By Thomas Geyer
Quad City Times
DAVENPORT, Iowa — The medical tent for the Quad-City Times Bix 7, manned by a team from MercyOne Genesis Medical Center, treated about 43 patients for dehydration, exhaustion and falls, as well as twisted ankles and knees.
Medical Tent Director Dr. Ed Motto said in a news release issued by MercyOne Genesis that the cooler-than-normal race conditions led to some runners pushing themselves too hard.
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“The weather was cool and overcast, but the combination of humidity and runners pushing to beat their personal record times led to an increase in cases of nausea and vomiting,” Motto said. “As a result, more patients were treated for dehydration than we expected.”
Only one patient was transported from the medical tent to MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center for further evaluation of a non-life-threatening condition.
Approximately 100 MercyOne Genesis colleagues volunteer to run the medical tent each year.
“Our amazing team not only includes physicians, nurses, and other clinical professionals but we could not do it without all the other hard-working people from across the health system such as supply, safety, and security,” Motto added.
MEDIC EMS of Scott County reported that its personnel responded to 23 calls directly on the race course that resulted in six patients, all Bix 7 runners, being transported to MercyOne Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, for further treatment.
The MEDIC team also responded to nine unrelated dispatches throughout the race period.
MEDIC had 22 ambulances positioned around the course, with 19 of those provided by MEDIC, as well as one from Advanced Medical Transport of Milan and two from MercyOne Genesis Ambulance.
A two-paramedic bike MEDIC team was also deployed on the course. At the MED-COM dispatch center, seven dispatchers ensured effective communication for both race-related events and other 911 calls, with support from Scott Emergency Communications Center.
There were also seven Davenport Fire Department vehicles and two mobile Davenport Fire Department Gator units to aid with emergency calls on the course.
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