Any sporting event is not only about emotions and entertainment, but also about risks and emergencies. Injuries, overheating, exacerbation of chronic conditions or other incidents can occur even at a well-prepared event. If medical care is organized chaotically or reacts late, the risks increase, and reputational losses can be significant.

Today we will tell you how to organize medical support for the event in such a way as to minimize risks, meet safety requirements and be prepared for real incidents.

Step 1. Assess possible risks

Predict typical injuries depending on the format, distance, coverage and conditions  of the sports competition.

• At endurance starts (marathon races, half marathon, trail), overheating and dehydration are more likely to occur in the heat.
• At short distances and sprints – acute muscle injuries and falls.
• In contact/game sports, bruises, sprains, dislocations, concussions are typical.
• In strength – overload of the back, shoulder, knee and exacerbation of old injuries.

Crowds and adverse weather can be a threat to spectators as well. It should be noted that a long stay on your feet or limited access to water increases the likelihood of dizziness or dehydration.

Keep these features in mind and you will be ready for any situation.

Step 2. Arrange medical support

Conclude a contract for medical support with a medical institution or service that provides medical teams.

If the event is massive or takes place at a location with special requirements, agree on this in advance with the location owner/city services so as not to find out the restrictions at the last moment.

As a basic document that defines the requirements for preparation, safety and medical support for official competitions, use the Regulations on the Procedure for Organizing and Conducting Sports Events.

Step 3. Form a medical team and define its areas of responsibility

After assessing the needs of your event, it is important to develop planning and invite qualified healthcare professionals. To provide emergency care on the territory of the event, there must be:

• traumatologist;
• paramedic;
• nurse or nurse;

Make sure that medical posts are in the main areas of the competition: at the start and finish, near obstacles and turns, in crowded places. At long distances (marathon, bicycle races), posts should be set up along the route at regular intervals that correspond to logistics and risks.

Prepare a map of the areas of responsibility: who is responsible for which area, who makes decisions, who calls an ambulance, where the victim is transported, etc. Distribute it in advance and conduct first aid training for staff and volunteers — this saves minutes that solve everything in a critical situation.

Step 4. Prepare medical supplies and first aid kits

Provide posts with first aid kits for emergency care.

• means to stop bleeding;
• dressings;
• antiseptics;
• painkillers;
• ice to relieve swelling;
• Clamps for the limbs.

If the event is traumatic or involves falls and collisions (football, rugby, hockey, cycling, skiing), it is necessary to have specialized equipment – neck collars, shields or stretchers to stabilize the neck and back.

Such a set of tools will allow you to quickly respond to any incidents and guarantee an appropriate level of security for participants.

Step 5. Implement medical response strategies

At the venues of the competition, the presence of ambulances is necessary in order to quickly respond to injuries and serious conditions of participants and spectators. Agree in advance on the number of teams that will be on duty at the event.

Develop an evacuation plan in case of emergencies. The plan should include:

• routes for quick access to exits and vehicles;
• coordination between medical workers and organizers;
• instructions for staff and volunteers with a clear division of actions.

Conduct a brief briefing for staff before the start to keep everything under control accurately.

Step 6. Monitor the condition of participants during the event

Before the start of the competition, the sports medicine doctor must screen and check the basic indicators of the participants before the start: blood pressure, pulse, take into account complaints and assess the symptoms. If the doctor finds health problems, he may prohibit the participant from participating in the competition.

During the competition, the staff at the medical posts observe the risk areas. In which case, they provide emergency care and decide to continue participation or evacuate, if necessary, transfer the patient to an ambulance.

Council. Keep a log of medical incidents. Record the time and place of the incident, what assistance was provided, whether the participant continued to participate, or was transferred to an ambulance/hospitalized. These records will help you understand where the problems occurred, what injuries occurred most often, and how best to place and staff the medical posts next time.

Conclusion

Proper medical support at competitions is the basis for the safety of athletes, participants and spectators and the peace of mind of the organizers on the day of the event. If you assess the risks in advance, arrange medical support, assemble a team, place posts and prepare equipment, you will reduce the likelihood of critical situations and be able to act quickly and smoothly if an incident does occur.

Stay tuned for more practical tips for organizing your competitions.