Over 400 medical interventions to the Montreal Marathon

PHOTO BY TOMA ICZKOVITS, QMI AGENCY

QMI agency

Sunday, 24 September, 2017 10:49

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Sunday, 24 September, 2017 10:49

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The organizers of the Marathon of Montreal did not skimp on the means, on Sunday, to refresh the runners and ensure their safety while they had the bad luck to participate in the event in a heat wave for fall.

• READ ALSO: 10-km and half-marathon: a difficult traffic expected Sunday in Montreal

In spite of all, there are over 400 medical interventions have been expended during the half-marathon, held Sunday morning in the streets of the metropolis. “These are normal figures in the circumstances, for us,” said Eddy Afram, coordinator medical of the Marathon, in an interview with TVA News.

“The majority of the interventions, as always, are musculoskeletal, sports medicine, but actually, there is a higher rate of heat stroke,” added Mr. Afram.

For his part, the spokesman of Emergency-Health, François Lebel, stated that a fortnight of transport by ambulance have been carried out during the race.

While the mercury should climb up to 30 degrees Celsius in Montreal on Sunday, with a humidex of 38 degrees Celsius, the organisers have planned a number of solutions to refresh the riders. “We have 14,000 iced towels which are distribution-free for the riders, we have access to 18 water points along the route and the famous shower mandatory to be sure that people can refresh themselves,” enumerated Mr. Afram.

Approximately 300 medical stakeholders were also present to ensure the safety of the riders, including a hundred who were under the tent at the finish line. “It is a deployment quite extraordinary in the circumstances”, said the coordinator medical.

Recall that the organizers of the marathon had made the decision Wednesday to cancel the race of 42.2 kilometres because of the heat.

About 16 000 runners took to the start of the half-marathon on the Jacques-Cartier bridge at 7: 30 p.m., an hour earlier than originally planned because of the heat. Six thousand runners have also run the 10 kilometers.