Set in rugged terrain.

Run/Walk 15-20 miles

Bike 20-30 miles

canoe 10-15 miles

All in an 18 hour time frame.

[Timmy]

Few things come to mind.

-Staffing ratio, adequate staffing for competitors.

-18 hours means you’ll need a roster.

-Make up some strategic posts were you’ll place crews.

-Staff welfare eg food and drinks maybe even a staff area/chill out tent.

-Maybe some 4x4 Ambos or ATV response bikes.

-Get some water rescue for the cannoning.

-Good communication between crews, officials and check point officials.

-Making sure all officials know how to get in contact with EMS

-Everyone has a map of the area.

-Make sure everyone is familiar with extraction from remote areas.

-If you’ve got EMTs working you may want to consider having an IC response team.

-Setting up a base medical centre.

-Area for Aeromed evacs.

-You may require sports trainers/masseurs.

-Local hospitals are aware of event.

-Having sports drinks available to aid with re-hydration.

I really can’t think of anything else. It all depends on how big this event is. Good luck anyway.

[firespec35]

I do NCAA and HS Football, NCAA and HS Hockey, Marathons, triathlons, sometimes baseball. I think Timmy has a good list. I'll think on it though

[Eydawn]

Timmy's list sounds spot on to me. Here are a few of the things I would add to think about...

Are you there with an agency? If not, who is your medical director and how are you covered legally should something fubar? How many of you are staffing this? What's the weather supposed to be like? Plan accordingly for yourselves and your patients.

What will your outside transporting agency be should the need arise? Do you and they know how communication is going to work? Do you have a transportation mechanism set up, either a good offroad worthy vehicle (that fits a backboard, with restraint capabilities for you and the patient) or a really good foot team with a vehicle rendezvous point nearby?

Water source? Restrooms? Who is feeding you? How many people are you prepared to treat with what you have, and what will you do if those limits get exceeded quickly?

Climate controlled area available for hypothermia/heat exhaustion/allergy issues? If not, how will you compensate? Got enough O2 equipment to treat respiratory/cardiac problems should they arise?

Since this is an endurance thing, make sure you have plenty of ace bandages or the like for sprained ankles, access to ice packs of some sort (coolers full of ice and a box of ziplocs will work wonders...) and good blister treating supplies. If you like moleskin, you want some of that. If you don't (like me) then some good nonstick gauze and some creative taping skills. Duct tape works well for "hot spots."

Make sure you can talk to your team members and to the race officials- whether it's cell phones, radios or pagers. Make sure it WORKS, the second you get to the event, so you can adjust if something isn't working right.

Good luck! Let us know how it all turns out. These kind of things can be super fun to do med support at.

Wendy

CO EMT-B

[firemedic05]

I work for a private ambulance service in St. Louis, MO and we have contracts with most if not all the major sports. We work the RAMS football team, Cardinals baseball team, BLUES hockey team, soccer team which keeps changing names. One simple rule to remember from me and that is remember that your face might end up on the Today show. So be professional, even if your nose itches don't pick it and leave that underwear weggie right where it is. I worked a baseball game once and went to female passed out at concession stand and two more fell before she was packaged. It was heat index of 100 degrees that day. Because of the high profile nature, I opt out any time I can. Communication is top priority, the left hand has to know what the right is doing!

[fireflymedic]

Have worked car races, a bike race, rodeos, several horse related events, even at the horse racing track. I have applied to work as part of the 2010 World Equestrian Games medical staffing, we'll see how that goes. In my experience, it's not so much the athletes you have to worry about, it's the stupid gawkers. The athletes know how to take care of themselves for the most part, but the people attending don't or won't, so they are normally who you end up caring for.

[Chief1C]

Occasionally. However, we most often need more of the supplies, which aren't heavily stocked due to lack of use.

Elastic Bandages, Self-Stick Bandages (CoFlex, etc), moleskin, large adhesive bandages, etc.

[Dustdevil]

In my experience, it's not so much the athletes you have to worry about, it's the stupid gawkers.

Excellent point, and absolutely the truth! Even in high risk activities like motocross, you usually end up treating more people in the pits than on the track. Amazing. Mechanics burn themselves. Spectators have heart attacks while running up and down the track cheering. Kids get sunburned. People skip meals and get hypoglycaemic. Don't go out on these things prepped for nothing but trauma. Prep for minor first aid (which most ambulances are not equipped for at all) and major medical.